Photo is for illustrating purpose | Credit: world.eduSole Telecom Regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) may have restricted Nigerians below 18 years from owning Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards.
A draft copy of the modified Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations published on NCC’s website clearly stated that all SIM card owners must be 18 years and above.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has drew the attention of Nigerians to the false information circulating in the social media to the effect that it is conducting a recruitment exercise.
In a terse statement today, October 3, the NNPC chief spokesman, Garba Deen Muhammed asked the general public to disregard it in its entirety.
“Whenever NNPC decides to conduct a recruitment exercise, it will announce this to the public through authentic public communication channels, including the NNPC’s website (www.nnpcgroup.com).
“Once again the NNPC is NOT RECRUITING.”
Reps Northern Caucus Visits Tinubu In LondonAll Progressives Congress chieftain, Bola Tinubu, has said that he is healthy but only undergoing physiotherapy in London after the knee surgery.
Tinubu, who spoke when members of the House of Representatives Northern caucus visited him in London yesterday, October 1 said:, “because of God and people like you, I am well. It is just the physio (physiotherapy) that is gruesome.”
The former Lagos State governor has been in the United Kingdom for the past three months.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has restrained the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) from going ahead with the election scheduled to hold in Umuahia, Abia State, from 3rd to 5th October 2021.
In the suit, numbered NICN/IB/61/2021 and filed by Soji Amosu and Ayokunle Ewuoso, the Chairman and Secretary respectively of the Ogun State Council of NUJ, Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale, granted the three prayers of the applicants.
The respondents in the case include the President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo; National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman; Credentials Committee Chairman, Mr. Garba Muhammed; his Secretary, Victor Ndukwe; among others.
The applicants prayed for “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally by themselves, their agents, privies, officers or any persons however described from performing aiding and or executing any act for the purposes of conducting any election into the national offices of the 10th respondents (NUJ) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally their privies, servants or agents from interfering with the office of the chairman and Secretary of the Ogun state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists presently being occupied by the applicants, as recognised by the judgement of this court delivered by Honorable Justice J. D Peters, attached as exhibit A in the affidavit in support of this application as it relates to the national delegate conference of the 10th respondents coming up between the 3rd to 5th of October, 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.
“An order of the Honourable Court suspending all actions, proceedings, steps, processes relating to national delegates conference of the 10th respondents to come up between the 3rd to 5th of October, 2021, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed in this suit.”
The court, upon reading the affidavit of urgency and affidavit in support of the motion exparte, granted: “An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, jointly and severally by themselves, their agents, privies, officers or any person however described from performing, aiding and or executing any act for the purposes of conducting any election into the national offices of the 10th respondents, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.
“An order of interim injunction restraining the respondents jointly and severally, their privies, servants or agents from interfering with the offices of the chairman and Secretary of the Ogun state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, presently being occupied by the applicant has recognised by the judgement of this court delivered by the horrible justice J.D Peters, (Exhibit A) as it relate to the national delegates conference of the 10th Respondents coming up between the 3rd and the 5th of October 2021 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice in this case.
“An order for suspension of all actions, proceedings, steps and processes relating to the national delegate conference of the 10th respondents fixed to come up between the 3rd and 5th of October 2021 pending the hearing and determination of this motion on notice in this case.”
The case was further adjourned to October 26, 2021 for hearing of motion on notice.
Source: The Will.
I had to do some fresh searching for the meaning of April Fools Day before writing this piece. Something to do with an annual custom on 1 April, consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. One search revealed that it has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, though its exact origins remain a mystery.
It was on April 1, 2021 anniversary that my Mama Julianah Ademolahan Adeleye departed from this world at the age of 88 to meet her maker. It was at the same age that my father passed on in 2015.
She was a beautiful Princess, the fourth of the six children of Eye Lisa of the Arapayan dynasty from the royal household of Oloofe of Oke-Iju, Akure North, Ondo State, Nigeria. She was the last one standing. It was an end of a generation.
It is impossible for me to accept and believe that my Mama is no more. It took me so long to gather my thoughts together to write this tribute. There is this feeling that when next I visit home, she will still be there.
My mother’s life was an open book on integrity, fairness, courage, humility, enterprise, love and fear of God.
