News
The newly elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has given a quit notice to the ruling All Progressives Congress, saying “we are taking back the country.”
Speaking in the early hours of Sunday after his election at the national convention of the party in Abuja, Ayu said: “The PDP is back. We are determined. The other one is a contraption.
“In two weeks time you will see the power that will come back in PDP in every state. A small group of people decided to divide Nigeria. We will unite the country and move ahead to develop this country.
“We did it before, we will do it again. The other party can never hold a convention… It is a challenge. This is a quit notice to the other party. We are taking back the country. We will develop the country.”
Meanwhile, results have emerged for the three positions contested at the 2021 Special National Convention of the PDP. After a keenly contested election for the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South), former governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, scored 705 votes. The office was won by Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja with 2004 votes.
Inthe contest for National Youth Leader of the party, Suleiman Mohammed Kadede won with 3072 votes against Usman Elkudan who scored 200 votes. Ambassador Umar Damagom won with 2234 votes against Hajiya Ina Ciroma 365 votes.
Contestants for the other 18 offices including the National Secretary of the party Senator Samuel Anyanwu, were elected.
Motion for Adjournment was moved by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makimde as he presented the team to “rescue Nigeria.” The convention was brought to an end at 4.30am
This day
Rauf Olayemi, Bauchi
The academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said that it would sponsor a bill at the National Assembly to force political office holders to return their children from foreign universities to Nigeria.
The President of the Union, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke made this known to Nigerian Newstrack, in its Bauchi Zone, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), on Thursday at a one-day summit on 'State of the Nation'.
Osodeke said those who control Nigerian resources do not prioritise the nation's education. "Today, our leaders and those who control our wealth have completely abandoned education. Nigeria is riding on abandoned education and what they do as an alternative is creating avenues for themselves: having abandoned and killed our education, they looked for somewhere they have invested in education to send their children, relatives and others.
"In Nigeria today, if a commissioner, a governor or a president has a headache the next day he joins the plane. He is afraid of going to the clinic where his people are to get treatment. That's where we are today.
"As a union, we are having a proposition to be put forward to the House Committee on ICT to work on it. We are going to storm the National Assembly with a bill. That bill is titled 'bring back your children'. We are going to mobilise the students, NGOs –all of us will storm the national assembly and will ensure that a bill is passed."
He said anyone who joins political office in Nigeria must bring their children to Nigerian school; either university, college of education, secondary or primary. "If the children of these people are in the country's universities, our education would not have been where it is today. With this, they will pay attention to the problem," he said.
ALSO, the Union presented N100,000 each to six indigent students in both state and federal universities in Bauchi, Plateau and Gombe. One of the beneficiaries, Iqmat Temitope Popoola, a 300level of Agricultural Economics at the ATBU was elated receiving her cheque.
Security operatives, on Friday, conducted a search on the home of Mary Odili, a justice of the supreme court, in Abuja.
The supreme court justice is the wife of Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers state, who is currently on the watchlist of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The security operatives, who were made up of soldiers and officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), identified themselves as members of a joint task force.
The security operatives, who came with a search warrant, said they received information on “illegal activities” going on in the house.
Our correspondent visited the residence of the judge on Friday night and observed heavy security presence involving the police and army.
Several persons were also seen seated at the front of the judge’s residence.
The security operatives were, however, said to have not discovered anything of interest in relation to the alleged illegal activities, and left after about an hour.
Meanwhile, EFCC has denied the involvement of its operatives in the search.
“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to claims in a section of the media that operatives of the Commission today, October 29, 2021 stormed the Maitama, Abuja home of a Judge of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili, purportedly to execute a search,” Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said in a statement.
“The Commission by this statement wishes to inform the public that the report is false as it did not carry out any operation at the home of Justice Odili.
“If there was any such operation as claimed by the media, it was not carried out by the EFCC.
“The Commission enjoins the public to discountenance the report.”
The Cable
Documents have revealed that the warrant presented by security operatives to search the Abuja residence of Mary Odili, a justice of the supreme court, carries a wrong address.
The security operatives, who stormed the residence on Friday, said they received information on “illegal activities” going on in the house.
