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The details of the meeting between President Bola Tinubu and his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Faye have emerged.
Recall that the Senegal President arrived in Nigeria on Thursday and met with President Tinuhu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
A statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted President Tinubu saying that countries in West Africa must unite to defeat the scourge of terrorism, human trafficking, and poverty in the region.
He urged leaders in the region to make the people the focal point of governance, noting that the essence of democracy is lost when citizens are not enjoying dividends.
The president emphasised that democratic values and constitutional order are sacrosanct and must be protected.
He added that critical institutions like the judiciary must be respected and obeyed for the sustenance of democracy.
He said: “Constitutional democracy is what Senegal proved to the rest of the world and Africa. It is a joy to have you here and to meet the hope and aspirations of our youths. You fit in perfectly well.
“A critical time it is in the history of constitutional democracy, particularly in West Africa. What you have embarked upon, a struggle couched in freedom, is remarkable.”
The president described Nigeria and Senegal as brotherly nations, recounting both countries’ long history of cooperation.
He added: “We are brothers. We have shared an interest in democracy. To make democracy sustainable in the interest of our people, we definitely must work hard.
“I am glad that you are a shining example of patience, perseverance, and commitment to democratic values.
“We must partner to make our people the focus of our democratic commitment. Your belief in the sovereignty of Africa is shared by all of us.
“But how can we work for our people and make them the focus of our democracy if we are violating the rule of law and promoting an unconstitutional takeover of government?
“As the chairman of ECOWAS, I am inviting you to collaborate and meet those other brothers. To persuade them to come back to the fold.
“We will continue to work together. We share good backgrounds, and we will continue to embrace and promote democratic governance.
“We must be able to partner and build the freedom we believe in – in economic growth, development, and other spheres of governance. It is left for us to provide assurance to our people and walk our talk.
“We must defeat human trafficking; we must defeat terrorism, banditry, and poverty in our society. That must be our focus and commitment.”
Speaking during the meeting, Faye acknowledged Nigeria and Senegal’s shared values and challenges, noting that both nations have always had good relations since the 1960s.
He called for the reactivation of the Nigeria-Senegal joint commission to strengthen bilateral relations across the areas of diplomacy, trade, and other spheres.
On ECOWAS, Faye said with Tinubu’s wisdom and experience, relations among member states can be strengthened for the advancement of the community.
He said: “The good relations we have and the relations between our private sectors should be beneficial to our countries.
“ECOWAS is the beacon of successful regional integration in Africa and globally. It is something we owe to the founding fathers of the community.
“I have no doubt that you want to continue this legacy of integration. The union is going through a rough patch, but not everything is lost.
“I know I can rely on your wisdom and experience, as the leader of this great African nation.
“Your wisdom and your democratic values should be an asset to that vision, and my youth and determination can also be an asset.
“If we come together, with all these assets and advantages, I am convinced we can open a window of opportunity to discuss.
“United, we are stronger. Faced with common challenges, such as human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and all other challenges, we need to show resolve to confront these challenges so that economically we can thrive and satisfy the wishes of our people.”
The Federal Government on Thursday denied an allegation that it intended to borrow the N20tn pension fund for infrastructure development.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, in a statement in Abuja, said the government would comply with the established rules and regulations governing the pension fund.
The minister was reported to have told journalists, after a two-day Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, that the government would unveil a plan to harness local funds, including the fund, to finance infrastructure development.
However, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday, Edun noted that the pension industry, similar to other sectors in the financial industry, is strictly regulated by specific legal frameworks.
He said the Federal Government did not plan to exceed these legal boundaries, emphasising that the government was committed to protecting workers’ pensions.
“It has come to my notice that stories are making the round that the Federal Government plans to illegally access the hard-earned savings and pension contributions of workers. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Highly regulated
“The pension industry, like most the financial industries, is highly regulated. There are rules. There are limitations about what pension money can be invested in and what it cannot be invested in.
“The Federal Government has no intention whatsoever to go beyond those limitations and go outside those bounds which are there to safeguard the pensions of workers.
“What was announced to the Federal Executive Council was that there was an ongoing initiative drawing in all the major stakeholders in the long-term saving industry, those that handle funds that are available over a long period to see how, within the regulations and the laws; these funds could be used maximally to drive investment in key growth areas,” Edun clarified.
