Admin
Nigerian Senators Have Not Given Us Their December Salaries – Kaduna Bombing Victims
Victims of the Kaduna bombing have disclosed that they are yet to receive the money the 109 senators in the National Assembly promised to donate to them.
Recall that the senators had promised to donate their December 2023 salaries to the victims of the December 3 accidental bombing of Kaduna villagers by the Nigerian Army.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, during a condolence visit to Kaduna in December, pledged that the 109 senators would donate their December salary of N1m, amounting to N109m to the victims
However, checks by the Punch show that the senators have failed to keep their promise.
The spokesman for the Senate, Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed that the lawmakers had yet to fulfil the pledge but said the delay was merely procedural.
“Any noticeable delay in the delivery of the Senate’s pledge to the victims of the unfortunate Kaduna State incident is merely procedural.
“We pledged December monthly salaries and these would come in January. We are still in January. Whatever commitment the Senate made to the Nigerian people shall be religiously fulfilled,” Adaramodu said.
A government official, conversant with the process, who spoke with the publication on the condition of anonymity, said about N140m had been gathered, but the disbursement to the victims was being delayed as many of those who made pledges had yet to redeem them nearly two months after the tragic incident.
Speaking with the aforementioned publication, Idris Dahiru, who lost 30 members of his family to the incident, said the victims are yet to receive anything from those who pledged donations.
He said, “We are eager to see development in our area after the unfortunate incident but not yet.
“We are expectant. We are not happy that some well-meaning Nigerians who promised donations publicly refused to redeem their pledges.
“We were informed that some of those who announced their donations publicly, on realising that they were using the funds to rebuild Tudun Biri, declined to redeem their pledges. Those in that category should come out and let the world know that they decline to redeem their pledges.
“The security situation in Tudun Biri is still a concern. We were told that a military formation would be established but that has not happened. There is still a security threat here in Tudun Biri and the earlier the government acted on the promise (military formation) the better for the community.”
Another victim of the incident, Aliyu Yakubu said that the village had yet to witness any development, except for the “clearance of the road” leading to Tudun Biri.
“Currently, the construction of the central mosque is ongoing here in our village. But since the clearing of the road a few days before Christmas and when men in military uniforms came to survey where they would establish (a military) formation, nothing is happening in Tudun Biri at the moment.”
On the disbursement of funds to victims, Ibrahim said they had yet to receive any funds from the government except relief materials, including foodstuffs.
“We were told that many who made pledges could not redeem their pledges,” he said.
There’ll be consequences if Tinubu moves CBN units to Lagos – Senator Ndume
Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, says he is not in support of the relocation of the key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to Lagos State.
Speaking on Tuesday during a chat on Channels Television’s programme, Ndume, who represents Borno South, implored Tinubu to rescind the decision.
Recall that an internal memo circulated last week in which the apex bank directed some of its units to move to Lagos in a bid to decongest the Abuja headquarters.
The development had sparked controversy as some Nigerians, particularly Northerners, rejected the move.
The Arewa Consultative Forum said it was part of a long-standing plot to further underdevelop the Northern region.
Speaking on the matter, Ndume wondered why the CBN units are not moved to states close to Abuja, saying there would be political consequences if the apex bank forge ahead with the relocation.
Ndume opined that the decision “was not well thought out,” saying he “is confident that the president is going to reverse it.”
He added: “And if that does not happen, of course, this is democracy; we know what to do.”
He said: “Why was the headquarters moved from Lagos to Abuja? Was it not because of the congestion there? I don’t even see any issues of congestion. There is going to be an increase in cost because they are going to be running from Lagos to Abuja, spending more money and even exposing our workers to unnecessary risks.
“Don’t try to bring tribalism into it. I’m not a Hausa man and I’m not a Fulani man but I’m a Northerner and a Nigerian. Those misleading the president are not doing him any good because this is going to have some political consequences. If Tinubu was not elected president, the CBN governor would not be there. It was not Lagos votes that put Tinubu there.”
Don’t Be Faithful In Relationship Until You’re Married – Tacha
Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) reality TV star and media personality, Natacha Anita Akide, popularly known as Tacha, has urged women in relationships not to be faithful to their partners until they are engaged or married.
