Author: The Nation

The Federal Government has invested more than N1.3 trillion to develop the education sector in the last four years, President Muhammadu Buhari, said on Thursday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Post-Graduate Centre of Excellence at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, the President explained that the investments in education exclude other financial comitments and releases for education infrastructure

The Centre in ABU was donated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He promised that his administration, in its second term, will continue to accord education priority by ensuring adequate funding for the sector to make it affordable, qualitative and competitive as obtained in other climes.

Before inaugurating the edifice, occupying 34,102.81 square metre, President Buhari described the project as a testimony to his administration’s effort at supporting qualitative learning from the primary through to the tertiary level.

Praising the apex bank for supporting the Federal Government’s investments in the education sector as well as other keys areas of the economy tied to overall national development, he urged the CBN to sustain such gesture for research and overall economic development.

In a chat with reporters, CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele said the bank spent about N21 billion to build, equip and furnish three academic Centres of Excellence at the University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

The centres are to be activated for academic use in October.

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Emefiele said: “Education and health are the bedrock of every nation’s development. These centres are built in University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Ahmadu Bello University and the project will also be cited in some six other states, including Lagos and Port Harcourt.

“The centres are built for post graduate studies in economics, finance, market, accounting, management and specialised areas.”

The CBN governor added that the academic centres of excellence will compete with any centre or business schools in economics, banking, finance, in any part of the world.

Emefiele said: “We are talking of proven forensic accounting, programmes in global financial market and treasury development; programmes on risk and compliance management. These programmes, as they commence in October this year in these three universities, we are going to have programmes that will offer scholarship to indigent people.

“Some of the financial institutions in Nigeria will be requested to pay for the fees these students would have paid for the programmes to come in and acquire knowledge for the development of the country.”

He said that the bank’s intervention in the funding and infrastructural support in the educational sector was borne out of its conviction that an educated workforce played a critical role in the advancement of the Nigerian economy and the society in general.

“These centres”, he said “are very expensive and we want to make sure they are not run down due to lack of proper maintenance. So, the central bank will get involved in the facility management. The central bank will collaborate with the university in offering some of these subjects by releasing some staff of the bank with hands on experience to share their knowledge with the students.

“The centres in Enugu and Ibadan costs us nothing less than N7 billion. If you look at these centres under a different kind of environment, you will know that they will cost over N10 billion and am sure you know what am talking about.”

Emefiele said that the CBN will soon commence its intervention in the health sector by supporting the construction of seven medical diagnostics centres in the six geopolitical zones and the National Hospital Abuja.

He said: “Education and health form the bedrock of any country’s development. Now that we have sowed seed in the area of education, the CBN intends to build, first, diagnostic centres; like you know, diagnostics is the bedrock of medicine.

“We are building diagnostic centres in the six geopolitical zones in the country together with one – that is seven – in the national hospital in Abuja. The one in Abuja will also have Heart as well as cancer centres.

“It is important to do this because what takes people out of the country is diagnostics. Once your ailment is diagnosed, the assignment of the doctor is made simple. That is why I said we will be having diagnostics centres that will be serving as referrals from the teaching hospitals rather than our people going abroad for diagnosis, paying a lot of money.”

Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO Microfinance Bank), has lent about N90 billion to its customers in the last eight months, its Managing Director, Godwin Ehigiamusoe, has said.

Ehigiamusoe said the lender plans to lend N152 billion within the year, adding that a total of N137 billion was loaned to customers in 2018.

He said the bank’s loans went to deserving Small and Medium Scale entrepreneurs and the poor in the society, saying his business focus is not just about making profit, but ensuring that the poorest of the poor have access to microcredit.

He said in July, the bank gave N14 billion to customers. For instance, in 2013, the micro finance bank celebrated the issuance of naira equivalent loan of $1 billion, while the amount keeps growing yearly. In 2017 the bank did N128 billion.

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As at December 2018, the bank has produced over 10, 000 home owners under the affordable housing scheme in response to the housing deficit in the country.

Ehigiamusoe said LAPO is much more than a credit lending institution; it is a development oriented organisation with priority focus on poverty alleviation, economic empowerment, environmental protection, education and an advocate for good quality of life.

He said the bank has a little above four million Nigerians who are currently on its list, accessing loans and depositing modestly. Through their loan services, many more have moved on to higher social status as the bank provides capital for their businesses, stabilise their enterprises and strengthened their families, economically.

Ehigiamusoe said the bank  has equally provided more than 7,000 direct employment, adding that LAPO has issued 3000 fully funded free education  scholarships to the children of our customers, including Vocational trainings for almost 400 beneficiaries.