Furthermore, Edun clarified that the government had no intention of increasing the risk associated with the pension funds or allowing their investments to become less secure.
Earlier on Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria asked the Federal Government to refrain from tampering with the pension fund.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero and the TUC Deputy President, Tommy Okon, in a joint statement on Thursday, advised the government not to risk the future of workers by borrowing the money to fund infrastructure development.
They stated, “Nigerian workers have entrusted their hard-earned savings for retirement security, not as a means for government projects. It is imperative to halt any further plans to tap into these funds, especially given the lack of transparency and accountability in past government borrowing practices.’’
The unions demanded assurances from the government that workers retirement funds [b]“would not fall victim to further Federal Government borrowing, especially when the PENCOM Board has not been constituted as envisaged by the statutes,’’ [/b]arguing further that any plan to borrow the funds is not backed by the Pension Act.
Labour expressed regrets that despite the government’s assurances of widespread consultation with major stakeholders in the pension industry, the NLC and TUC, representing the owners of the entire pension fund contributions, had neither been consulted nor informed about the government’s intentions.
According to the unions, the lack of transparency undermined the sanctity of pension funds, which it said should always be treated with the utmost reverence and protection.
Similarly, the Head of Information, Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Bunmi Ogunkolade, urged the government to find an alternative source to fund its infrastructure development plan, noting that the pension fund did not belong to pensioners but to workers.
He said, “Simply put, we are not in support. We have told the government to go and look for where to get their money. We have appealed to them that they should please look for where to get money to fund infrastructure or whatever.
On its part, the Nigeria Union of Pension in Kaduna State also advised the Federal Government against using the money for infrastructure development.
The state Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Mallam Alhassan Balarabe Musa, who stated this in an interview with The PUNCH, said, “The Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari attempted a similar thing but failed.’’
“For us we are not happy about that. As of now, our national headquarters are trying everything to ensure that the fund is not going to be accessible.
“Now, we have so many retirees under contributory pension who are unable to get their gratuities. So, why will the Federal Government take that kind of amount? I think it’s going to be unfortunate and unacceptable.”
The NUP Pensioners, Ogun State Council, gave a similar warning.
The Secretary of the union, Dr Bola Lawal, said “I am sure if you have the opportunity to ask every pensioner none will accept this move of the government. Where is the assurance that this money will be paid back on time?
Osun pensioners
When contacted, the Coordinator, Osun State Contributory Pensioners, Mr Toyin Ayinde, warned the government against tampering with the contributions of retirees.
He said, “The government must not touch our money. What exactly is the matter with them? We don’t want anyone to touch our money under any guise. We are not interested in any proposal from them.”
Speakers of the 36 Houses of Assembly across the country have endorsed ongoing work by the National Assembly to make provision for state policing in the nation’s constitution.
The speakers made their resolution known at the end of a meeting in Abuja on Thursday night.
Recall that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, had rejected the call for state police.
According to him, Nigeria is not mature for state police.
Egbetokun stated this in April at a national dialogue on state police organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja.
The theme of the dialogue is ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria’.
Egbetokun, who was represented by Ben Okolo, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, said Nigeria is not ready for the establishment of state police.
“On the issue of state police, it is the submission of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) that Nigeria is not yet mature and ready for the establishment of state-controlled police,” he said.
The IGP also claimed that state governors were likely to abuse the privilege of state police by using it for political gains, leading to possible abuse of power and abuse of human rights.
“State governors could use the police forces under their control for political or personal gain and undermine human rights and security. There would also be a conflict of jurisdiction,” he noted.
![[PRESS RELEASE] Governor Oyebanji in US, Due Back Soon, EKSG Replies Sahara Reporters](/media/k2/items/cache/6c2c6824f19766559cfc965c8ab958b7_M.jpg)
The attention of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has been drawn to a misleading report by Sahara Reporters on his trip to the United States.
There would have been no need to respond to the misleading report, because the itinerary of the Governor was well publicized before he embarked on the trip. However, this response is being made for the sake of the reading public who might be hoodwinked by the highly misleading report.
It is on record that the itinerary of the Governor was made public through a statement signed his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode on May 5, 2024.