Fairness
Among her siblings and in the community, she was a bridge builder and a peace maker. My mother hated cheating. Whenever there were burning issues to be settled, she would be the point of last resort. On her own initiative, she would go behind the scene to meet warring sides and beg them to shelf their swords. Like rain, she kept no enemy. She would state things as they ought to be. She would always call a spade a spade, and among her age group association, they knew her for who she was, a woman of integrity.
Courage
As a woman of virtue, my mother stood by my father during thick and thin. She helped him in his farm; she regularly planted her own vegetables and what was needed to run the home. She was the stop gap when Papa was slow to provide for our needs. Her energy cannot be quantified. She was a superwoman.
Love
To have eight children and still love them equally would sound very impossible. But that was what my Mama did. Her love was unconditional. In her court, being the elder would not make Mama tolerate oppression, and for the younger, ones, she would insist that they were obedient and respectful. The same love that she had for her children was what she extended to her extended family and everyone she had contact with.
Enterprising
My mother was an entrepreneur, a jack of all trades and master of all. She was an eko (corn pap) maker and seller. We, the children at different stages of growing up had to help her do a lot of selling on the street. She was also a garri seller. There were other petty things she harvested from farm, bought and sold to make ends meet. When her mother, Eye Lisa passed on, my Mama took over the basket for selling cola nut and bitter cola and carried on the trade. And all the time, from her sales, the family fed to their satisfaction with hardly anything left as profit margin.
Faith
Mama was a devout Christian who loved God with all her heart and soul. Even as recent as last year, she still accepted and hosted the Alaga Ikore during the annual harvest in her church. She played her part in the house of God and in her age group association- Egbe Majekobaje without blemish.
Spirituality
Just as it was then when Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said ‘Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious’, so it remains in our communities up till today. Raising eight children in an environment where many forces could be daring was not a child’s play. My mother was forced to become a prayer warrior. She was always very proactive. Whenever she suspected anyone trying to manipulate her in the spiritual realm, she would dare them in real life, and this sometimes made them to retreat! I remember we had a great laugh over one of her close friends who attempted to lure Mama into a strange group. After Mama was through with her, she never stepped into our house again.
Selfless
My mother’s life was an open book on giving. I can never imagine anything that was too big for her to part with. Whenever we visited home and dropped money for her to take care of herself, she would ask whether we had given to certain relatives. If we had not, you can be rest assured that she would share what you’d given to her and tell the recipients that she was sent by us to give to them. While my mother would love to give to others, she would try as much as possible not to be a burden to others. I remember few years back, when we took her to hospital in Lagos for medical check-up, Mama was so concerned about what it would cost us in time and money to take care of her.
Discipline
To say my mother was a disciplinarian would be an understatement. When we were still young, she was extremely tough. In fact, she was a lioness. We couldn’t escape her punishment when we screwed up on important things then. Mama could attack you with anything! Our father would take it up from there if it was something serious. But as she grew older, all these suddenly changed. From combative, she changed to a protective mode. No doubt, our junior ones had it easier.
The best cook in the world
I don’t know how she did it, but my Mama was the best cook in the world. Even if it was a quarter of a fish that she could afford, you cannot match the taste of her soup every day. That fraction of the fish or meat would be sufficient for us and you will never look at anyone else plate. I cannot remember ever going to bed without a satisfying dinner, mostly pounded yam. With her cooking, Mama thought us how to be contented and happy with what we have. I remember an incident when a primary school friend of mine who was hawking roasted fishes for his mother branched at our home. He wrapped a whole fish in the presence of my mother and gave it to me as a gift. My body was shaking as I coiled away in horror. He immediately understood and returned his gift. But my mother never made mention of it again. Like my father would say, you should remember the child of who you are. With her cooking, spoken and unspoken words, I grew up not knowing how to eat outside.
Her loss
Like every mortal, my mother had her own share of high and low times. On February 7, 1993 she lost her first child, her only female child, my loving sister at the age of 39 after five children who are now doing wonderfully well. She was inconsolable for a long time. It was the first time I noticed that she was almost convinced that going to church alone may not be enough to shield her children from evil attacks, unlike in many homes where children were carrying different levels of razor blade incisions.
