The six governors of the south south region will meet in Benin City, Edo state on Thursday 18th January 2023 under the auspices of the BRACED Commission.

The meeting will be chaired by the chairman of the BRACED Commission Governors Council, H.E Mr. Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo State and it is expected to be attended by the newly elected governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa lbom, Cross River, and Delta states along with their commissioners of economic development and Planning.

This first meeting of the south south governors will focus on how to revive and strengthen the BRACED Commission and the regions aspiration for collective regional development and integration.

The idea of the BRACED was the outcome of the first south south economic summit held in Calabar in 2009 and the Commission was created thereafter to drive the region's aspirations of a sustainable a regional economy strong enough to provide employment and prosperity for the people of the region and one that is is globally competitive.

The meeting will also discuss issues pertaining to the security of the region and how to effectively entrench its knowledge sharing and peer review mechanism. A communique is expected to be issued after the meeting.

Scores of passengers have been reported missing when a passenger boat with about 100 persons on board capsized in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The Disaster Officer, Borgu LGA in the state, Mallam Musa Said, disclosed that five bodies have so far been recovered while search and rescue operations were still ongoing as at the time of filing this report.

The Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba Arah, confirmed the incident to our correspondent, saying that the number of deaths and survivors were yet to be established.

He said the boat took off from Dugga Mashaya in Dugga ward, Borgu LGA heading to Wara market in Kebbi State with passengers estimated to be around a hundred in number and goods, such as grains and sugar cane.

Arah said, “NASEMA has received a report of a boat mishap that occurred at Borgu LGA. The incident happened this afternoon, Monday 15th January 2024, at about 2:05pm.

“No clear information about deaths and survivors yet. Meanwhile, search and rescue operations are ongoing by the local divers, NSEMA desk officers, and local government officials. Updates will be forwarded as they are received.”

However unconfirmed sources attributed the incident to waves of the river and overloading.

Niger State has experienced several boat mishaps in the last few months that claimed several lives.

The latest incident was in November 2023 in Shiroro LGA where no fewer than 10 lives were lost.

Organizers of Anthony Joshua V Francis Ngannou’s heavyweight boxing clash have confirmed that the bout will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 8.

The Anthony Joshua V Francis Ngannou bout will take place on a Friday to avoid a clash with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which is set to take place in Jeddah on Saturday, March 9.

A few weeks ago, 34-year-old Joshua, was downplaying his desire to fight Ngannou, who is known to be a former UFC champion. However, after Joseph Parker defeated Deontay Wilder, the Nigerian-born British boxer changed his focus to the Cameroonian boxer.

Joshua is also looking forward to competing for the IBF title if it becomes vacant following the undisputed fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, hence, his bout with Ngannou is a step to achieving that.

Ngannou is a significant underdog against the two-time heavyweight champion of the world. However, Joshua chose to fight the Cameroonian-born American fighter instead of Parker to minimize the risk of losing according to most boxing pundits.

Aside from that, the Anthony Joshua V Francis Ngannou bout is seen as a bigger way to end the “Riyadh Season” which started last summer.

Recall that the 37-year-old former UFC champion didn’t make his professional boxing debut until October when he faced Tyson Fury and lost by a close margin.

The boxing world was shocked last year when Fury, who had never lost a bout, was knocked down by a left hook from the Cameroonian.

The 35-year-old British fighter, Fury, will take on Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk on February 17 in an attempt to become the first heavyweight champion to win all boxing titles undefeated since 1999.

Note that the 36-year-old Usyk is the current WBA, WBO, and IBF champion; while Fury is the WBC champion.

Victor Osimhen and Alhassan Yusuf were not involved in training as the Super Eagles began preparation for Thursday’s heavy clash against hosts Cote d’Ivoire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that although the duo turned up for the training, they were barred from participating in the exercise.

Yusuf sustained an injury in Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with the Nzalang Nacional of Equatorial Guinea on Sunday, but no one knew the nature or extent of the injury that got Osimhen off the training.

But OC Nice of France striker, Terem Moffi, was sighted in a tedious training while Leicester City of England striker, Kelechi Iheanacho also took part to give Jose Peseiro options in the attack.

The Super Eagles will take on the host, Elephants of Cote D’Ivoire on Thursday at the Stade Olympique Alassan Ouattara Stadium.

The Media Officer of the team, Babafemi Raji, however, confirmed that their withdrawal from training on Monday was only a precautionary measure.

The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has been named the winner of the Fifa Best Men’s Coach at the award ceremony held in London on Monday, January 15.