The statement, which was circulated in both the traditional and social media, indicated that Governor Oyebanji would, during the trip, participate in the 2024 US-Africa Business Summit in Dallas and the nineteenth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF19) in New- York. The statement also indicated that the Governor was scheduled to hold talks with critical stakeholders, business leaders and development partners in furtherance of the shared prosperity agenda of the administration, before returning to the country.
Highlights of the Governor’s engagements in the US are regularly communicated to the people of the state through media reports. These include his panel presentations, engagements with business leaders and development partners as well as the signing of the multi billion naira 100,000 hectares cassava farm with CAVISTA Holdings. The engagements continue till his return date.
In line with the transparency and accountability policy of the administration, all local and international engagements and trips of the Governor have always been made public. And this current one is not an exception.
It is on record that the current US trip of the Governor is the first outside the Continent since assuming office on October 16, 2022. The first trip outside the country was a UNDP sponsored induction programme for Governors held in Kigali; followed by the Afrexim Meeting in Cairo, where the state got a very significant infrastructure support from the bank.
We urge Sahara Reporters to always conduct proper checks before going to the press. A call to the media office of the Governor or a click on the internet would have provided the needed information on the trip as well as outlined activities and prevented the news organization from publishing an obviously misleading and mischievous report.
Signed
Yinka Oyebode
Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Ekiti State.
The 2023 Spokesperson of Labour Party presidential campaign council, Yunusa Tanko has shared his thoughts on the reason his principal, Peter Obi ate with Northerners during the Ramadan celebration.
Recall that Obi joined Muslims at the Central Mosque in Maraba-Nyanya in Abuja to participate in breaking the Ramadan fast.
Speaking on the incident during an interview on Arise TV, Tanko asserted that Obi is aware that he needs the north in the upcoming election and needs to make necessary alliance.
He explained that Obi is getting closer to the people so they would know who he is and he also would learn more about them.
He said, “You say we want to move away from politics of spaghetti and all of that but some critics will say that Peter Obi during Ramadan and even now was eating with Almajiris; and some of the boreholes we saw during the last election Obi had stronghold in the South and now he needs to make in-road in the North, so how much of this is politics and how much is governance because it’s easy to reduce this to governance but at the end of the day, Peter Obi knows he needs the North and he has to make the necessary alliances there, so how much of this is about governance?
“Getting closer to the people is not about politics. What I mean by getting closer to the people, is getting to know them and they also know him. It’s a different ball game entirely. When there was need for him to support them, he did support them. It’s the reason for the borehole, going to the Almajiri schools and all of that. Let me say this, just imagine, had it been that His Excellency didn’t do this or didn’t move from point A to point B, what will the people say? Now he is doing it and people are still talking.
“He is doing it practically and even supporting practically. Is it when there is election that you expect him to go round? This is the best time to do it independently that even before the election, you will tell them, this is who I am. This is somebody who has been doing this humanitarian support even in Haiti, outside of this country. He has been doing it, it’s not his first time. People didn’t know that, he only brought it out to the public domain.”
[NaijaNews]
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said on Wednesday that it has granted 14 new International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) Approval-in-Principle (AIP) in new effort to to double foreign-currency remittance inflows through formal channels.
The initiative will help increase the sustained supply of foreign exchange in the official market by promoting greater competition and innovation amongst IMTOs to lower the cost of remittance transactions and boost financial inclusion.
CBN’s thinking is really that increasing formal remittance flows which is one of the major sources of foreign exchange, accounting for over 6% of GDP would help ease the historical volatility in Nigeria’s exchange rate caused by external factors, such as fluctuations in foreign investment and oil export proceeds.
“This will spur liquidity in Nigeria’s Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX), augmenting price discovery to enable a market-driven fair value for the naira,” said Hakama Sidi Ali, CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, while announcing the new plan in a statement.
Olayemi Cardoso, CBN Governor had recently disclosed the apex bank’s target to double remittance flows into Nigeria within a year, which he firmly believed was possible.
“We are wasting no time driving progress to remove any bottlenecks hindering flows through formal channels permanently. We have a determined pathway and a sequenced approach to tackling all challenges ahead, working hand in hand with key stakeholders in the remittance industry,” he had stated.
IMTOs in Nigeria, are companies or organizations which the CBN has authorized to facilitate the transfer of foreign currency funds from individuals or entities residing abroad to recipients back in Nigeria.