Her dream
The welfare of her children and family was the nucleus of my mother’s dream. We were too many in need of care to give her any room for personal ambition. Her love was unconditional. With my mother, you cannot live to be uncaring towards your siblings and anyone around you. Her life was a great lesson on selflessness.
Sense of humor
My mother’s sense of humor, like my father was legendry. When we visited home, she would sit with us till late in the night as we shared jokes on our plights and laughed away our sorrow.
She lives on
One of our prayers that God answered was for Mama not to witness the death of her remaining seven children again. It has been very challenging, but our biggest inspiration is her value. It’s like the sun. Once we keep it, we will rise again and fulfill destiny.
Thank you so much my mother for all what you gave me. There is nothing I can ever compare to you.
*Segun Adeleye, President/CEO World Stage Limited is the forth son of Mama Julianah Ademolahan Adeleye
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has said with pride that over the years, the Administrations have successfully built Abuja, the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a world class city.
The Minister, in his message to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory today, October 1 as the nation marks 61st Independence Anniversary, said: “we have largely succeeded in building a beautiful, world class city, thanks to the efforts of thousands of Nigerians over the years.”
According to the Minister, FCT was founded on a platform of unity of Nigeria, a place where all Nigerians can call home.
He added that the Administration has strived to build a Territory of the collective dreams of all Nigerians.
“It is worthy to mention once again, that there now exists a generation of Nigerians from all parts of the country who truly know no other home but the FCT, having been born, schooled, are married and raising families of their own here in the Nation’s capital.
“The dreams of our founding fathers are truly alive in these residents and we should constantly remind ourselves that we are better off together and will achieve much more as a united people and consequently, should resist all efforts to cause divisions within our ranks.”
Muhammad Musa Bello concurred however that the task of forging a common identity for Nigerians is still work in progress.
He reminded Abuja residents that they have an obligation to uphold the dreams of the founding fathers to truly make Abuja the symbol of Nigeria’s unity
Muhammad Musa Bello encouraged residents to reflect on the struggles of the heroes of Nigeria’s independence, past and present leaders, who have through the years sacrificed enormously to bring the country this far.
He also urged residents to use the opportunity the independence anniversary celebration has provided to take stock of how far they have come as a people in the quest of building a strong, virile and united country.
The Minister reminded FCT residents that the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over, advising them to seize every available opportunity to get vaccinated in addition to abiding by other non- pharmaceutical health guidelines.
He reiterated the Administration’s determination to ensure compliance on the provisions of the Abuja Masterplan, saying that his commitment to ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of all residents is not negotiable.
On security, the Minister paid tribute to the officers and men of all the security agencies who daily confront security challenges in the FCT with some of them paying the highest price with their lives.
He called on residents to continue to support them in their work by providing vital information when there is the need for it.
File Photo by thisdayliveThe Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has said that cholera had killed 2, 791 Nigerians across 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory since the beginning of 2021.
The Director-General, NCDC, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said in Abuja that a total of 81,413 suspected cases were recorded within the period of nine months.
Ihekweazu identified the affected states as: Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Rivers and Zamfara.
“As at 19th September 2021, a total of 81,413 suspected cases, including 2,791 deaths have been reported from 28 states and FCT in 2021.
“Of the suspected cases since the beginning of the year, age group 5–14 years is the most affected age group for male and female,” he added.
The NCDC boss added that of all suspected cases, 50 per cent were males and 50 per cent, females.
Ihekweazu said that the national multi-sectoral EOC, activated at level 02, continues to coordinate the national response.
Cholera is a water borne disease and the risk of transmission is higher where there are poor sanitation and disruption of clean water supply.
The wrong disposal of refuse and practices, such as open defecation, endanger the safety of water used for drinking and personal use.
These lead to the spread of water-borne diseases, such as cholera and without proper Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nigeria remained at risk of cholera cases and deaths.
Source: NAN.
President Buhari addresses the nationPresident Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the Doomsday predicted for the country has come and passed, and country matches on.
In his over 100-paragraph speech to mark the nation’s 61st Independence Anniversary today, October 1, the President said: “the doomsday scenario predicted for our country never came. Even as the Delta variant continues to spread, we have built the capacity we need to respond now and into the future.”