Documents seen showed that one Aliyu Ibrahim had, on October 13, deposed to an affidavit stating that he has “observed some illegal activities going on in some houses within Abuja and its environs”.
“That I am sure and convinced that the kind of activities going on in those houses within Abuja is illegal and hereby report the said matter to the law enforcement agency,” the affidavit reads.
“That I hereby state that all information provided by me to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
“That this affidavit is made in good faith and for record purposes.”
Consequently, one Lawrence Ajodo, identified as a chief superintendent of police and a member of the investigation team under the asset tax recovery panel of the ministry of justice, sought a warrant to carry out a search.
“That on the strength of the affidavit, we seek for a search warrant to enable us carry out investigation at No. 9, Imo street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja,” the police officer had said.
The warrant was granted on Friday by Emmanuel Iyanna, a chief magistrate at Wuse zone 6 magistrate court.
However, the address for which the warrant was obtained is not that of the judge.
While Odili’s address is 7, Imo river street, Maitama, the address on the warrant is 9, Imo street, Maitama.
The search warrant also did not carry the name of the occupants of the premises.
Speaking to journalists at the premises on Friday, Mike Ozekhome, lawyer to Odili, described the warrant as one with “fundamental flaws”.
“It is a fundamental flaw. A search warrant must have the name of the person that you want to carry out a search on his or her house,” he said.
“Also, if they were looking for Imo street, they should look for Imo street elsewhere. There is an Imo close nearby. There is another Imo close somewhere in Garki, but this place is number 7, Imo river street.
“For that reason alone, they missed the point badly.
“If one wants to give them the benefit of doubt, one can say it was a genuine mistake which was why they quietly withdrew, contrary to the information circulating that justice Odili resisted search.
“On the other hand, it might be politically motivated to embarrass the justice of the supreme court and to embarrass her husband.”
The Cable
‘I WAS MISLED TO ISSUE SEARCH WARRANT ON MARY ODILI'S HOME’, CHIEF MAGISTRATE SAYS IN REVOKING ORDER
A Chief Magistrates’ Court has revoked a search warrant granted to the Joint Panel Recovery unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice to search the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili.
The panel, which comprises the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the Ministry of Justice, had obtained a search warrant from the magistrates’ court after a whistleblower, Aliyu Umar, claimed to have observed illegal activities going on at No. 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja.
Umar’s affidavit dated October 13, 2021, read in part, “I have observed some illegal activities going on in those houses within Abuja are illegal and hereby report the said matter to the law enforcement agency.
“I hereby state that all information provided by me to the EFCC is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.”
In a second affidavit deposed to by a senior police officer, CSP Lawrence Ajodo, the panel applied to the chief magistrate in Abuja seeking a search warrant to search the house.
The Chief Magistrate, Emmanuel Iyanna, subsequently approved the search warrant on October 29, 2021.
Armed with the search warrant, the police and other members of the panel stormed the house which turned out to be the home of Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili, who is also the wife of former Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State.
She was said to have resisted the attempts by the policemen to search her house, insisting that the house belonged to her and not her husband.
A top source said, “EFCC operatives armed with a search warrant stormed Justice Odili’s home today, claiming to be investigating her husband. Justice Odili insisted that it was her personal house and not her husband’s.
“As I speak to you, the operatives are still there, insisting that they must search the house.”
But the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said, in a statement, that the commission had no hand in the matter and advised members of the public to disregard any news to the contrary.
Amid the controversy, however, the chief magistrate issued an order on Friday night accusing the government of misleading the court.
The order read, “Upon misrepresentation to this honourable court that led to the issuance of a search warrant in favour of Joint Panel Recovery, Ministry of Justice, against House 9, Imo Street, Maitama, Abuja, dated October 29, 2021. In view of the above fact, the said search warrant is hereby revoked.”
Peter Odili, who was governor from 1999 to 2007, obtained a perpetual injunction from the Federal High Court in 2007 which barred the EFCC from investigating or prosecuting him.
In 2020, he again approached the Federal High Court to get another injunction to stop an impending probe. Last month, the former governor sued the Nigeria Immigration Service for seizing his passport at the airport.