Speaking in the latest episode of the Spill With Phyna podcast, Tacha stated that there is no oath in a relationship that binds women to be faithful.
According to the self-acclaimed Port Harcourt First Daughter, women in relationships are single until they are married.
Tacha said; “You have to be in a relationship and not be faithful until you probably get a ring or until you’re getting married, where you have to swear an oath.
“Because which oath did you swear in a relationship that you are faithful? You are single until you are married.”
DMO announces first FGN bonds auction for January 2024
The Debt Management Office (DMO) has announced the first FGN bond auction of 2024.
According to the announcement seen by Nairametrics, the auction is set for January 29, 2024, with the settlement date being January 31, 2024.
Details of the offer
The bond offerings are
- N90 billion of the reopened 10-year 16.2884% FGN MAR 2027 bond
- N90 billion of the reopened 10-year 14.55% FGN APR 2029 bond
- N90 billion of the reopened 10-year 14.70% FGN JUN 2033 bond
- N90 billion of the reopened 15-year 15.45% FGN JUN 2038 bond
The bonds are offered at a unit price of N1,000, with a minimum subscription requirement of N50,001,000 and subsequent increments in multiples of N1,000. Interest payments on FGN bonds are made semi-annually (twice a year).
About FGN Bonds
The FGN bonds meet the criteria outlined in the Trustee Investment Act, allowing trustees to invest in them. Additionally, they qualify as Government securities under the Company Income Tax Act (CITA) and Personal Income Tax Act (PITA), ensuring they are tax-exempt for Pension Funds and other investors.
After the bonds are auctioned in the primary market to the primary dealer market makers, the bonds are then listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, which are the secondary markets.
What you should know
In 2023, the Federal Government raised about N5.49 trillion through FGN bond auctions which were used to finance the 2023 budget deficit of N11.34 trillion.
With the budget deficit in the 2024 budget put at N9.18 trillion, it is projected that there may be a drop in the amount raised through FGN bond auctions.
Moreover, the anticipated marginal rates for the January bond auctions are expected to align with the government’s stance on monetary policy rates, which will be determined during the initial Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting scheduled for February 26 and 27.
[Nairametrics]
Moroccan King, Mohammed Invites Tinubu To Discuss African-Atlantic Gas Project
King Mohammed VI has extended an invitation to Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to visit Morocco.
The monarch extended the invitation during a phone call with the Nigerian President yesterday, according to Morocco World News monitored by LEADERSHIP.
A statement from the royal palace said the phone call focused on the development of bilateral relations between the two countries over the past few years.
The discussion also covered the African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline Nigeria-Morocco project; a structuring project that will be a strategic lever for regional integration and economic and social development for all West African countries.
Initiated first by King Mohammed VI and former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016, the pipeline aims to promote regional integration and reinforce Africa’s energy security.
Rabat – Morocco is set to host over 1,600 kilometres of the project, which is 5,600 kilometres long in total.
King Mohammed VI has frequently emphasised the importance of the project, reiterating Morocco’s commitment to the pipeline project with Nigeria.
In November 2023, King Mohammed VI stressed the potential benefits that the pipeline could bring not only to Africa but also to Europe.
The monarch made his remarks during a speech commemorating the anniversary of the Green March on November 6 last year.
“The Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline strategic project is part of that endeavour,” he said, noting that the project is designed to promote regional integration as well as to boost joint economic growth.
The pipeline is set to connect over 11 countries in the region to benefit from Nigerian gas sources.
Many countries have endorsed the project, including Senegal.
In December, Senegal’s Minister of Petroleum Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome renewed his country’s support during a meeting with Director General of Morocco’s Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines(ONHYM), Amina Benkhadra in Dakar.
During the meeting, the Senegalese official said that the “ambitious” gas pipeline will benefit the populations and economies of the entire region.
He also cited a ‘specific programme’ planned by Morocco and Senegal to advance the project and strengthen South-South cooperation among all countries in the region.
[Leadership]
Kidnappings: FCTA Begins Profiling Of Worst-Hit Areas
Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have begun profiling areas worst hit by kidnappers.
The Director of the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mukhtar Galadima, who led the team, said the exercise was to ascertain the causes of kidnapping and the solutions.