He said that the original priorities of his government for 2020 was to continue stabilising the economy following the deep recession while restoring peace in areas confronted with security challenges.
“But the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on all nations meant we needed to shift gears and re-strategise.
“Nigerians came together as one to fight against COVID-19. It is this attitude and by the special grace of God, we continue to survive the pandemic as a nation and indeed, provide leadership and example at regional and international levels.”
Buhari appealed to Nigerians not to take COVID lightly but to adhere to public health and social measures, put on mask and get vaccinated.
“We can control this pandemic, but it requires effort on everybody’s part. The investments we made in response to COVID-19 will also serve our country to tackle any future disease outbreaks or pandemics.
“Despite the global inequity in access to vaccines, the Government of Nigeria has continued to explore all available options to ensure Nigerians have free access to safe and effective vaccines.
“Some five million vaccine doses have been administered to Nigerians through efforts led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and we will continue to explore options for purchase or acquisition of vaccines such as through COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.”
President Buhari reminded the global community that the current state of access to COVID-19 vaccines is unacceptable.
“We cannot afford a situation where a handful of countries keep the global vaccine supply to themselves at the expense of other nations.
“We must act now to accelerate equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This is the message I conveyed to the international community in New York last week.
“As we push to source vaccines for our immediate needs, we shall invest more to support our pharmaceutical and research agencies to come up with ideas for locally developed vaccines. Should another pandemic arise in the future, Our question is simple; will Nigeria be ready?
“Accordingly, I have directed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Health, Education and Science and Technology to work with Nigerian and International pharmaceutical companies and research organisations to enhance Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical capacity.
“Already, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is raising a $200 million fund for this initiative that will complement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing N85 billion Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme to support local researchers in the development of vaccines and drugs to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases, including COVID-19.”
Read the full text of the President’s Independence Anniversary speech:
It is with full gratitude to God that today, we celebrate Nigeria’s sixty first Independence Anniversary.
2.For 1st of October 1960 to happen, all hands were on deck. East, West, North all came together to celebrate freedom. Today should not only serve as a reminder of the day the British handed over the reins of power to Nigerians, but also unified Nigerians from all ethnic groups, religions and regions.
3.Today, despite the challenges we face, most Nigerians still maintain the spirit of 1st October. That positive outlook and determination to make Nigeria a peaceful and prosperous nation. It is due to this collective attitude that Nigeria doggedly continues to remain a united and indivisible nation.
4.Fellow Nigerians, the past eighteen months have been some of the most difficult periods in the history of Nigeria. Since the civil war, I doubt whether we have seen a period of more heightened challenges than what we have witnessed in this period.
5.Our original priorities for 2020 were to continue stabilising our economy following the deep recession while restoring peace in areas confronted with security challenges. But the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on all nations meant we needed to shift gears and re-strategise.
6.Nigerians came together as one to fight against COVID-19. It is this attitude and by the special grace of God, we continue to survive the pandemic as a nation and indeed, provide leadership and example at regional and international levels.
7.The doomsday scenario predicted for our country never came. Even as the Delta variant continues to spread, we have built the capacity we need to respond now and into the future.
8.I will therefore appeal to Nigerians not to take COVID lightly, adhere to public health and social measures, put your mask on and get vaccinated. We can control this pandemic, but it requires effort on everybody’s part. The investments we made in response to COVID-19 will also serve our country to tackle any future disease outbreaks or pandemics.
9.Despite the global inequity in access to vaccines, the Government of Nigeria has continued to explore all available options to ensure Nigerians have free access to safe and effective vaccines.
10.Some five million vaccine doses have been administered to Nigerians through efforts led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and we will continue to explore options for purchase or acquisition of vaccines such as through COVAX and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust.
11.I will take this opportunity to remind the global community that the current state of access to COVID-19 vaccines is unacceptable. We cannot afford a situation where a handful of countries keep the global vaccine supply to themselves at the expense of other nations.
12.We must act now to accelerate equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. This is the message I conveyed to the international community in New York last week.
13.As we push to source vaccines for our immediate needs, we shall invest more to support our pharmaceutical and research agencies to come up with ideas for locally developed vaccines. Should another pandemic arise in the future, Our question is simple; will Nigeria be ready?