In 2023, the CBN increased the number of IMTOs from 47 to 62.
The increase in the number of IMTOs is one of the primary actions initiated by the CBN’s remittance task force, overseen by Governor Cardoso as a collaborative unit which pulls together specialists to work closely with the private sector and market operators to facilitate the ease of doing business in the remittance ecosystem in Nigeria.
The task force was established as a direct result of an executive learning session with IMTOs during the 2024 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings held in Washington DC, United States of America, in April.
The task force will meet regularly to implement strategy and monitor the impact of its measures on remittance inflows.
[BusinessDay]
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar, and the vice president, Senator Kashim Shetima, have warned pilgrims departing Kebbi State via the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, bound for Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj, to adhere strictly to guidelines provided by the Saudi authorities.
Addressing the first batch of pilgrims as they embarked on their journey to the holy land, the Sultan emphasised that this marked Kebbi’s inaugural flight for the Hajj operation, underscoring the importance for pilgrims to remain focused on their Hajj obligations while in Mecca.
A total of 423 pilgrims hailing from two local government areas, Jega and Arewa, departed the state at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport for the holy land on the inaugural flight.
“I urge you all to maintain focus, steer clear of any banned items during your time in the holy land, and represent Kebbi and Nigeria admirably,” the Sultan said.
Likewise, the vice president highlighted the spiritual significance of Hajj as an opportunity for believers to seek forgiveness for their sins.
He assured pilgrims that the presidency was fully aware of the prohibitions set in place by Saudi authorities for the safety of pilgrims and urged strict adherence to them.
Governor Nasir Idris expressed satisfaction that his administration had fulfilled all requirements to meet the standards set by NAHCON for the Hajj operation.
He particularly lauded the commencement of the first airlift of pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi State.
Kano commences vaccination for prospective pilgrims
The Kano State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has started the medical screening and vaccination process for prospective pilgrims for the 2024 Hajj.
Alhaji Laminu Danbappa, the director general of the board, revealed this development to Daily Trust on Tuesday.
Danbappa, while supervising the process at Sheikh Muhammad Jidda General Hospital and the Hajj Camp clinic, explained that the screening aims to assess the health status of each pilgrim, aligning with the requirements for international travel and directives from the Saudi Arabian government.
Don’t compromise pilgrims’ welfare, Makinde tells officials
Meanwhile, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged the state’s Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board not to compromise the welfare of the 1070 pilgrims from Oyo while in Saudi Arabia.
He stated this yesterday during a ceremony for the state’s first batch of intending pilgrims who are scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Makinde also encouraged the pilgrims to represent the state well as ambassadors in the holy land.
S/Arabia launches guides in Hausa, 15 other languages
In another development, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched comprehensive guides in 16 languages, including Hausa, aimed at assisting pilgrims from around the world during the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage.
The guides provide easy-to-follow information covering all stages of the Hajj rituals, supporting the ministry’s efforts for the 2024 Hajj season.
“The guides address common questions from pilgrims in over 16 widely spoken languages, including Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Bengali, Indonesian, Hausa, Amharic, Persian, Spanish, Turkish, Russian, Sinhalese, Uzbek and Malaysian,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
[DailyTrust]
Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has said that he would not support death penalties for corrupt politicians who steal in millions or billions but for those who steal in trillions.
Ndume pointed out that corruption within Nigerian politics was primarily influenced by individuals.
He suggested that it may not necessitate severe consequences.
The senator acknowledged that politicians engaged in corruption but also distributed resources to the public.
He said, “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven,” he told Channels Television.
“If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.
“I have been to the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth.
“If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no. But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.”
[dailyPost]
A Professor of educational management at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Yunus Fasasi, has said that both physical and mental development will prepare a child to cope with the rigours and challenges of life.
He, therefore, cautioned parents and guardians against rushing their wards into higher institutions.
He said: “parents and stakeholders should be sensitised on psycho-emotional and other consequences inherent in allowing double promotion for their wards.”
Prof. Fasasi added that an immature child would not be able to face exigencies of life.
The professor spoke to our correspondent after delivering the 256th inaugural lecture of UNILORIN.
He urged strict adherence to the National Policy on Education on admission.
“The national policy on education has divided education into stages and accompanied same with ages, but parents are in a hurry. Parents have forgotten that there are stages for the mental and physical development of a child. If a child is not well developed physically and mentally and he is rushed to the higher institution, he will misbehave in future.