At the commencement of the profiling at Sagwari Layout Estate, Dutse in Bwari Area Council, where kidnappers abducted some residents recently, Galadima said the officials, with the support of security personnel, will identify buildings without approval and other illegal activities in the area.
According to him, the area was surrounded by structures built without the consent of development control which are aiding criminals to operate.
Galadima, who was represented by the deputy director of monitoring and enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, blamed the poor planning on the local chief and his men.
He said after profiling, the department would recommend necessary measures that would curb the activities of criminals.
[DailyTrust]
Again, former President Trump wins New Hampshire Republican Party nomination
Former President Donald Trump has been projected to win Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary just a few minutes after the final polls closed, defeating Nikki Haley – his final remaining major rival for the Republican Party nomination.
Trump is the first non-incumbent GOP candidate in the modern era to win both Iowa and New Hampshire.
At the time of filing this report, with the result tallied so far, Trump secured 146,577 representing 54.2%, while Haley polled 118,027 standing for 43.7%.
“I’m very honored by the result,” Trump told Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman in a statement.
Trump’s rival, Haley, a former two-term South Carolina governor served as U.N. ambassador in his administration.
She congratulated Trump on his victory in her speech to supporters in Concord, New Hampshire, after the race was called, but added the “race is far from over,” as she prepares for a primary in her home state of South Carolina next month.
“I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory tonight. He earned it and I want to acknowledge that.
“This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go. And next one is my sweet state of South Carolina,” she emphasized.
Meanwhile, as the votes continued to be tabulated, Trump’s margin over Haley remained in the single digits.
Trump made history last year as the first former or current president to be indicted for a crime.
However, his four indictments have only fueled his support among Republican voters.
[DailyPost]
[OPINION] Gaza and Our Common Humanity - Kayode Komolafe
The situation in Gaza significantly featured at the yesterday meeting of United States Secretary of State Anthony Blinken with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
Although the focus of the meeting was, of course, on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United States, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar said while Nigeria and the United States agreed on the ultimate “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Nigeria stressed its support for the call for a ceasefire at least for humanitarian purposes in the Israel war on Gaza. Tuggar clearly defined the areas of “commonality” and “differences” in the policies of the two friendly countries towards the worsening crisis in Gaza.
Such a clarification is important in this age in which obfuscation and hypocrisy have become potent tools of foreign policies by some world powers.
The mood of Nigerians who are genuinely concerned about the killings and destruction in Gaza was aptly captured last Monday by a former foreign affairs minister, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, when he laid bare on “Arise News” the issue of Gaza as an open sore on the conscience of humanity.
It was Akinyemi’s first appearance as a guest on the television this year. So the anchors began with the customary Happy- New- Year greetings to the professor to kick off that segment of “The Morning Show.” They expected a response of “Happy New Year.” But the veteran of Nigeria’s foreign affairs establishment said he would not respond in the expected tone because of the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, where Israel has been waging a war to free the hostages and “eliminate” Hamas.
In fact, today is the 110th day of the war.
In Akinyemi’s view, contrary to the nominations for the “Man of the Year” by various media organisations in the world at the end of 2023, those who actually deserved such a recognition were aid workers, medical personnel, journalists, United Nations staff etc. who have been killed by Israel’s bombings since the horrific attack on the country by Hamas on October 7 last year.
In the ensuing barbaric war, over 25,000 Palestinians have been killed including more than 10, 000 children. Even the Biblical principle of reciprocal justice is that of “an eye for an eye” as contained in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Leviticus. The principle is definitely not that of 25 eyes for an eye as Israel seems to calculate in conducting the war in Gaza with outrageous impunity. Worse still, supplies of food, water, fuel and medical to Gaza have been at the mercy of Israel. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced. Children have died of hunger and dehydration. Refugee camps have been bombed. Houses, schools and hospitals have been destroyed in the Israeli mission of “destroying Hamas terror infrastructure.” Resolutions for a humanitarian ceasefire at the United Nations have been blocked by America. With the full backing of the United States, Israel has serially ignored international laws and conventions in the prosecution of this savage war. Israel has even killed in error some of the hostages that the war is partly waged to rescue. And at least 535 Israeli soldiers have been killed in Gaza since October 7 last year, including the 24 who were killed only yesterday. No country could have displayed so much impunity without America’s support. Yet western reactionary ideologues are quick to blackmail those crying for justice in Palestine by accusing them of “antisemitism.” No. Anti-Zionism should not be falsely equated to anti-Semitism. To condemn the recklessness of the Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing regime does not amount to hatred for the great people Israel, who in some respects are also victims of the blind policies of the Israeli state.