14.Accordingly, I have directed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Health, Education and Science and Technology to work with Nigerian and International pharmaceutical companies and research organisations to enhance Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical capacity.
15.Already, the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority is raising a $200 million fund for this initiative that will complement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ongoing N85 billion Healthcare Sector Research and Development Intervention Scheme to support local researchers in the development of vaccines and drugs to combat communicable and non-communicable diseases, including COVID-19.
Fellow Nigerians, this is just the beginning.
16.Similarly, on our approach to food security, I am proud to announce Nigeria has commenced its journey to pharmaceutical independence.
17.This journey, which will take years to achieve but will ultimately result in Nigerian based companies developing the Active Pharmaceutical substances and competence needed for us to make our own drugs and vaccines.
Fellow Nigerians,
18.As our economy continues to open after the COVID-19 related lockdowns, we have also seen the resurgence of insecurity in certain parts of the country.
19.In the last four months, the gallant men and women of the Military and Security Agencies have made tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges. We are taking the fight to our enemies from all angles and we are winning.
20.Earlier this year, I launched the Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, the Deep Blue Project, which is designed to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea. I am happy to inform Nigerians that we have taken delivery of key assets for this project and very soon, its impact will be felt.
21.In the North East region alone, over eight thousand Boko Haram terrorists have surrendered.
22.To support our surge approach to fighting banditry, the Nigerian Armed Forces have recruited over 17,000 personnel across all ranks. Furthermore, I have also approved for the Nigerian Police Force to recruit 10,000 police officers annually over the next six years.
23.I am also pleased to note that most of the Air Force platforms we acquired over the past three years have started to arrive in Nigeria. These will positively impact our security operations in all parts of the country.
24.In line with section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the security and welfare of Nigerians continue to be the prime focus on which programmes and projects of our government revolves.
25.Therefore, as a Government, we are ready to arrest and prosecute all persons inciting violence through words or action. Our resolve for a peaceful, united and one Nigeria remains resolute and unwavering.
26.That said, our hope is not to fight for peace. We can always settle our grievances peacefully without spilling any blood.
27.I will therefore take this opportunity, on this special day that symbolises the unity and oneness of our great nation, to ask all Nigerians to embrace peace and dialogue, whatever your grievances.
28.The seeds of violence are planted in people’s heads through words. Reckless utterances of a few have led to losses of many innocent lives and destruction of properties.
29.Such unfiltered and unsubstantiated lies and hate speeches by a few evil persons must be stopped. Our media houses and commentators must move away from just reporting irresponsible remarks to investigating the truth behind all statements and presenting the facts to readers.
30.We must all come out and speak against the lies being peddled. At this point, I would want to sincerely appreciate the large number of our Traditional, Religious and Community leaders as well as other well-meaning Nigerians who, in their various fora are openly spreading the message of peaceful co-existence and conflict settlement through dialogue in their respective communities.
31.Nigeria is for all of us. Its unity is not negotiable. And its ultimate success can only be achieved if we all come together with a common goal of having peace and prosperity for our nation.
32.We shall continue to work on dialogue based solutions to address legitimate grievances. But we remain ready to take decisive actions against secessionist agitators and their sponsors who threaten our national security.
33.The recent arrests of Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo, and the ongoing investigations being conducted have revealed certain high-profile financiers behind these individuals. We are vigorously pursuing these financiers including one identified as a serving member of the national assembly.
Fellow Nigerians,
34.This is a clear example of how people abandon their national leadership positions for their selfish gains. Instead of preaching unity, they are funding and misleading our youth to conduct criminal acts that sometimes lead to unfortunate and unnecessary loss of lives and property.
35.As the so-called leaders run abroad to hide, our innocent youths are misled and left in the streets to fight for their senseless and destructive causes.
36.Government will continue, with greater level of peoples’ participation and in collaboration with our international partners, to improve the security architecture, reduce enabling environment for criminality to thrive and eliminate opportunities for terrorism financing.
37.Fellow Nigerians, our unrelenting effort at resolving an almost two-decade stalling on the management of our Petroleum resources and ensuring equitable consideration to our host communities has resulted in the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
38.This Act not only overhauls the Institutional, regulatory and fiscal framework of the Petroleum Industry but also reduces the previous opacity associated with this sector.
