South Africa Still Boiling, Citizens Ask Immigrants To Quit, 400 Nigerians Set To Return

September 9, 2019

In spite of outcry across the world on the

attacks launched by South Africans on immigrants, especially Nigerians and other Africans, the indigenes of the country have launched another attack today, September 8, asking the immigrants to leave the country.

Report reaching us indicated that violent attacks on immigrants broke out today, September 8 when hostel residents across the commercial hub of Johannesburg took to the streets to demand immediate deportation of foreigners.

The country’s police said that they intervened early enough to prevent angry South African marchers and foreigners from clashing at the heart of Johannesburg.

Images seen on social media today’s evening appeared to show fresh destruction of properties and businesses of foreigners from other African countries in the central business area of Johannesburg.

The protest could spark another week of diplomatic hostilities between Nigeria and South Africa. A similar protest and destruction of properties last weekend sparked reprisal attacks in some African countries.

In Nigeria, between Tuesday and Wednesday, several businesses affiliated to South Africa or perceived to be were targeted. Some of them were burnt while some others were looted and then burnt in Lagos, Ibadan and Uyo.

The renewed protests on Sunday could complicate ongoing dialogue over the crisis and cast renewed doubts over South African political leadership’s capacity to contain the riots.

Nigeria’s Consul General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that about 400 Nigerians have indicated interest to return home after a domestic airline, Air Peace, offered to bring back Nigerians from South Africa.

Sources: NAN, PerSecond news.

Our Plane Did Not Crash Land – Max Air Captain

Greenbarge Reporters

September 8, 2019

The Director of the Flight Operations of Max Air Limited, Captain Ibrahim Dilli has debunked media reports that the company’s Boeing 747 aircraft conveying over 500 returning pilgrims from Jeddah after performing this year’s hajj, crash landed at Minna, Niger State airport yesterday, September 7.

In a statement today, September 8, Captain Ibrahim Dilli admitted that there was minor landing challenge as a result of heavy torrential rain and wind but that the pilots manneauvered the aircraft to safe landing.

“The aircraft did not crash nor skid off the runway. Aircraft was taxied to the airport terminal and passengers disembarked without any problems.

“All passengers and crew are safe and sound,” Captain Ibrahim Dilli emphasized.

He said that all reports of the “minor incident” have been filed and that officials of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) have inspected both the aircraft and the runway “and are satisfied.”

The Director of Flight Operations gave assurance that Max Air Limited is fully committed to providing safe and efficient services within the confines of the Nigeria and International aviation regulations.

Buhari Has Graduated From Baba Go-Slow To Baba Fast – Oshiomhole

Editorial staff

September 6, 2019

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that President Muhammadu Buhari administration has graduated from Baba Go-slow between 2015 and 2019 to Baba Fast in his current second term.

“President Buhari can beat his chest to say I have started well, I have started fast. You cannot call him Baba go slow now, this time he is Baba fast.

In an interaction with journalists in Abuja today, September 6, Oshiomhole outlined some areas which President Buhari’s achievements in his 100 days in office, saying: “in 2015, after a hundred days, we did not have a federal cabinet; the President had not appointed ministers.

“This time in hundred days, from my interaction with a number of Ministers, even the budget for 2020 is already being prepared. Ministers have been assigned to their various Ministries.

“They have already started the process of taking over and trying to understand the challenges. Government is already affectively on ground.

“So even that alone shows a remarkable departure if you compare what the President has done in 2019 to what he has done in 2015.

“Even the current issues in South Africa, the prompt manner in which the President reacted and took bold steps sent a clear message to South Africa that we are not about to accept Nigeria being humiliated in their businesses. I think the bold step he has taken is refreshing.

“The President has been engaging various groups. Recently, he was talking to the Nigeria Society of Engineers, several professional groups, reminding all of us that we have our role to play in the Nigeria project.

“As a Party we have every access to the President, we see him any time we want to see him and share with him whatever we want to do.

“You notice that this time, the President also organized a retreat for Ministers immediately they were appointed. That retreat was not about entertainment, it was to discuss about Nigeria and the administration’s policy choices.

“And of course reminding the Ministers about the fact that there is huge expectation out there at a time of dwindling resources. Now government challenge is where do we cut cost so that we can find resources we need to sustain investment in infrastructure.”