In its response, however, NIS said it was the EFCC that asked it to seize Odili’s passport as part of a probe.
Inyang Ekwo, however, ordered Immigration to release the passport to Odili immediately.
Punch
President Muhammadu Buhari has warned those campaigning for tenure elongation on his behalf, stressing that he would leave office in May 2023.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari gave the warning at a meeting in Makkah with a select group of Nigerians resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he just ended a visit.
“I swore by the Holy Qur’an that I would serve in accordance with the constitution and leave when my time is up. No “Tazarce” (tenure extension). I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension. I will not accept that”, he said.
Buhari also tacitly expressed support for efforts to increase the role of technology in the nation’s elections, arguing that the introduction of the card reader and electronic register was God’s answer to his prayers, having been cheated of his victory in three previous elections.
“After the third so-called defeat, I said, ‘God Dey’. My opponents laughed at me but God answered my prayers by bringing in technology. At that point, nobody can steal their votes or buy them,” the President added.
Buhari, who ended his visit to the Kingdom with the Friday Prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah said he would continue to abide by the constitution in all its ramifications and would at all times supervise and deal with his ministers on same basis.
He gave assurances at the meeting that in the balance of “18 months or so of my time left, whatever I can do to improve the life of Nigerians, I will do it for the country.”
The President commended diaspora Nigerians in the Kingdom for representing the country well and projecting its good image.
He also used the opportunity to urge citizens at home to be fair to his administration at all times, asking the critics to compare the security situations in the Northeast and Southsouth in 2015 and how things have improved as at now.
A leader of the community, Abdulkadir Maikudi, who spoke on behalf of the group requested the President to assist the privately-run Nigerian International School in the Kingdom by equipping it to provide science and technical education.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal and the Consul-General in Jeddah, Abdulkarim Mansur attested to the good conduct of the nearly 1.5 million Nigerians there.
Sun
Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared to the three tiers of government, N739.965 billion as federation allocation for September.
According to a statement from Oshundun Olajide, Deputy Director (Information), Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning late on Thursday, the meeting was held through a Virtual Conference.
“From the N739.965 billion, inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), and Exchange Gain, the Federal Government received N301.311 billion, the states received N220.272 billion, the LGs got N164.176 billion.
However, oil producing states received N54.206 billion as derivation (13 per cent of Mineral Revenue).
The communique issued after the meeting indicated that Gross Revenue available from VAT for September was N170.850 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in a decrease of N7.659 billion.
“The distribution is as follows; Federal Government got N23.864 billion, the States received N79.548 billion, Local Government Councils got N55.684 billion.
“The distributed Statutory Revenue of N692.283 billion received for the month was higher than the N537.518 billion received in the previous month by N154.765 billion.
“From this amount, Federal Government received N276.008 billon, states got N139.995 billion, LGCs got N107.930 billion, and Derivation (13 per cent Mineral Revenue) got N53.831 billion.”
The communique further revealed that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Oil and Gas Royalties and Excise Duty increased significantly, while Import Duty and VAT and Companies Income Tax (CIT), decreased marginally.
It, however, disclosed that total revenue distributable for the current month was inclusive of Gross Statutory Revenue of N577.765 billion, VAT of N159.096 billion, and Exchange Gain of N3.104 billion.
These brought the total distributable revenue to N739.965 billion.
The balance of Excess Crude Account was $60.860 million.
NAN
An Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday dismissed the appeal of the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus seeking to restrain the party from conducting its National Convention, thus paving the way for the congress to commence today in Abuja.
The three-man panel dismissed the appeal which was filed on October 14, 2021, “for lacking in merit.”
With the scare that the convention might be stopped by a court over, 3,600 delegates from all over the country will today converge on the Eagles Square, Abuja, to elect a new National Working Committee for the party.
Secondus had approached the court of appeal to challenge his removal as chairman. He also sought an order of injunction restraining the PDP from holding its National Convention.
The judgement read by Gabriel Kolawale, was unanimously endorsed by the other two members of the panel, who said the suit by Secondus was an afterthought and an abuse of court process.