“Currently, we are opening a multi-million naira massive healthcare facility center in Benin for quick access to qualitative diagnostic and medical treatment for people, especially women, this is in furtherance of our commitment to improving the lives of the ordinary Nigerian.

“We have also been investing in renewable energy, through the provision of cleaner energy for cooking (Cooking Gas), thereby discouraging huge deforestation by women who otherwise depend heavily on firewood to cook on a daily basis and also provision of solar lamps to encourage the switch from kerosene lanterns”, Ehigiamusoe .

On the impact the company has made in developing the society, he disclosed that in 2006, LAPO won the Grameen Foundation Award for Excellence in microfinance bank. “The cash prize of $10,000 of award was used as a seed fund for a scholarship scheme for children our our clients. Over 3,000 children have benefited from the awards. Also, Skill acquisition support for children of our clients who are pout of the school with over 600 benefiting from the scheme,” he said.

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Thursday shared N769.523 billion to the three tiers of government as July allocation.

The N769.523 billion comprised revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT), Exchange Gain and Gross Statutory revenue.  The committee announced that as at August 22, the balance in the Excess Crude Account was $274.407 million.

The gross statutory revenue for last month was N674.365 billion. It was N21.416 billion higher than the N652.949 billion received in the previous month.

For the month under review, revenue from VAT was lower than what it was in the preceding month.

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A gross revenue of N94.159 billion was available from the VAT as against N108.631 billion distributed in the preceding month, resulting in a decrease of N14.472 billion.

The Exchange Gain yielded N0.999 billion.

A communique by the FAAC confirmed that from N769.523 billion, the Federal Government got N299.799 billion, the states (N190.381 billion) and the 774 local government areas received N143.569 billion.

The oil-producing states received N42.917 billion as 13 per cent derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N92.857 billion as cost of revenue collection.

A breakdown of the distribution showed that from the gross statutory revenue of N674.365 billion, the Federal Government received N285.767 billion, the states got N144.945 billion, the local government areas received N111.746 billion, the oil producing states received N42.816 billion as 13 per cent derivation revenue and the revenue collecting agencies received N89.091 billion as cost of collection.

From the N94.159 billion VAT, the Federal Government received N13. 559 billion, the states received N45.197 billion, the local government areas received N31.638 billion and the revenue generating agencies got N3.766 billion.

A lot has been said about the exploits of the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria. While some have questioned its operational effectiveness, some have also praised it to high heavens. In my opinion, those that have had reasons to question the operational efficiency of the Nigerian Army did so on reasons best known to them. Also, those that have praised the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army did so based on what it is they have seen by making a comparison with what it was in times past and what it is now.

 

I belong to that school of thought that is full of praises for the Nigerian Army not just in the fight against terrorism in North-East Nigeria, but for how it has been able to handle its military operations simultaneously across the country. In the North and the East, South, and West, the presence of the Nigerian Army is felt.

 

This brings to the issue of leadership and the critical role it has played in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria. According to one of the celebrated war strategist of all time and author of the book ‘Art of War’ Sun Tzu, “the general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.”

 

This is one attribute of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai that I have in numerous forays tried to bring to the front burner for Nigerians to indeed understand and appreciate the sacrifices that have gone into winning the war against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria. He is indeed the jewel of the kingdom because if the territorial integrity of Nigeria is questioned, then there would be no country.

 

For me, no matter what anyone thinks, there has been a substantial difference in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria since 2015. This much was corroborated in many quarters and also coupled with the fact that no Nigerian territory is under the control of Boko Haram terrorist anymore. How was this possible you might want to ask? It’s simply leadership. We must admit the role of sound leadership in all human endeavours. And the operations of the Nigerian Army are not an exception to the impact or effect of good leadership in its operational outcomes.

 

Just like Sun Tzu, stated, ‘the general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom’ and this is the case of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai if you ask me. He has been bold to admit and strategize at the same time. He is not one that would only churn out commands. He is involved most times in the execution of these commands as evident in the numerous instances where you can’t but find him in the trenches, either reviewing with his commanders or feasting with his soldiers in an attempt to provide that psychological boost that they require to keep the fire burning.

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I recall on one of the occasions of an event where Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai spoke extensively about his vision and mission for the Nigerian Army. He was concise in his words and also sincere in its delivery. I recall that three years down the line, he has been able to match his words with action. The promises he made has been religiously fulfilled to the extent that I wondered how he was able to do some of the things he does. However, again, I am reminded by Sun Tzu that ‘thus we may know that there are five essentials for victory: (1) He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. (2) He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. (3) He will win whose Army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. (4) He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. (5) He will win who has the military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.” All of these have been systematically incorporated in the operations of the Nigerian Army I must add, and the number three quote says it all about how Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been able to turn a once disillusioned Nigerian Army notorious for making retreats instead of advancing in the fight against Boko Haram terrorist to a robust and strategic Nigerian Army that has indeed taken the battle to the Boko Haram terrorist.