39.This is the first step to the reforms as the process is a continuous one. Already, to further improve the governance framework, I have sought for an amendment of sections 11(2)(b) and 34(2)(b). We will also continue to review and amend as appropriate.
40.At this juncture, it is very appropriate that I salute the leadership and members of the Ninth Assembly for their patriotism, dedication to duty, candour and most importantly the dispatch with which they have enacted legacy legislations for this nation. I do not take such level of cooperation for granted and hope it continues for the overall efficiency of the Federal machinery.
41.Nigeria’s Roadmap on Local Refining is on track with the Commissioning of a Modular refinery in Imo State.
42.A second is scheduled for commissioning by the end of this year in Edo State and the third one in Bayelsa State by 2022
43.In addition to the modular projects, we also have the two mega refinery projects coming up in Lagos and Akwa Ibom States.
44.As these refineries are commissioned, more employment opportunities are created and there would be increased petroleum products available for local consumption which will significantly reduce our reliance on importation.
45.In further demonstrating our plan to reduce our dependence on oil and tapping from our enormous gas resources, this administration remains committed to the “Decade of Gas” Initiative, which is aimed at bringing to focus the utilization of our huge gas resources.
46.Already, we are supporting and promoting various gas-based projects including NLNG Train 7 and the mega urea and ammonia projects in the South-South region.
47.As we continue to optimise and enhance our oil and gas sector, I am also proud and delighted to state that our economic diversification strategy remains on course with the persistent increase in Non-Oil Sector contribution to GDP.
48.We recovered from economic recession in quarter four of 2020 with a GDP growth rate of 0.11%, and grew by 0.51% and 5.01% in real terms in the first and second quarters of 2021.
49.The Agricultural sector remains key to our economic diversification efforts as the sector has been a consistent driver of the non-oil sector contributing 22.35% and 23.78% to the overall GDP in the first and second quarter of 2021.
50.We have seen significant private sector investments in almost all areas of the agricultural value chain. And these have continued even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
51.Unfortunately, as our food production capacity has increased, food prices have been going up due to artificial shortages created by middlemen who have been buying and hoarding these essential commodities for profiteering.
52.To address this, I am hereby directing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to rehabilitate the National Food Reserve Agency and also work with security agencies, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange, and the National Assembly to find a lasting solution to these disruptive and unpatriotic hoarding activities.
53.To further enhance food production, we have completed several new dams and are in the process of rehabilitating several River Basin Development Authorities to enhance ground water supply for rainfed agriculture as well as surface water for irrigation agriculture.
54.The water projects we completed between 2015 to 2020 have improved Nigerian’s access to potable water to 71% between 2015 and 2020. This means 12.5 million additional Nigerians now have direct access to potable water.
Fellow Nigerians,
55.This Government remains concerned by the significant transportation infrastructure deficit we have. Addressing the challenges our commuters and lorry drivers face on the motorways is still a high priority to us.
56.To complement our budgetary allocations, the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund and the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, we recently established a N15trillion Infrastructural Corporation of Nigeria Limited (INFRACO), which is expected to begin operation by the fourth quarter of this year.
57.INFRACO will also focus on leveraging resources on a public-private sector basis for infrastructural development in Nigeria.
58.We hope through these innovative programs, the additional cost burden on individuals and businesses because of inefficient logistics operations will be reduced and ultimately, eliminated.
59.We currently have over 13,000 kilometres of roads and bridges under construction all over the country of which a fair percentage have been completed.
60.As we fix our roads, we also continue to extend and upgrade Nigeria’s railway network with the notable opening of the Warri- Itakpe standard gauge rail line.
61.To increase capacity, we have introduced more locomotives, coaches and wagons including the establishment of a Wagon Assembly in Kajola, Ogun State.
62.The sea ports however still remain problematic. The effect of our various interventions to reduce the gridlocks and inefficiencies have been slower than expected.
63.However, the implementation of the Electronic Call-Up System as well as the conversion of the Lillypond Container Terminal to a Vehicle Transit Area will further enhance the ease of cargo evacuation.
64.Our prioritisation of developing Nigeria’s Digital Economy has positively impacted the contribution of the ICT sector to our GDP.