For any observer imbued with compassion the question that readily comes to mind is this: whatever happened to our common humanity in the face of the humanitarian catastrophe on display in the territories which have been occupied by Israel for 57 years?
Perhaps, the most soul-lifting aspect of Akinyemi’s statement on “Arise News” last Monday is what he called the “Mandelisation” of the foreign policy of South Africa. The legacy of immense moral capital bequeathed to the free South Africa by its first president , Nelson Mandela, has become manifest in that nation’s response to Israel’s lawless behaviour in Gaza. It is, of course, well known that the spirit of Mandela is that of justice and humanity in the affairs of men whether at national or at the international level. It is this spirit that has prompted South Africa to assume moral leadership in the world by making a case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest legal institution of the United Nations, also called the World Court. Unlike the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is better suited for prosecution of individuals charged with war crimes, the ICJ carries immense moral weight in adjudicating on cases among nations. That’s why a lot of hope is pinned by all lovers of freedom and justice on the ruling of the court to end the Gaza disaster. However, there should be no illusion about the situation in Gaza. After the 15 judges of the ICJ must have given their rulings, the ball would, of course, be in the court of the United Nations Security Council to enforce the verdict. And America may again “stand with Israel” in opposition to the international convention.
In the course of a two-day hearing, South Africa accused Israel of the “crime of genocide” by violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. Noteworthy is the fact that both South Africa and Israel are party to the convention.
Therefore, South Africa wants the World Court to stop Israel immediately from further killings in Gaza pending the full hearing of the case. This prayer of South Africa, perhaps, could have been unnecessary if the United States had not blocked the United Nations resolution for a humanitarian ceasefire. Well, Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, has dismissed the case as “preposterous,” describing it as a “blood libel.”
As the world awaits the ruling of World Court, it would be in order to salute South Africa for asserting our common humanity in the true spirit of Mandela. Whatever comes out of the case, South Africa has made the moral point to Israel and its western backers that the world is not a jungle where might is right. After all, an Israeli minister has described the Palestinians as “human beasts” in a hate speech that may bear historical resonance for generations.
All this is happening at a time the West increasingly abandons its liberal values, a trend which actually became more explicit with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. On the false pretext of disarming Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, the United States and the United Kingdom flagrantly violated international laws and invaded the less powerful country. No one could stop the two western powers at the time. The lawlessness of Israel in Gaza 20 years after is reminiscent of the war crimes committed in Iraq in a different context.
More than 10, 000 children are killed in Gaza, yet western powers do not see the urgency of a humanitarian ceasefire! Where lies the moral content of the foreign policies of these countries?
A few days after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, President Joe Bidden was on a solidarity visit to Tel Aviv. Before his arrival, an Israeli bomb had dropped on an hospital in Gaza. Here is what Bidden told Netanyahu about the incident: “I was deeply saddened and outraged by the explosion of the hospital in Gaza yesterday, and based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you.” Biden said so on October 18, 2003 without any evidence of independent investigations. Since then Israel has bombed nearly all the hospitals in Gaza and ordered the evacuation of patients. Israel has claimed that Hamas used the hospitals as centres of military operations and for hiding equipment. Western powers have been silent on this savage conduct of the war. The same western diplomats who made a passionate case for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war are now opposed to a ceasefire in the Israel war on Gaza. Their justification is that Hamas should be “eliminated” in Israel’s exercise of its right to self-defence. It doesn’t matter to western powers that while they join Israel in calling Hamas a “terrorist” organisation, lovers of justice and freedom all over the world see Hamas as a liberation movement fighting for freedom, justice and human dignity in Palestine. In the process Hamas too commits its own war crimes.
Some western leaders are myopic about these things probably because of the crucial elections coming up this year in their respective countries. They, therefore, subsume the geo- strategic implications of the escalation of the crisis in Gaza for world peace and the global economy in their electoral calculations.