“He may be brilliant- that is mental development but he may be not physically alright. When a child is both physically and mentally developed, he will be able to cope with all aspects of education initially and in future all aspects of life,” he said.
The lecture was entitled: “Holding education accountable for resources and results.”
Prof. Fasasi recommended adequate funding of the existing government and private educational institutions for them to actualise the nation’s educational objectives.
“Proliferation of educational institutions does not translate to national development.
The government’s establishment of new institutions and licensing the operation of private ones should be done with caution, as quality requirements for take-off and future expansion of the institutions must be guaranteed.
“Carrying capacity should be considered before determining the number of students to be admitted into an institution. Large-size schools and classrooms without corresponding facilities tend to complicate administrative and supervisory duties.
“There should be long-term policies like the 1955 Universal Primary Education (UPE) and 1999 Universal Basic Education (UBE) which would increase the population at the implementation stage and in future when the students get to a higher level of education,” he said.
[TheNation]
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has adopted a matter of urgent public importance regarding the arbitrary sale of petrol at exorbitant prices by filling stations in the state
Alhaji Aminu Gidado (APC- Sokoto South II) raised the matter, expressing concern over the high prices despite improved nationwide supply.
He said that independent marketers in Sokoto sell the product at prices as high as between N1,000, and N1,200, while those in the neighbouring Kebbi state sell at lower rates.
Gidado urged the assembly to convene a round table meeting with the stakeholders in the petroleum industry to address the issue and alleviate the financial burden on the electorate caused by the high petrol prices
Meanwhile, the family of one late Abubakar Gwandu has dragged the Sokoto State Commissioner for Land and Housing, Alhaji Nasiru Dantsoho, and two others to the state House of Assembly, alleging a land fraud and forceful land grabbing in the state.
The petition, dated May 14, and signed by Nurudden Gwandu, was presented during the plenary sitting of the Assembly on Wednesday.
The family appealed to the assembly to investigate a piece of land allocated to their late father for the construction of a Mosque and Islamic school along Kano Road in 1994.
It stated, “The piece of land was allocated to our late father to construct a Mosque and Islamic school in 1994.
“He was able to construct a befitting Mosque, leaving the remaining part of the land for the construction of an Islamic school.
“However, in October 2022, we noticed strange construction activities on the land by one Murtala Dan’Iya and Numerical Empire and Investment Limited, who we believe have forcefully grabbed the land for personal use,” the family alleged.
According to the letter, the family reported the matter to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), resulting in a temporary halt to the construction.
“But upon investigation construction has since resumed and the letter of grant bearing our late father’s name was cancelled even though we have no notice of such.
“Moreover, we have not received any notice officially from the state government of revocation neither have they contacted any family member on the issue,” it said.
The Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Ibrahim, presiding over the sitting, referred the petition to the joint House Committee on Public Petition and that of Land and Housing for investigation.
[VAnguard]
More...
Jonathan Vatsa, a former commissioner for information and culture in Niger state, says the proposed wedding of 100 girls in the state will go on despite public outcry.
Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the speaker of the Niger state house of assembly, had dissociated himself from the wedding after Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, threatened to sue him.
The minister said the development was unacceptable, arguing that the girls should be in school or learning vocational skills.
Sarkindaji, who had provided financial support and was billed to host the event on May 24, withdrew his involvement.
The speaker said it was at the discretion of the girls’ parents and traditional leaders to proceed as they deemed fit.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Vatsa, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), advised Kennedy-Ohanenye not to go into “issues that she knows nothing about”.
He said the minister knew nothing about the situation of the girls and should have done due diligence before issuing threats.
“No amount of threat of court action can stop these parents from giving out their daughters in marriage after receiving the necessary supports,” Vatsa said.
“The minister should have done her investigation first to know if these girls have attained the age of marriage by law or if they were being forced into marriage before going to the air to threaten the speaker, who is merely offering assistance.
“You cannot just sit in an air-conditioned office in Abuja and be threatening people without knowing what these orphans are going through after losing their parents to insecurity and those whose parents cannot afford their marriage expenses even though they have attained the age for marriage.
“Does the minister have any plans for people whom she has never seen or known about their plight, or is she trying to encourage prostitution in the area?