65.We hope our present efforts to ensure all Nigerians use a National Identification Number as well as our planned roll-out of the fifth generation (5G) network technology will ensure we stay in line with the global innovation curve as a Nation.
66.As we embrace the digital economy in Nigeria, we are fully aware of the prospects and the perils. Our policies have been developed to enable Nigerians to take advantage of the prospects and avoid the perils of digital technologies.
67.Social media is a very useful platform that has enabled millions of Nigerians to connect with loved ones, promote their businesses, socialise, and access news and other information.
68.However, recent events have shown that the platform is not just an innocuous platform for information dissemination.
69.Rather some users have misused the platform to organise, coordinate, and execute criminal activities, propagate fake news, and promote ethnic and religious sentiments.
70.To address these negative trends, the Federal Government of Nigeria suspended the operations of Twitter in Nigeria on June 5, 2021 to allow the Government put measures in place to address these challenges.
71.Following the suspension of Twitter operations, Twitter Inc. reached out to the Federal Government of Nigeria to resolve the impasse. Subsequently, I constituted a Presidential Committee to engage Twitter to explore the possibility of resolving the issue.
72.The Committee, along with its Technical Team, has engaged with Twitter and have addressed a number of key issues. These are:
a. National Security and Cohesion;
b. Registration, Physical presence and Representation;
c. Fair Taxation;
d. Dispute Resolution; and
e. Local Content.
73.Following the extensive engagements, the issues are being addressed and I have directed that the suspension be lifted but only if the conditions are met to allow our citizens continue the use of the platform for business and positive engagements.
74.As a country, we are committed to ensuring that digital companies use their platform to enhance the lives of our citizens, respect Nigeria’s sovereignty, cultural values and promote online safety.
75.Nigeria’s progressive diplomacy continues to manifest through growing numbers of highly placed Nigerians in positions of regional and global influences. Very recently, Nigeria won election for the position of Commissioner for the expanded Political, Peace and Security Affairs of the African Union.
76.Our persistent calls for a reorganized and reformed ECOWAS, to make the organization citizens-sensitive, paid off with the acceptance by the Authority of Heads of State and Governments of ECOWAS to commence the agreed reforms in the organization ahead of the next elections of the organization’s principal officers in December this year.
77.At the African Development Bank, World Trade Organization and indeed, the United Nations, footprints of Nigeria’s Diplomacy are clearly evident.
78.We remain confident that our goal of lifting 100million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years is achievable.
79.Considering the positive impact of our Social Investment Programs, I recently approved an increase in the number of N-Power program beneficiaries from 500,000 to 1,000,000.
80.Out of this, 510,000 have started the programme while the competitive selection process for onboarding the outstanding 490,000 beneficiaries is in progress.
81.The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is currently being implemented in 35 States of the Federation and the FCT. Over 103,000 women have been engaged and empowered as cooks under the programme, while about 10 million pupils are being fed across public primary schools in the country.
82.To grant increased access to credit to the most poor and vulnerable, I have directed an increase in the disbursement of Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme loans to an additional one million beneficiaries laying more emphasis on the smallholding farmers through the farmers Moni program.
Fellow Nigerians,
83.For far too long we have neglected the centrality of the civil service as the engine of governance and this has manifested in ineffective service delivery.
84.There is widespread discontent and disillusion about the efficiency and probity of our civil service.
85.It is for this reason that we are refocusing the Nigerian Civil Service to provide World class service to run our country.
86.The youths of this great country remain propellants for our today and provide guarantees that we would have a secure tomorrow.
87.It is for this reason that I remain focused on expanding opportunities for their participation in politics and governance.
88.Recent appointments of young people into positions of authority and their track record so far, gives me confidence that we need to bring more of them into governance and this I promise to do.
89.More specifically, to encourage Girl-Child Education, female scholarship schemes, life skills and digital literacy skills to boost girl’s enrolment, retention and completion of schooling, are all initiatives put in place to ensure gender balance in appropriately positioning our youths for positions of leadership.
90.The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering.
91.Government recognises their contributions to development and I have, in this regard, directed that all relevant Government Agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of different abilities in the implementation of policies and programmes.