Kolawole held that the attempt by the applicant to suspend the planned convention “is an act of self-induced urgency to disrupt an ongoing lawful process of the party.”
He wondered why the applicant waited for too long to seek the stoppage of the process which had been communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The judge noted that Secondus did not oppose the notice of the convention written by the acting chairman of the party to INEC, “neither did he oppose INEC’s response to the party.”
The court thus granted the PDP the right to hold its National Convention as scheduled.
Counsel to Secondus, Tayo Oyetibo said the outcome of the main appeal, which is challenging the removal of his client as chairman of the PDP, would determine whether or not they will appeal.
Multiple court orders were issued against Secondus resulting in his removal from office, and the Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi, appointed in his stead.
PDP Holds National Convention at Eagle Square
Meanwhile, 3600 delegates will converge on the Eagles Square, Abuja, to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC).
The PDP flag has been hoisted at the Eagle Square, while banners and decorations adorned the area. A podium had also been assembled at the centre of the square.
The party said there would be affirmative vote cast for 21 of the 24 offices of the NWC today.
The party also said the new NWC to be elected would assume office on December 9, 2021.
Addressing a press conference ahead of the convention, Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said 21 of the 24 offices were returned on consensus basis.
According to Fintiri, the offices that would be contested are that of the Deputy National Chairman (South), National Auditor and National Youth Leader.
The former national secretary of the party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Taofeek Arapaja will be contesting for the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South).
Speaking on the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Fintiri said the new NWC would assume office when that of the old one ends.
He said: “There will be no vacuum because we’re not truncating anybody’s tenure. We only called for an early convention, but that does not mean because we are having early convention, we are also terminating the tenure of the present NWC. They will still be asked to serve their time until December 9. If anything, it will give them a better chance to interface and have a smooth transition.”
Fintiri said the affirmative votes would be through open secret, explaining that in line with INEC’s guidelines, votes will be cast, adding that the convention had achieved 80 per cent consensus.
Fintiri said 3,600 delegates were expected to cast their votes for the incoming NWC members.
He said, “At the moment, we’re making efforts to reconcile most of our contestants so that we can streamline them and have a better Convention. This will improve our elective chances in 2023.
Tambuwual: NWC to Emerge Through Consensus
Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwual, has said he and his colleagues were working towards ensuring that all members of the new NWC of the party emerged via consensus.
He said this after a meeting of the PDP-GF in Abuja, late on Thursday.
Tambuwual said, “We have held the meeting of the PDP governors’ forum. As you can see again, 13/13, all of us attended and the chairman of the convention committee brought us up to speed on how prepared they are for us to hold our convention.
“We are also happy to say that part of what we discussed was the process of getting consensus during the convention.
“So far, we can say with certainty that we have achieved not less than 80 per cent of that process and it is still ongoing
“We are hoping that at the end of the day, we are going to have a hitch-free convention and possibly have all the candidates emerge via consensus.
“Consensus is part of democratic process and we are imbibing that in the interest of our party so that we can continue to have stability that will reposition the party, as we have always said, for the future.”
Wike Hails Ruling
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has lauded the court ruling that restored PDP’s National Convention.
Wike said Secondus’ attempt to scuttle the convention “makes him an enemy of the party.”
He said no individual could derail the party’s mission to rescue Nigeria.
Wike said: “What Secondus is doing is to sabotage the efforts of Nigerians, the efforts of PDP from rescuing this country from the hand of the party that has failed the country. And it is not fair.
“This is a party that has given you everything and there’s nothing wrong in making sacrifice. Even if, assuming though not conceding, that anything was wrong, we expected that having achieved what you have achieved in your life from this party, there is nothing wrong in making sacrifice.”
According to Wike, PDP’s convention starting today would be one of the best that has ever been conducted.
He asserted that Nigerians were expecting PDP to come out of the convention more united.
Wike said the party members, particularly the PDP governors, were more united because they had realised that Nigeria was in difficulty and that only a united PDP could wrest power from the APC.
“Nigeria is in problem and we cannot do it alone. We require everybody to work with us, collectively and see how this country can be rescued.