Pep Guardiola won the award ahead of Filippo Inzaghi who led Inter Milan to the final of the UEFA Champions League during the 2022-2023 season, and Luciano Spalletti who led Napoli to win the Scudetto for the first time in 33 years last season.

Note that Inzaghi is currently the manager of Salernitana in Italian Serie A and Spalletti is currently the head coach of Italy national team.

Pep Guardiola won the award ahead of the aforementioned managers after leading Manchester City to win the historic treble – Champions League, Premier League, and the FA Cup – last season.

Manchester City have won the Premier League and the FA Cup a couple of times but last season was the first time in the history of the club for them to win the Champions League.

After winning the award, Pep Guardiola said: “I want to share this award with Simone Inzaghi and Luciano Spalletti.

“Our owners of Man City and our CEO for starting the brilliant idea of the city football group. thank you to my backroom staff and our players. eight years we’ve been together. living with them has been a pleasure.

“Thank you to my dad. I am so happy he is here tonight and of course my brothers and sisters. Thank you to my kids and my wife. It would never be possible to live as a professional without her.”

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has suggested that the increasing spate of hunger and poverty is fueling insecurity in Nigeria.

Reacting to the recent increase in insecurity across the country, the former vice president, in a tweet via his official X account on Monday, lamented that he was distressed by the escalating violence and lawlessness in the nation.

Naija News reports that he called on the President Bola Tinubu led government to urgently address the dire security situation to regain the trust of Nigerians.

He wrote, “The escalating violence and lawlessness in our nation deeply distresses me as bandits and kidnappers continue their reign of terror unchecked. Our youths and innocent citizens are being murdered daily. Just last Saturday, we lost Nabeeha to her captors. Yesterday, the tragedy deepened with the murder of more victims, including Folorunsho Ariyo, a 13-year-old student. Folorunsho was one of ten people kidnapped from Sagwari Estate Layout in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the FCT, on January 7th, 2024.

“It is obvious that the worsening poverty and hunger in the land is escalating the level of kidnapping and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in Abuja, the federal capital.

“When the government fails to fulfil its constitutional obligations of protecting the lives and property of citizens, it is an invitation to kidnappers and other criminal elements to have a free rein visiting houses and hotels in and around the capital city, kidnapping citizens without resistance. This is a sad development.

“It is imperative that the authorities address this dire security situation urgently to regain the trust of the Nigerian people.

“While I mourn with the deceased families, I pray to the Almighty to comfort them, grant the dead eternal peace and protect our nation.”

President Bola Tinubu says his administration will give more attention to education and healthcare, as well as provide the enablements for industrialization and investments in consonance with his vision of creating an economically stable and prosperous country.

Speaking at the second-term inauguration of Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, in Owerri, on Monday, President Tinubu said he is well-attuned to the concerns of citizens, assuring them that the challenges brought on by very essential reforms are being addressed.

"In the past 40 years, a few people were cornering our common wealth, and calling it subsidy, but I call it wasteful. Right now, we are all bearing and sharing that pain. But things are looking up. Things will get better for the good of all Nigerians. With me, there is hope.

"I assure you that there will be substantial development in education for your children; priority on industrialization; healthcare will receive more allocation and attention. We will train more health workers," the President said.

President Tinubu commended Governor Uzodinma for his stewardship in Imo State, describing him as the "real hope" of the state.

"It is a great honour for me to be here in Imo State. And to congratulate the people of Imo for being discerning and determined to vote into a second term, a very unique individual who resonates with a progressive agenda, Senator Hope Uzodinma," he said.

The President said he is committed to building a united and secure country, noting the peace and security in the state, adding: "Before now, people were afraid of coming to Imo state, but today Imo is safe and open for business. What we have learned from this experience is the importance of unity, cooperation, and a focus on our internal security."

President Tinubu implored the governor to work even harder for the people, emphasizing that hard work is the reward for a re-election.

"I assure you that your hopes are renewed. Be assured of the support of the federal government to ensure rapid development of your state," he concluded.

Speaking after the administration of oaths of office by the Imo State Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Chukwuemeka-Chikeka, Governor Uzodinma pledged that his second tenure would be an uncommon tenure in the execution of policies.

"We have been able to lay a solid foundation for accelerated economic growth and development of our state. We also addressed the decay we met in the civil service, the decay we met in the education sector, and the health sector. In addition, we addressed the lingering problem of unemployment through the variety of youth empowerment initiatives.

"We carried out a digital version of dealing with the unemployment market, which included the provision of digital and other portable skills, including artificial intelligence to our teeming young men and women," he said.