I’m Pained By Demolition Of Mosque In Rivers, Sultan Of Sokoto Opens Up

Greenbarge Reporters

September 6, 2019

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Jaamatul Nasir Islam, the umbrella body of all Muslims in Nigeria, Sa’ad Abubakar, has said that he was pained and discomforted by the reported demolition of Trans Amadi central Mosque in Port Harcourt by the government of Nyeson Wike.

In a statement today, September 6 signed by the Secretary-General, JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the Sultan said that the demolition of Trans-Amadi Mosque under whatever guise, “is without any doubt, painful.”

He said that Mosque has been described “by our revered Prophet, on whom peace and benediction of Allah will be upon, as Baitullah and house of Allah.”

The statement said: “Jama’tu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, as custodian of the deen, the Islamic Religion in Nigeria, whose revered symbol is inherent in the Masjid, the Mosque, described

“However, at trying moments such as this, Muslims should be guided by the Qur’anic teaching of introspection and perseverance, truthfulness and sincerity. Such stand fetches for them Allah’s guidance on how the situation would be approached and solved.

“The above approach is to enable the Muslim Ummah to come together in unity under its leadership, which I swear in the name of Allah the Exalted, right from the time the dastard act of the Trans-Amadi Mosque demolition took place, is working round the clock in finding lasting solutions with wisdom, for what the Rivers State Government did, unfortunately, in order to forestall future occurrence of such abominable act in Rivers State and anywhere in Nigeria.

“Muslims are therefore called upon to be calm and restraint, and be prayerful, while the leadership seeks for concordant and accordant redress, within the shortest possible time frame in-sha-Allah,”

Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda Named As World’s Fastest-Growing Economies

Editorial staff

September 6, 2019

Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank, Albert Zeufack, has identified Ghana, Ethiopia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Rwanda as the world’s fastest-growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa, though feared that the macroeconomic threats to the African region are growing as escalating trade tensions between China and the United States threaten a global slowdown.

“The risks to the macro outlook are mostly on the downside. The recovery on the continent will remain fragile.”
Albert Zeufack who spoke at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF), holding in Cape Town, South Africa, said that Africa’s pace of economic growth may pick up this year but that the recovery remains patchy as debt levels are soaring.

He expressed the urgent need for the continent’s drive to boost trade.
“Rising debt levels are fuelling vulnerabilities, especially as external debt is shifting from the public to the private sector, making it imperative to keep Africa’s growth engine humming smoothly.

“For as long as you have improving growth prospects and for as long as you are able to contain deficits, then the debt situation can be contained.”

Also, the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, said that stripping out which the African Development Bank (AfDB) forecasts for the continent’s GDP to increase by 4.0% this year, up from 3.5% in 2018 and the World Bank’s expected increase to 2.8% from 2.3% in 2018 for sub-Saharan Africa, leaves the rest of Africa with a much more respectable growth rate above 5%.
He expressed worry that the growth in Africa’s two largest economies and its biggest democracies, South Africa and Nigeria, is holding the continent back.
“Whatever the final figures, though, it is clear Africa needs to move up a gear if it is to make a dent on chronic unemployment levels and offer hope to millions of youngsters now entering the workforce, thereby capitalizing on a much-vaunted “demographic dividend.
“Having a youthful continent is a huge opportunity but a huge threat as well. It’s a threat if we do not get that population to start really working.”

Nigeria Won’t Severe Diplomatic Ties With South Africa – Minister Onyeama

Editorial staff

September 6, 2019

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has said that the country would not severe diplomatic ties with South Africa in spite of the current diplomatic crisis resulting from attacks on Nigerians by citizens of that country.

Onyeama, who spoke when he when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Diaspora today, Friday, said that such action would not be in the interest of Nigerians in South Africa.

He said available statistics from the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria indicated that over 800, 000 Nigerians are legally living in the South African country.

He said that the special envoys dispatched to Johannesburg by President Muhammadu Buhari would return to Nigeria tomorrow, September 7, adding that their report would guide the Nigerian leader to take a decisive action in the overall interest of the country.

Onyeama, who briefed journalists after a meeting with the Senate panel led by Senator Bashir Ajibola, said Nigeria would consider other options to resolve the unfortunate development.