“You don’t play politics by interfering with the people’s culture and tradition; more so that these girls have suitors who want to marry them.
“I am sure the speaker, being a trained lawyer, is not afraid of going to court. The speaker is not giving the girls out in marriage but just rendering support to the families, and there is no law in Nigeria that forbids someone from giving assistance towards marriage. That is why I said the minister is fighting a lost battle.”
Vatsa said banditry activities across 12 LGAs of the state have produced over 5,000 orphans, widows, and widowers.
He urged the minister to visit Niger and “see the sufferings of these orphans, the majority of whom are girls.”.
He urged Sarkindaji not to succumb to any threat, as “the people will feel disappointed if you withdraw your support for them”.
[TheCable]
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu To Ogoni Leaders: We Will Unlock The Human And Natural Resource Potential Of Ogoniland
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu To Ogoni Leaders: We Will Unlock The Human And Natural Resource Potential Of Ogoniland](/media/k2/items/cache/5c11e5e273ea7ee7380c6775ae7cf43a_XS.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu says his administration is committed to unlocking the human and natural resource potential of Ogoniland, while ensuring the environmental and economic security of Nigerian communities.
The President stated this on Wednesday at the State House during a meeting with members of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni, Rivers State, led by King Samuel Nnee, Gbenemene Tai Kingdom and Paramount Ruler of Kpite Tai.
The President was responding to requests presented by the Ogoni leaders at the meeting, which was also attended by former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike; the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
Among the requests to the President is the resuscitation of oil and gas production in Ogoniland, which comprises the Eleme, Khana, Gokana, and Tai Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
"We must heal the wounds of the past. We must live and prepare for the future of our children, and we must be committed to uplifting the livelihoods of our people in a free Nigeria.
"This is all part of the healing process for the Ogoni people. There is equally the Ogoni clean-up programme that I inherited. That will be pursued diligently and honourably. The number of people that we will empower will increase as time goes on.
"I am glad that this meeting has emphasized peace and stability through the resuscitation of businesses in Ogoniland. Without these businesses, the recovery of this country will be adversely affected.
"Safety precautions, environmental and other challenges must be looked into, and we will certainly do that.
"My unwavering dedication to freedom for all people and the value of democratic governance has not diminished because I have been elected by the people, and I have to make the people the central focus of our governance of Nigeria," the President stated.
Having appointed his Official Spokesperson and most recently, the Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) from the area, the President committed to deepening collaboration with Ogoni leaders to create mutually-beneficial economic opportunities for Ogoniland and Nigeria at large.
"I am ready to work with the Ogoni people and engage with the Government of Rivers State and the people of Nigeria to ensure that we give all of you a bright future in this country,” the President affirmed.
President Tinubu commended the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the FCT for his dedication to alleviating the plight of the Ogoni people.
"I share the same view about Ogoniland with the Minister of the FCT. He is very much concerned about the progress, peace, and stability of Ogoni people, and he has discussed this with me on a number of occasions, and I thank him for that," the President said.
In his remarks, King Nnee commended President Tinubu for his numerous achievements within one year in office, highlighting the ongoing construction work on the Onne-Junction/Eleme-Junction axis of the East-West Road.
"Your unspeakable dedication to service and empathy are the propelling forces behind your prompt response to our people's yearnings which the past administrations have persistently promised and failed to meet," he said.
According to the Paramount Ruler of Kpite Tai, previous administrations were unable to resolve the pertinent issues associated with the shutting down of oil production in Ogoniland.
He informed the President that the Ogoni people are prepared for the commencement of oil and gas production in Ogoniland with the potential unbundling of OML 11 - bearing an additional production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day and 120 million cubic feet of gas per day.
''This will contribute $5 billion per annum to Nigeria's GDP on an asset that is currently owned 100 percent by the NNPCL.
"The people-driven vision of the Ogoni Economic Rebirth Project is the matter of the moment among our kith and kin. Our people’s hope is glowing with the expectation that the time to revitalize the economic nerves of our land is now.
"Ogoni people are gifted, peace-loving, and hospitable, and our children are making an impact across all sectors, as well as the oil industry, from where they are prepared to bring their expertise to bear for the good of our people and the entire country,” the monarch said.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity
The acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Chris Maiyaki, said, on Wednesday, that the Federal Government was working to reconstitute the governing councils of universities.