Unfolding his priorities, the governor said the next four years of his administration would focus on deepening the shared prosperity mantra through massive infrastructural expansion, adding that the vision of his government is anchored on a 10-year development plan which has the capacity to make the state self-sufficient.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 15, 2024

Political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has said the presidential candidates of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, and New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, have agreed to form a mega party that would wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2027.

Utomi disclosed this in an interview on Channels TV on Sunday night.

Asked if Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Peter Obi and Okey Nwosu have agreed to come together, Utomi simply said “yes.”

On what name they had decided to call the coalition. Utomi said: “We’re not talking about names yet. Besides, these politicians I mentioned, I’m talking about leaders of social movements, the labour movement and so on.

“I have even been part of creating a new tribe, Nigerians who are committed to certain values, who say I will not give a bribe; I will not take a bribe. And you can then create a set of values that can lead to progress in the country.

“The way we are today, a few people in the world are willing to engage with Nigeria. They think there’s a collapse of culture and values in Nigeria. You can’t trust Nigerians. All kinds of things are here. It’s a clean start.

“It’s a really clean start. You have to start from the premise that Nigeria has not had a political party since 1999.

“Let’s be very honest with ourselves, what we have managed is to create platforms that enable machine politics from which to grab power, usually for state capture.

“If you want to test that, check how much the quality of life of a Nigerian has improved since 1999.
“It’s frightening but the truth of the matter is that in 1999, a political class managed to build a certain coalition of accommodation to keep the military out and share the spoils of power.

“Somehow, they did not manage to create an alignment with the Nigerian people to improve the quality of their lives. This is why you can see Nigeria deteriorating, becoming the poverty capital of the world, becoming the centre of widespread violence.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced its intention to hand over the operation and maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refining Company to private entities.

This strategic move aims to boost the refinery’s reliability and contribute to Nigeria’s fuel supply and energy security.

The NNPCL, in a statement published on its website on Monday, detailed its search for reputable and credible operations and maintenance companies to take over the refinery’s management.

The selected company will be responsible for various aspects of refinery business processes, including production and operations planning, execution, health and safety management, environmental management, and overseeing minor projects.

Prospective companies interested in this opportunity are required to demonstrate a significant financial capability, with a minimum average annual turnover of at least $2 billion USD for the financial years ending 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, respectively.

This requirement is set to ensure that the chosen operator has the necessary financial stability and resources to manage the refinery effectively.

Recently, the NNPCL commenced the supply of crude oil to the Port Harcourt refinery as part of a test-run, signaling a revival of the facility’s operations.

On December 21, 2023, the Federal Government announced the mechanical completion of rehabilitation work on the Area-5 Plant of the refinery, located in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

The first phase of the plant’s renovation has been completed, allowing it to refine 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily after the Christmas break.

The decision to involve private operators in the management of the Port Harcourt Refinery, operational since 1965, aligns with the Nigerian government’s broader strategy to modernize and enhance efficiency in the nation’s oil sector.

In March 2021, the government approved a significant budget for the renovation and modernization of the refinery complex, marking a substantial investment in the nation’s energy infrastructure.

The move to privatize the refinery’s operations is expected to improve management, increase production capacity, and reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.

The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, expressed disappointment over security agencies’ failure to use the National Identity Number linked to Subscriber Identity Module data to combat crime, especially kidnappings and phone-related offences.

This criticism follows the 2020 directive by then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, mandating the linking of SIM cards to the NIN of every citizen.

In a Sunday tweet, the Media Aide to President Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, raised the alarm about the ongoing surge in kidnappings for ransom, calling for new legislation or the revision of existing laws to enforce the death penalty as punishment for banditry and kidnapping.

In reaction to the tweet, Pantami blamed security agencies for not utilising the NIN-SIM data to tackle rising kidnapping for ransom and banditry.

“NIN-SIM policy has been working,” said Pantami. “However, the relevant institutions fighting criminality are to be requested to ensure they utilise it effectively when a crime is committed.

“Lack of utilising it is the main problem, not the policy,” Pantami said.

The former minister, who decried the non-utilisation of the policy, claimed criminals threatened his life for reintroducing it.

He said, “On the lack of utilisation, I am more worried than anyone, as my life was threatened by criminals for reintroducing it, including on BBC Hausa and national dailies; I resisted and ensured its implementation.

“If it is not being utilised by the relevant institutions in charge of securing lives and property, then I am more frustrated than any person, as I sacrificed my life and ignored all the threats to my life. This is just a point out of 100 on the policy,” the former minister added.

He championed the NIN registration policy under Buhari’s administration.

He vowed that linking citizens’ NIN to their SIMs would be a crucial tool in combating banditry, kidnapping, and phone-related crimes.