“We are not thinking to the stage of diplomatic ties called off. There are various options. We are not by any means at a stage where we are breaking diplomatic relations with South Africa.

“We just met with the senate committee to review the situation with regards to South Africa and we looked at all the possible options we analysed the possible causes and agreed on a road map going forward.

“Part of that road map on the executive side Mr. President has dispatched a special envoy to South Africa who would be holding discussion with the South African government at the very highest level.

“He (leader of the envoy) should be back tomorrow (Saturday), that will now give the government the basis for further action. In the mean time, if the government is very much on top of the situation.

“We know for a fact that no Nigerian life has been lost so we are extremely concerned now to ensure that there will be adequate compensation for property that have been damaged.

“We know that a Nigerian Airline is putting a plane at the disposal of most Nigerians that wish to take the opportunity to leave South Africa, this is purely voluntary, but we are particularly determined to particularly make sure that this crisis does not re-occur.

“It has been happening for far too long, its becoming almost endemic, so with the distinguished senators, are helping with some of the options that we may have to ensure that this will be the last time we will ever be meeting to talk about Nigerians attacked in South Africa and to take definitive measures.

“To start doing that, we want to have all the facts available and then we will take the necessary measures.”

CBN Injects $321.11 Million, CNY 33.3 Million Into Retail SMIS

Editorial staff

September 6, 2019

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made another intervention in the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) to the tune of $321, 112,537.31.

Figures obtained from the CBN today, September 6, showed that the sum of CNY33, 304,365.10 was also offered in the spot and short tenured forwards segment of the inter-bank foreign exchange market today.

The Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, who confirmed the new development said that the United States’ dollar intervention was for requests in the agricultural and raw materials sectors, adding that the Chinese Yuan for Renminbi denominated Letters of Credit.

Okorafor said that the market had remained stable because of the regular interventions by the Bank even as he noted that the demand management approach introduced by the apex bank had yielded positive results.

According to him, the CBN management would remain committed to ensuring that all the sectors of the forex market continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange.

It will be recalled that the bank on September 3, offered authorized dealers in the wholesale segment of the market the sum of $100million, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the invisibles segments each received the sum of $55 million.

Meanwhile, $1 exchanged for N358 at the Bureau de Change (BDC) segment of the foreign exchange market, while CNY1 exchanged at N46.

Water Resources Minister Embarks On Advocacy To End Open Defecation In Nigeria

Editorial staff

September 5, 2019

The Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Sulaiman Hassan Adamu has embarked on an advocacy to end open defecation in Nigeria.

His first port of call today, September 5, leading a powerful delegation from his ministry, was the office of the Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.

Engineer Sulaiman Adamu told his FCT counterpart that his visit was to kick- start the “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” campaign aimed at making Nigeria open-defecation-free by 2025.

He stressed the need to mobilize for an increase in sanitation budget line to ensure that the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Action Plan of the Federal Government, to improve the sector, was achieved.

He appealed to the FCT Minister to declare a state of emergency on open defecation in the Federal Capital Territory.

The FCT Minister assured his Water Resources counterpart that necessary support is being given to relevant department in the territory to ensure that the goal of completely eradicating open defecation in the country is achieved, adding that already FCTA is partnering with the private sector for solar powered public toilets in the FCT.

Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said that he has directed that the Minister of State of the FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu should coordinate activities for the success of the project in the FCT and ensure that FCT becomes a model worthy of emulation.

According to him, FCTA has six major water tanks under construction to aid in the distribution of water to newly opened districts in the territory, and that water was not a problem in the FCT as the Lower Usuma Dam was providing adequate water to service the Capital city.

“In the FCT, raw water supply is not the real issue. As you know, we have enough water at the Lower Usuma Dam which is annually supplemented by the basin transfer from the Gurara dam under your Ministry. And we have the water treatment plants which is adequate for the needs of the Capital city for a reasonable enough period of time to come.

“The main challenge is being able to reticulate and distribute the water to other newer phases of the FCT and I am pleased to say that we have a system of about six major water tanks under construction now and we are introducing projects that would bring in pumping stations to be able to supplement the water pressure.”