 

This is because the same zeal and commitment exhibited by the Chief of Army Staff are the same displayed across the ranks in the Nigerian Army which has ultimately translated to what is now recorded as the successes of the Nigerian Army in the fight against terrorism and other militant groups in Nigeria.

 

We must admit that since 2015, the successes recorded by the Nigerian Army has conformed with the promise made by the Chief of Army Staff that never again would the territorial integrity of Nigeria be threatened. The question is, has he kept this promise to Nigeria? The answer is yes. This is on the heels that since the present administration came on board in 2015 and the subsequent appointment of the service chiefs, Nigerians have indeed had a reason to sleep well, especially those of us resident in the federal capital territory, who were once under constant attack from Boko Haram terrorist.

 

It is instructive to state that since 2015, the federal capital territory has not experienced any Boko Haram threat. This is no mean feat; it just tells of how the Chief of Army Staff has been able to match words with actions and how he has been able to carry all along in the quest to keep Nigeria safe and secured. This, in my opinion, is explained by a quote by Sun Tzu, wherein he stated that ‘regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys; look upon them as your beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death.’

 

This has been one of the strategies employed by the Chief of Army Staff, and it has yielded tremendous success as regards the war against terrorism in Nigeria. Also, it is instructive to add that Boko Haram terrorist has not been able to spread their tentacles to other parts of Nigeria; instead their remnants have been confined to the fringes of the Lake Chad Basin region.

 

I think at this point and with the way and manner Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai has carried on since 2015, military historians in Nigeria are duty-bound to document his exploits to serve as reference material in the future. For me, the summation of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai’s leadership of the Nigerian Army is that of a promise kept and still counting.

 

 

Okanga, a traditional warrior wrote this piece from Agila, Benue State.

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Thursday said Saturday’s attack on former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, Germany, was to protest his “self-centered politics of survival”.

The proscribed group said while it did not expect the lawmaker to change Nigeria, it expected him to speak out on issues concerning the Igbo.

But, a group, the Divine Mandate International (DMI), faulted IPOB’s threat to attack more Igbo leaders whenever they travel abroad.

It vowed to cooperate with security agencies to ensure that Igbo leaders are safe in the United Kingdom (UK).

Igbo Youth Assembly Worldwide (IYA) said the attack on Ekwerendu was a wake-up call to Igbo leaders of thought to do the right thing.

IPOB’s spokesman Emma Powerful, in a statement, SAID Ekweremadu had not done enough for the Igbo as the longest-serving senator.

“This distinguished Senator is a typical example of the new breed Igbo politician, permanently engaged in the politics of personal survival 40 years after the Biafra genocide.

“Ekweremadu, the distinguished Senator representing Enugu State, is the longest serving Igbo senator.

“He has survived in the murky waters of Nigerian politics by playing to the rules of the politics of survival.

“Enugu, his home state, is besieged on all fronts by Fulani militants. Men, women and children, even priests, are being slaughtered on a daily basis.

“We are yet to hear our distinguished Senator speak with clarity on the matter,” the group said.

According to IPOB, those condemning its members for manhandling Ekweremadu in Germany are poor students of history.

“You do not persuade an angry people with patriotic rhetoric. Leaders who cannot gauge the anger and fury in their land must be truly blind and not qualified to represent them.

“Igbo politicians like Ekweremadu loved Nigeria than the owners of Nigeria, a case of being more Catholic than the Pope.

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“They love their prison and zealously promote a system that puts their people down,” the statement added.

DMI, in a letter to Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi by its Chairman Dr Nick Nwokporo, Secretary Dr Francis Kalu and Public Relations Officer Dr Bartholomew Aleke, condemned the attack on Ekweremadu.

The letter reads: “We totally condemn and repudiate in its entirety the shameful attack on Senator Ekweremadu by IPOB group in Germany.

“We also challenge the threat to our Igbo leaders as posted by the group and their sponsors.

“We, therefore, wish to reiterate our unalloyed support and faith in you and other Igbo leaders. The actions of IPOB are barbaric, disgraceful and uninformed.

“We will cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure that the miscreants and their supporters anywhere face the full weight of the law.

“Additionally, we are working with our UK authorities and Ohaneze UK and its affiliate organisations to weed out such actions. The UK can never be Germany.

“Sir, we will not tolerate any intimidation on you or any other Igbo leaders when visiting the UK or wherever, neither will we ignore any threats to your safety when visiting the UK.