“Nigerians are not happy with the ruling party, the way Nigerians are being treated. Like I’ve told everybody; there is nothing better than making sacrifice for the interest of the country. PDP is the only platform, and it is today the only opposition party that can rescue Nigeria.”
Wike noted that Tambuwal had recently led a team of his colleague to Ondo State to woo the former Governor of Ondo State, Olusengu Mimiko to PDP.
He said the leadership of PDP “is happy that they are going to the convention with nothing less than 95 per cent consensus achieved,” which he said “is first of its kind.”
The governor added that PDP “is ready and prepared to achieve the change that will end the problem of governance in Nigeria.”
Thisday
Lauretta Fagbohun, Ogun
More mid wives are to be employed in all maternity homes in the twenty local government of Ogun State, to reduce cases of maternal mortality.
The first lady of Ogun State, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun disclosed this in her address at a town hall meeting organized by the Joint Community Development Association (JCDA) and Ogun Women on Maternal Health and Front line Workers held in Abeokuta.
She said all efforts must be put in place to employ more nurses and mid wives to reduce maternal mortality in the State.
Mrs Abiodun called on all Stakeholders to come together to help improve healthcare delivery system in the rural areas.
According to her, there is a need to give a level playing field for women in the rural areas in the area of maternal health.
"We need to put more efforts in employing more nurses and mid wives to reduce maternal mortality in the State.
"Improving the State of maternal health in the rural areas in Ogun State will require the involvement of all of us.
"We need to give every body an equal opportunity, we need to give a level playing field for women, they are just like us, just vulnerable because of circumstance , it could be anyone of us.
"we should also encourage and allow our children to go to school of Nursing, to increase professionals in the sector as the State is presently experiencing a decline.
The President National Association of Nurses and Midwives in Nigeria (NANMN), Micheal Nnachi in her speech appealed to the State government to give automatic employments to graduates of the State owned college of Nursing and Mid Wives, notingthat this will help the State to solve its current nursing staff manpower deficit.
A presentation by Mr Olaitan Jide of JDPC revealed that their are only 215 nurses in the State now serving in the 448 health centers across the State.
He said "Despite the reiterated commitment to increase the share of health sector financing in the government budget to at least the 15 percent recommended in the Abuja Declaration, this is yet to be achieved
According to him, "execution of the program budget continues to be plagued by several impediments, including low absorption capacity, delayed release of funds, non-release of funds, and complexities in the procurement processes. Efforts should be scaled up to address these impediments to ensure smooth implementation of the budget and improve budget performance especially for the key program aimed at upgrading primary health care centres, ensuring medical supplies are available and investing more in the training of the medical personnel including those that are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that primary health care facilities are clean".
The National President ably represented by the State chairman of the association, Mrs Roseline Solarin opined that a State like Ogun with about three Universities and five colleges of Nursing shouldn't be lacking nurses.
He said that this shortage is one of the causes of increased maternal mortality in the State, especially in the rural Communities.
In his opinion if this problem is solved, maternal mortality will reduce in the State.
A sculpture was handed back to Nigeria by the University of Aberdeen on Thursday after its "extremely immoral" acquisition.
The "priceless" bronze is described as having been looted by British soldiers in Benin City in 1897.
Depicting an Oba (king) of Benin, it was acquired by the university in 1957 at an auction.
The university approved repatriation in March, and a handover ceremony took place on Thursday evening.
Thousands of sculptures and carvings were removed during the destruction of Benin City in present-day Nigeria.
Many ended up being sold to museums or private collectors.
A panel unanimously recommended its return to Nigeria, and the university's governing body supported the move.
A delegation has travelled to Aberdeen to officially receive the sculpture.
Oba of Benin, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, said: "Much has been said about the significance of heritage art and, in spite of the occasional attempts in some quarters to downplay their cultural and religious relevance, these works are often imbued with the spirit of the people from whom they were taken.
"We thank the University of Aberdeen for this noble act of returning our bronze work.
"We hope that other institutions worldwide will see the injustice when they insist on holding on to items which in fact should be a reminder to them of the great injustice that was inflicted on a people so far away and so long ago."
Benin bronzes have become "important symbols of injustice" over the last 40 years, according to George Boyne, the university's principal and vice-chancellor.