Death: Asiwaju Tinubu Mourns His First Cousin, Rafiu Tinubu

September 5, 2019

The national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed with a heavy heart the death of his first cousin and eminent member of his, Alhaji Rafiu Babatunde Tinubu, who was the son of Dr. Abdul Hameed Saka Tinubu.

Asiwaju acknowledged in a statement he personally signed today, September 5, that the deceased helped him to lay a solid for the success of his administration during his two-term tenure as governor of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007, adding that his memory, as a distinguished public servant, passionate Lagosian and patriotic Nigerian will ever remain fresh in his mind.

The Asiwaju recalled that at the time he became governor from the private sector, he needed a Head of the State Civil Service who he could trust and who would help forge a harmonious relationship between his administration and the public service on which the success of any government depends to a significant extent. “Nobody at that time could fit the bill as perfectly as Alhaji Rafiu Babatunde Tinubu. As a family member, he would understandably desire nothing but the success of my administration. But much more than that, he had the requisite intellectual grounding as well as public service managerial experience, rising from the lower rungs to the upper echelon of the Lagos State Public Service between 1978 and 1999.

“With a Bachelor’s (B.A) and Master’s (M.A) degrees in Political Science from the prestigious Howard University, Washington, D.C., USA, he joined the Lagos State Public Service in June 1978 after a teaching stint at the Department of Political Science of the then University of Ife between 1974 and 1978. Before his appointment as my administration’s first Head of Service (HOS) in 1999, Alhaji Rafiu Tinubu had served with dedication and distinction in various administrative positions both in the State Civil Service and Local Government Service over a period of two decades.

“His experience and dexterity in the complex politics of the public service was of tremendous value to my administration and helped to gradually build and sustain a cordial working relationship between the political class and the bureaucratic machinery of the public service. I recall that at the inception of my administration, there was a protracted labour crisis between the government and the public service as a result of the new minimum wage of N7, 500.00, which the state was unable to pay at the time due to the near insolvent state of its finances.

“Alhaji Tinubu’s experience and wise counsel played a crucial role in enabling us go through that difficult period and forge a relationship of mutual trust, confidence and respect by both parties especially as the capacity of our administration to meet our welfare obligations to workers systematically grew as a result of our far-reaching reforms. His advice helped us greatly in appointing a team of highly capable, experienced and dedicated Permanent Secretaries who played indelible roles in our administration’s success in laying a solid foundation for the continuing transformation of Lagos.

“At the same time, we commenced during his tenure as HOS, the reorganization, re-equipping and transformation of the Lagos State Public Service to the pride of place it occupies in Nigeria’s public administration today.

“Alhaji Rafiu Tinubu was particularly passionate about recruiting new, talented hands into the Service, which commenced with the employment of 5000 fresh graduates into the civil service in Y2000 popularly known as the millennium staff. It is gratifying that these have today risen to critical managerial positions in the Service.

“The late Rafiu Tinubu came, saw and gave his very best to the development of the Lagos State Civil Service, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole. I condole with his wives, his children, the extended Tinubu family, all his loved ones as well as the government and people of Lagos State on this sad loss.”

Major Bridge In Ogbia, Ex President Jonathan’s Area, Collapses

Editorial staff

September 5, 2019

A major bridge linking some communities in Ogbia, the Local Government Area of former President Goodluck Jonathan, with other communities in Bayelsa State has collapsed. Information reaching us Said that it is only bridge that connected Emeyal and Kolo and Jonathan’s Otuoke community.

Residents in the area told news men that the bridge, which caved in under the weight of heavy truck, was constructed over 33 years ago.

Information had it that the truck, loaded with heavy chippings tried to cross the bridge but was unsuccessful as the concrete columns and pillars holding the bridge gave way.

Giving an account of the incident, Precious Okala, who is the clan President-elect of Obahn Emeyal Youth Council, said the bridge had depreciated over time and was due for maintenance, adding that it has not been maintained since it was constructed in 1986.

The Youth President-elect, Elebele community, Okala Azibola, described the incident as tragic and called on the government and other relevant authorities including the oil multinationals operating in the area to come to their aid.

Residents and travelers were seen patronizing canoe paddlers to cross to other communities for their daily activities.

It was gathered that no life was lost as the driver of the truck and three other passengers were rescued alive with minor injuries.

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