The response of Biden and others to the humanitarian catastrophe shows that contemporary western leaders are not sufficiently learning from their own history. In 1943, one of the leading American public intellectuals, Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian, observed on a rather triumphalist note that “the world problem cannot be solved if America does not accept its full responsibility in solving it.” Over 80 years after, America has simply abandoned its moral responsibility by giving Israel the greenlight to kill Palestinians indiscriminately in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to maintain the military control of Gaza whenever the war ends. To achieve that odious ambition, however, Netanyahu may have to declare himself the governor-general of the occupied territories in the true tradition of colonialism. However, like previous vicious settler-colonialisms in history, the Israeli occupation of Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem will one day come to an end and Palestine will become a land of freedom.
To be sure, the security of Israel and the statehood for Palestinians should not be mutually exclusive as Netanyahu and his extremist regime in Tel Aviv are presenting things before the world. Doubtless, the resolute opposition of Netanyahu and his fellow extremists to a Palestinian state makes the outlook for Gaza grimmer.
Insecurity: Blinken gives condition for U.S. support for Nigeria, Africa
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has said while America is committed to lasting peace and security in Africa, such support would depend on the region’s dependable efforts at ensuring the safety of civilian populations.
Blinken said this on Tuesday in Abuja after meeting with President Bola Tinubu during his visit to Nigeria as part of his tour of African nations.
Blinken said it was important from the U.S. perspective and the perspective of the U.S. Congress to focus on making sure that civilians were protected.
“That humanitarian considerations be taken into concern. As all of these efforts are underway, and that’s part of our dialogue and conversation too, with our partners in Nigeria, and elsewhere in the region,” he said.
“Having said that, it’s important that we work to support our partners who are trying to find effective ways of providing security, and we are working to support Nigeria, to support our Lake Chad region partners.
“To strengthen the capacity of their security forces in a whole variety of ways to deal with insecurity. And yes, that does go to equipment and technology for weapons and we’re working on that.
“But it also goes to many other things including information sharing, intelligence, technical support, advice, and it goes to having a comprehensive approach that genuinely focuses on citizen security.
“Working with local communities, in partnership, demonstrating the security forces that are there, first and foremost, to protect them and to support their needs,” he said.
He said the U.S. was concerned about the security challenges faced by Africa in securing the region from extreme terrorism, violence and other criminal activities that affected the people.
He decried insecurity and resort to undemocratic means of changing democratically elected leaders like the situation in Niger Republic.
Blinken said the collaboration between African countries and America must be based on critical regional strategies to address these situations.
“So when you look at what we are doing, we’re providing assistance through a variety of methods through our diplomacy.
“Engaging with other countries through our security systems, through police and military justice programmes, reforms, which are vital through dialogue efforts through development programmes; all of these things work hand in hand,” said Blinken.
He said the U.S. would continue to collaborate with regional and global partners to ensure that various strategies were employed to solve the worsening security situation on the continent. (NAN)
DSS Speaks On Arresting Miyetti Allah President
The Department of State Services (DSS) has officially denied reports claiming the detention of the president of the Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Bodejo.
This clarification was provided by the DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, in a statement issued to TheCable on Tuesday evening.
Responding to an inquiry about the rumoured arrest of Bodejo, Afunanya stated unequivocally, “He’s not with the DSS.”
This statement comes amidst widespread speculations that Bodejo was apprehended by the secret police on Tuesday at the Miyetti Allah’s office located in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
The supposed arrest was linked to the recent unveiling of a vigilante group by the organization.
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a prominent Fulani socio-cultural group, had last week introduced a vigilante group in Nasarawa.
According to Bodejo, the “Nomad vigilante group” is intended to aid security agencies in combating criminal activities in the north-central state.
He mentioned that the group comprises 1,144 Fulani youths, selected from various communities across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State.
Furthermore, Bodejo had revealed ongoing efforts to profile individuals interested in joining the vigilante group, with an objective to recruit up to 4,000 youths.
Bodejo said, “Every ethnic group has criminal elements among them, so if a Fulani man or woman commits a crime, he or she should be treated as a criminal just like others and not a Fulani criminal.”