"It would not have been right to have retained an item of such great cultural significance that was acquired in such reprehensible circumstances", he said.
Boyne added that the university had taken a proactive approach to return the bronze.
Neil Curtis, head of museums and special collections for the university, said a review of the collections identified the Head of an Oba as having been acquired in a way now consider to have been "extremely immoral".
On Wednesday, a Cambridge University college returned to Nigeria another Benin Bronze, while in Paris, the Quai Branly museum handed over 26 artefacts stolen in 1892 to the republic of Benin, a former French colony that borders Nigeria.
The handovers are the clearest sign yet of growing momentum towards the return of artefacts taken away from Africa by Europeans during the colonial period. Germany has agreed to start returning Benin Bronzes held in its museums next year.
The returns are likely to increase pressure on the British Museum in London, which holds by far the largest and most significant collection of Benin Bronzes.
BBC/Reuters
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Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says Nigeria is “in a mess”.
He spoke on Thursday at a media briefing held at the Freedom Park in Lagos.
Soyinka, who said the present administration doesn’t appear to have a grasp of solutions to the country’s challenges, said Nigerians need to embrace unity to foster true development.
“We’re in a mess. This country is in a mess. It is disintegrating before our very eyes. The government is floundering. It’s not merely that the government is devoid of a holistic solution, the problem really is that this government does not have a holistic grasp of the problems of the nation and the environment in which we live and the time also in which we live in,” he said.
“After all, look at Sudan right now; it’s in turmoil simply because some people got up one day and decided that an arrangement come into for the governance of that nation be abrogated, because they’re carrying the guns. And of course, the people have responded in a marvellous, united way. Doctors, workers, students, market people and the last time, the oil workers, they’ve all got up and said ‘no’.
“Part of the problem which we have in this nation, and which has plagued us, except for a few memorable times, is this ability to act in concert. From time to time, we have a section of the nation come together and say ‘enough; we’re human beings; we will not be treated like beasts’.
“Like #EndSARS for instance, that’s one such movement. Unfortunately, it ended somewhat tragically. But it doesn’t matter; it was a step in the right direction.
“What I’m trying to say to you is this. If we’re still looking to this government for solution, then I think we really are lost. We’ve got to find a way of piling up pressure to enable us to meet as equal beings across the entire nation for a national indaba, involving the various professions, group interests, ethnic groups — any productive sector of this nation should be encouraged to come together and really debate the future of this nation.
“We’re going along piecemeal solutions all the time. One way or the other, one misses that sense of a grasp of the totality and understanding of the connection of one part of governance, one part of civic society to the others.”
While speaking on his latest book, ‘Chronicles from the Land of the Happiest People in the World’, he said people should read and “decide whether that title is justified or it’s meant to be ironic, and if it’s the latter, what really it is trying to say”.
He also lamented the “unnecessary” questions Nigerian travellers are expected to answer as part of the Covid protocol.
“When you go through this questionnaire — the thing you have to fill on your computer — you just wonder what it’s all about. Is it really about Covid prevention or is it to gather information on Nigerians in a covert way utilising the Covid requirements?” he asked
“It’s unnecessary. I’m not saying an attempt was made to banish me, but I felt like I was serving a decree of banishment, at least for 24 or 48 hours. That’s exactly how I felt. You know, you have to carry your bag as we’re about to enter the plane, then go all the way back, then you go through immigration again, to be let into France.”
The Cable
...promises three new housing Estates in 2022
To fix the deplorable portions of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road, the Ogun State government says it would need to look for at least N13b to put the road in a better condition.
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun who stated this also disclosed that plans had reached advance stage to build three new housing estates across the three senatorial districts in the state.
Governor Abiodun stated these in his address at the virtual citizens' engagement (town hall meeting) on 2022 - 2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2022 Budget for Ogun West Senatorial District, held on Thursday, in Abeokuta.
He explained that his administration had decided to decentralize his activities to ensure that everyone from the three Senatorial Districts have equal opportunity to rub minds with those in positions to govern and for all governed to have inputs in their basic needs.