He said the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, had put in place a panel to work on the list.
The NUC Executive Secretary said the councils would be inaugurated once the list was consummated.
Maiyaki spoke at a media parley with education reporters in Abuja on Wednesday.
He was responding to the two-week ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to the government to reconstitute the governing councils of public universities.
ASUU had on Tuesday given the government a two-week ultimatum to reconstitute the governing councils of federal universities.
“To reconstitute the councils of 61 universities is not a small feat. The government is working to ensure that people who are qualified and with the right pedigree are put in those councils so that they can deliver on Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. We know ASUU is a body of academics and are concerned about the welfare of their members and the activities in universities but we want them to be patient with the government during this period.”
Speaking on the number of universities in the country, the NUC boss said the commission was committed to expanding access to higher education.
“And for this, the current 272 universities in the NUS are not sufficient to accommodate the ever-growing demand for university education by Nigerian youths. “Each year, Nigerian universities receive close to two million applications, only a small fraction of them are admitted. That is why there is a need for Nigeria to continue to increase access by establishing more universities to meet the demand for quality education in the country,” Maiyaki said
On the initiatives put in place by NUC to boost the nation’s university system, he said the NUC had identified strategic priorities that encompass curriculum development, quality assurance, research and innovation, infrastructure development, and internationalisation, among others.
“To encourage partnerships with industry and promote blended learning, the NUC carried out an extensive review of university curricula from the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard to the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards, which reflect the aspirations of Nigeria to attain a knowledge economy, driven by the 4 Industrial Revolution, known as 4IR, and the 21-century skills.
“The CCMAS features an expansion of academic disciplines from 14 to 17. The implementation of the new curricula came into effect in September 2023 for the 2023/2024 academic session.
“The implementation framework of the CCMAS makes provision for the training of staff in student-centred tuition-delivery capabilities and development of textual materials to enhance teaching and learning.
“Open and Distance Learning Guidelines In a bid to assure quality in the regulation of the NUS, the Commission developed guidelines to provide a framework for the orderly adoption, integration and mainstreaming of e-learning into the conventional face-to-face modes of teaching and learning in Nigerian Universities, among other objectives.
“This initiative was needed to assure quality in the delivery of university education, via the Open and Distance Education mode, and keep pace with contemporary global best practices. The Commission produced the following guidelines, as part of the efforts to broaden open and distance learning in the Nigerian University System, “ he said.
The acting Executive Secretary said various guidelines, including Guidelines on Trans-National Education in Nigeria; Guidelines for e-Learning in Nigerian Universities;Guidelines for the Implementation of the National Policy on Open Educational Resources in Nigerian Higher Education, and the Guidelines for the Establishment of Private Open Universities in Nigeria, have also been churned out by the commission.
“The Guidelines for Transnational Education allows foreign Universities to collaborate in creating high-quality institutions in Nigeria through six competitive models This effort aims at making Nigerian graduates competitive, globally, so as to reduce the need for the nation’s young men and women going abroad to seek university education.
“The launch of these ODL guidelines marks a significant milestone in the history of the NUC towards its dedication to greater quality, equity and access to university education in Nigeria. It all follows from the recommendations for the establishment and expansion of universities, deeper IT penetration, and enhanced competencies in online delivery,” he added.
The Nigerian government lost billions of Naira annually for not applying airport tolls to Very Important Persons and VIPs.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Space Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed this, justifying the inclusion of VIPs in airport toll payments.
Recall that at the end of Tuesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the Minister announced a new rule requiring VIPs, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kasim Shettima, to pay airport tolls.
He explained that funds that would have been used for the infrastructural development of Nigerian airports were wasted under the old rule.
According to him, VIPs will be the first to lament poor infrastructure in Nigerian airports, yet they were exempted from paying tolls under the old rule.
“This has led to the annual loss of billions of Naira, not millions, in the past. Yet, our airport infrastructure, you know, is decaying. I am helpless. I’m looking for concessionaires. I’m looking for help with decaying infrastructure.
“They will be the first to cry out, these same VIPs— ‘Why are the toilets like this? Why are your toilets smelling? Why can’t you can’t you do this?’
“They are the same people but don’t pay for the services. So, if we want improved infrastructure at the airport, we must pay for services,” he said.