92.Rape and Gender Based Violence remains a sore point in our Nation as in many countries worldwide and this was worsened during and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
93.We are currently engaging Heads of Courts to establish Specialised Courts for the speedy and seamless trial of Rape/Gender-Based offences especially to ensure that justice is done for child victims of sexual violence.
94.On the other hand, work has advanced in the reformation, reintegration and reunification of Minors involved in one crime or the other.
95.The reformation in our Correctional Services has manifested in an increase in modernised custodial centres and a transformation from strictly punitive to attitudinal changes so that criminals do not relapse into their previous lifestyle.
96.As we begin to celebrate our sixty one years as a Nation, we need to be conscious that Nigeria does not start and end with the Federal Government. This country is a great collective where Government at all arms and levels as well as the private sector, and more importantly individuals, have a role to play.
97.In particular, security is a bottom to top undertaking. Joining hands and hearts together would enable us to secure ourselves and our country.
98.I fully understand the anxiety of many Nigerians on the inability of this country to go beyond a never-ending potential for becoming a great nation to an actually great one.
99.A lot has been achieved in the last six years on many fronts: in infrastructure, social care, governance, Nigeria’s image and influence in Africa and the international community.
100.But critics misdiagnose incremental progress as stagnation. Since coming to power, this Administration has tackled our problems head-on in spite of the meagre resources. No government since 1999 has done what we have done in six years to put Nigeria back on track.
101.We shall continue to serve the country: listen to all and protect our democracy and country.
Thank you all and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
There are indications that the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have shut out its door on its 2019 Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar for the 2023 contest.
Information reaching us indicated that the party is considering the zoning of the Presidency for the 2023 contest to the Southern region.
The PDP leadership has reportedly reached a resolution to zone the party’s national chairmanship position to the North where Atiku comes from.
A former Director of New Media of the party, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the news in a tweet today, September 30.
This was even as the national spokesperson of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, refused to pick phone calls to speak on the issue.
Source: THE WHISTLER.
Details later…
The Defence Headquarters has debunked what it calle “misguided media reports” trending in the social media alleging that troops killed 20 Fishermen in an Air Strike in Kwatan Daban Masara on Sunday 26 Sep 21, around the Lake Tchad area of North East Nigeria.
The military high command said in a statement today, September 30 that contrary to the report, the interdiction targeted and neutralised clearly identified ISWAP terrorists and not fishermen.
“It is thus pertinent to make clarifications on the air interdiction recently conducted in the general area by OPHK.”
The statement by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Bernard Onyeuko said that the operation was carried out in response to credible Intelligence report on the movement and operation of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists massed up within the forested area, and after thorough analysis of the intelligence report was conducted between 19 August and 23 September 2021.
“Special Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaisance (ISR) mission was also carried out, which confirmed the area as the terrorists’ staging area. Further confirmatory reconnaissance revealed that the observed movements and activities were of ISWAP, dressed in the usual ISWAP-styled uniform.
“The terrorists used the thick folliage for cover and concealment to carry out their nefarious activities. They disguised as fishermen, with canoes loaded with unidentified items, berthed along the river bank. They were however observed not engaging in any fishing activity, but loading their canoes with unidentified items to be ferried to other locations.
“It is also very essential to point out that the ban on fishing activities within that general axis is still in force. It is equally of importance, to note that there was no presence of women and children in the area. Troops also ensured that civilian settlements were not in any way along the line of fire and strikes in order to prevent collateral damage that may arise in the conduct of the air strikes.
It was after all these considerations that an air interdiction was carried out on the terrorists’ camp on Sunday, 26 Sep, 2021.
“The Defence Headquarters therefore wishes to unambiguously state that necessary steps were taken to ascertain the presence of the terrorists before the interdiction.
OPHK will continue to safe guard lives and property of innocent civilians. We urge members of the public not to be swayed by the trending misinformation.
“It is crucial to reiterate that the mandate of OPHK remains to conduct Counter Terrorism and Counter Insurgency operations against all adversaries fighting the nation in North East Nigeria.
“We will continue to remain focused and dedicated to that mandate in defence of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country, Nigeria. We call on the good people of Borno state, and the north east in general to continue to avail troops with credible information for operational enhancement.”