Abiodun added that the Town Hall meeting which kicked off on Wednesday in Ogun East, was to further ensure that critical stakeholders and people in the state express their views and expectations for the next year budget.
The governor declared that development of Ogun West senatorial district would continue to be of topmost importance to his administration, assuring that the zone would continue to receive the deserved attention of his government.
Abiodun, who described "Ogun West as the major outlet to other West African States and the Industrial Engine Room of the state", said his administration would remain irrevocably committed to making Ogun State a truly investors’ first choice destination, not only in Nigeria, but in Africa.
He added his administration would never toy with development and welfare of the inhabitants of the senatorial district, which is home to Agbara Industrial Estate with over 400 national and multinational brands.
Nigerian Newstrack quotes the governor as saying that "the people of Ogun West are priceless jewels. We are also the Industrial Capital of Nigeria because Ogun West has the largest concentration of factories and industrial hubs in the country. This Senatorial District is the home of Agbara Industrial Estate, which is one of the largest Industrial Estates in the entire sub-Saharan Africa; this same Industrial Estate is home to over 400 national and multi-national brands. In fact, it is this same Agbara Industrial Estate that attracted the location of the Ogun Guandong Free Trade Zone at Igbesa which is also in Ogun West Senatorial District and that Free Trade Zone remains a viable commercial hub till tomorrow. It needs no gainsaying, therefore, that our Administration is irrevocably committed to making Ogun State a truly investors’ first choice destination, not only in Nigeria, but in Africa and consider the welfare of its inhabitants non-negotiable", the governor stated.
The governor said that no fewer than 196 projects had been executed in Imeko Afon, Yewa North and Yewa South local government areas in Ogun West senatorial district, by his administration.
He further stated that his government has commissioned the Raypower and Ikola/Osi-Ota road to open up Ota and other towns along Alagbado/Ipaja border line for more investments and continued socio-economic development in the area.
He added that the reconstruction of the 19km Atan-Lusada-Agbara road had started, while the 10.25km Lusada-Igbesa road had also been commissioned.
"We are assiduously working on the Ilaro-Owode–Idiroko Road, which is a Federal Road, like we do on Epe-Ijebu-Ode Road in the East Senatorial District and Sagamu-Abeokuta Road in the Central Senatorial District. As we await the Federal Government’s approval on transfer of the reconstruction of Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta, we are daily on that road to fix the failed portions.
"It is noteworthy that Otunba Mike Adenuga has already committed to reconstruct the 64 kilometre Ota-Idiroko International Road through tax credit. Ditto for Alhaji Aliko Dangote who has been granted leave to reconstruct the 100 kilometre Ilaro- Papalanto-Sagamu Interchange Road also through tax credit, amongst roads that we hope to fix through Public Private Sector Partnership (PPP).
While pleading for the patience and understanding of the people, the governor said that the Ogun State Public Works Agency (OGPWA) has been empowered and mandated to continually do palliative works on bad roads so as to make them passable.
"We are turning the state to a massive construction sites with road projects across 18 of our 20 LG Areas. Needless to say that we are in all the 5 LGAs of Ogun West. In Yewa North Local Government, our men are working on Imasayi-Igan Okoto-Ayetoro Road; in Imeko Afon, we are reconstructing Oke Ola and Ago-Oshoffa Roads; in Ipokia, we are fixing the Oke Afa Road and Bridge at Agosasa; the Joju-Oju Ore Road in Sango-Ota road is on-going while we have decided on another approach to expedite the completion of the construction of Owode to Ilaro road.
"In the Housing sector, we are building an affordable Housing Estate in the heart of Ilaro. Work will also commence in earnest as we have secure space for units of Medium Income House for Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government. The icing on the cake is that I have ordered that local masons, labourers, electricians, suppliers, artisans and all that would be involved must be locally sourced, to underscore the need for fair and even handed development, as well as improved prosperity for our people across all sectors and sections across our Senatorial Districts. For me, no section of this State will be developed at the expense of the other", the governor stated.