“Please, continue your good works and be rest assured of our continued support. May your good heart not be poisoned by threats from people of no standing.”

IYA in a statement by its President-General, Ifeanyi Nwaudunna and Secretary-General Casmir Irekamba, said it had opposed IPOB’s “sit-at-home” orders, its calls for secession and alleged hate speech by its leader Nnamdi Kanu.

“We condemn all these illegal activities of IPOB as misguided and a play by enemies of Ndi Igbo to ground economic activities.

“We also express deep concerns over numerous cheap blackmail and name calling against certain individuals, ethnic groups and the President,” it added.

IYA alleged that enemies of the Igbo connived with disgruntled politicians to embolden IPOB in the guise of marginalisation.

“This propaganda of Igbo marginalisation is a total deceptive and cheap blackmail against the present government by failed Igbo politicians to stir dangerous resentment to sustain their selfish political machinery.

“These failed Igbo politicians are the ones causing disconnection of Ndi Igbo from national level,” it added.

IYA, however, urged Igbo leaders to ensure that the Southeast is not marginalised.

“Therefore, IYA stands with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu when he recently stated that zoning of political office cannot be jettisoned or abolished until the Northeast and Southeast geo-political zones produced the President.

“IYA calls on Igbo leaders of thought to speak up against using Igbo land as a launching pad by disgruntled elements and secessionists within and outside against the constitutional authority of Nigeria,” it said.

Earlier, Ekweremadu’s kinsmen, under the aegis of the Enugu West Peoples Parliament, disagreed with IPOB, saying the former Deputy Senate President has done a lot for his people and the Igbo.

“Let us place on record that Senator Ekweremadu has done so much for his constituents, the Igbo nation, Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

“He has demonstrated quality representation by attracting numerous infrastructure, including roads and bridges, water projects, dams, electricity projects, just to mention a few.

“His non-governmental organisation, the Ikeoha Foundation, has provided jobs and bursary awards to over 6000 indigent students, assisted adult learners on how to read and write.

“Senator Ekweremadu, alongside other Igbo senators, was instrumental in ensuring the bail of IPOP leader Nnamdi Kanu.

“He wrote President Buhari to condemn Operation Python Dance, drew the President’s attention to possibilities of the Python Dance escalating to another civil war, and urged the President to address the obvious marginalisation of the Igbo, etc,” the kinsmen said.

A road accident on Thursday claimed 17 lives in Kwara State.

The accident also left two persons injured.

The unfortunate incident occurred at Bacita Junction on Jebba/Ilorin highway, Moro Local Government Area.

The accident involved an 18-seater Toyota Hiace passenger bus and an articulated DAF container truck. The accident was said to have been caused by over speeding and dangerous driving as the two vehicles had an head-on collision at a bend on the highway.

Head of Operations, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kwara State Sector Command Udeme Eshiet confirmed the accident.

He said the DAF container truck was going towards Jebba in Kwara North and the passenger bus was coming to Ilorin, the state capital, when the crash occurred.

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Eshiet said: “Due to excess speeding in which the two drivers were involved while driving their vehicles at the time when the crash occurred, they could not negotiate the sharp bend properly, and when they eventually met, it resulted in head on collision.”

The road safety official urged motorists to be more careful while driving on the nation’s highways to check avoidable accidents.

He added that passengers should always caution and report every reckless driver to law enforcement agents nearby.

It was, however, learnt yesterday that no fewer than 168 persons were killed in road accidents in Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States between January and July.

Zonal Commander,  Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps Marshall Imoh Etuk said yesterday that 969 people were injured within this period.

Etuk gave the figures in Bauchi at the 3rd Quarter Retreat for Heads of Operations in the zone.

He said within the period, 188 road crashes were recorded in the three states compared to the 276 recorded in the same period in 2018, which represents a 59.5 per cent reduction.

According to him, between January and July, 1,360 people were involved in the accidents as compared to the 1,981 that were involved in the same period in 2018.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has forwarded to the House of Assembly a bill to institutionalise his various initiatives to drive economic growth, counter poverty and ensure equitable distribution of resources in the state.

The bill, when passed, will establish the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWSSIP) which would be charged with the responsibility of tackling poverty, ensuring equitable distribution of resources and economic growth.

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“Mr. Governor’s plan is to ensure that his various interventions to tackle poverty and make living a lot more meaningful for our people are formalised and institutionalised. It is a social security plan that benefits everyone, regardless of their affiliations,” Rafiu Ajakaye, chief press secretary to the governor, said in a statement yesterday.

The statement said such programmes would outlive the administration and guide against people, especially the aged, falling into destitution or depending on any individual politicians to access whatever support the state can offer them.