Abiodun, however, thanked the royal fathers, community leaders, Baales and members of the Neighbourhood Watch and Hunters, who have been supporting the state's security architecture to ensure safety of lives and property across the Ogun West in particular, and the State in general, especially during the farmers-herders skirmishes early in the year
He also assured that his administration would take copious note of people's comments, recommendations, proposals, submitting "all of these will be taken as an important factor in the preparation processes of the year 2022 Budget of our dear state".
A hit and run driver on Thursday killed a female student of Egba Odeda secondary school in Odeda local government area of Ogun State.
This was disclosed by the Spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi who confirmed the incident to Nigerian Newstrack in Abeokuta.
Akinbiyi noted that the incident occurred at 2:45 pm, around Beni village, Oko Oloshi along Abeokuta -Ibadan expressway.
He explained that the students were about to cross the road on their way back from school before one of them was hit and killed by the unknown vehicle.
Akinbiyi added that the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of General hospital, Odeda.
He commiserated with the family of the deceased, calling on students to be more vigilant and at alert whenever they are using the road.
.. view the 21 roads in 6 geopolitical zones
Federal executive council (FEC) has approved N621.2 billion for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to take over the reconstruction of 21 federal roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Babatunde Fashola, minister of works and housing, disclosed after the FEC meeting presided by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday.
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) had decried the loss of its members and properties to dilapidated roads — but NNPC appealed to the union to shelve the planned strike and accepted to rebuild some roads.
The approval, according to Fashola, was in line with Executive Order No. 007 of 2019 cited as the companies income tax (Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme) Order, 2019 (“EO7 of 2019” or “the Scheme”), signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He explained that the selected 21 roads are 1804.6 kilometres, and it was a strategic intervention under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure and Refreshment Tax Credit Scheme.
The minister further explained that Executive Order 7 allows the private sector to deploy in advance the taxes they would pay for infrastructure development.
He said nine of the selected projects are in north-central, three in north-east, two in north-west, two in south-east, three in south-south, and two in south-west.
FULL LIST
NORTH-CENTRAL
Dualization of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa/ Bokani Junction road Section 1: Ilorin-Jebba, Kwara State C/NO. 6468. 110.8km
Dualization of Ilorin, Jebba-Mokwa/Bokani junction Road Section II: Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani junction in Kwara and Niger states. C/NO.6469. 46 km
Dualization of Suleja-Minna road, Niger state. C/O. 6077. 40km
Dualization of Suleja-Minna Road, Niger State PhaseII (Km 40+000-101+000) C/NO.6267. 61km
Reconstruction of Bida-Lambata Road, Niger state C/NO.6372. 125km
Agaie-Katcha-Baro Road, Niger State 52.3km
Emergency repairs of failed section of Mokwa-Makera-Tagina-Kaduna state border in Niger state. 164km
Minna-Zungeru minna-Zungeru-Tagina road, Niger state. 90km
Bida-Minna road, Niger state. 791.1km
NORTH-EAST
Rehabilitation of Cham-Numan section of Gombe-Yola road in Adamawa state. 46.35km
Construction of Bali-Serti road in Taraba state. 110km
Rehabilitation of Gombe-Biu road in Gombe/Borno state. 117km
NORTH-WEST
Rehabilitation of outstanding sections of Gada-Zaima-Zuru-Gamji road Phase II in Kebbi State 62km.
Rehabilitation of Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Sokoto-Birnin Kebbi. 221.5km
SOUTH-EAST
Dualization of Aba-Ikot Ekpene road in Abia/Akwa Ibom states. 73km
Rehabilitation of Umuahia (Ikwuano)-Ikot Ekpene road: Umuahia-Umudike in Abia state. 49km
SOUTH-SOUTH
Rehabilitation of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in Cross River state Section I: Odukpani-Itu Bridge Head in Cross River/Akwa Ibom states. 21.9km
Dualization of outstanding portion of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene: lot 2. 32km
Dualization of Oku-Iboku Power Plant Section of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot-Ekpene road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom state. 28km
SOUTH-WEST
Rehabilitation and expansion of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Agbara Junction-Nigeria/Benin border) in Lagos State. 62km
Dualization of Ibadan-Ilorin road (Route A2) Section II in Oyo State (Oyo-Ogbomosho). 52km.
The Cable