Author: The Nation

The first three weeks of President Bola Tinubu‘s administration has been rated high by Nigerians living in the United Kingdom.

The group, Association of Nigerian Professionals in the United Kingdom, lauded the President’s decision on subsidy removal and steps taken to resuscitate the economy.

In a statement made available to The Nation in Uyo and signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Innocent Udoidiong, the group saluted Tinubu for the courage to get rid of the ‘obnoxious’ fuel subsidy regime.

It noted that the subsidy had remained a “channel for perpetration of fraud by some criminal elements.”

The professionals, however, urged the President not to rest on his oars, “given the urgent need to revitalise and resuscitate the nation’s ailing economy.”

On the suspension of Godwin Emefiele as the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the group said the President took the right path to strengthen the nation’s financial sector.

It also commended the decision of the President to rejig the security architecture by appointing new service chiefs.

In the statement titled, “Mr. President, Keep the Tempo”, the group also tasked the President on the need to carefully select his cabinet members and other appointees in order to pick capable hands who would work meticulously to improve the nation’s economy.

The group further prayed God to grant President Tinubu excellent health to enable him serve Nigeria to the best of his ability.

• … NDIC official may be sanctioned

Federal Ministry of Finance and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) have washed their hands off the $76million scandal involving past and current staff of both organisations.

Those mentioned for allegedly hoarding $76 million in a house in Apo District of Abuja are Dr. Mohammed Kyari Dikwa former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Aisha Sadiq Odariko a manager at the NDIC.

A very highly placed official of the Federal Ministry of Finance in a chat with The Nation said the “Ministry of Finance had nothing to do with it.”

The official hinted that there will be stricter enforcement of the rules, regulations and guidelines of existing reforms

This has become necessary given the recent spate of financial scandals that have rocked agencies under the direct supervision of the ministry.

It will be recalled that the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Dr Oluwatoyin Madein had vowed to rid the treasury of scandals.

Reacting to the involvement of a staff member in the alleged scandal, an official of the NDIC confirmed to The Nation that some directors of the corporation will be interrogating Aisha Sadiq Odariko.

According to the official, “we’re supposed to meet with her in the company of the Director Legal to discuss with her, study her file, see who her referees are, and where she came from.

“We will look at all the preliminary issues to see what Zenith Bank wrote about her. If we doubt anything, we will call the EFCC or DSS to do a thorough investigation, and then we will place her on suspension.

“No kobo is missing in NDIC, so we will not rush to suspend her. We will interrogate her first. She’s still a staff member of the NDIC. She was Dikwa’s account officer when she was with Zenith Bank.”

Another official of the NDIC told The Nation that “the lady joined the corporation after the incident.”

Exonerating the NDIC from the scandal, the official said “there’s no way she could have had access to such amount of money working at the NDIC.”

Despite the allegations, “she’s still a staff of the NDIC as a manager in the Enterprise Risk Unit of the corporation,” the official disclosed.

In 2020, it was alleged that Dr. Mohammed Kyari Dikwa and Aisha Sadiq Odariko kept $76 million cash in a house in Apo District of Abuja now identified as Dikwa’s office.

According to media reports, scrap metal scavengers looking for COVID-19 palliatives were said to have stumbled on the cash instead of palliatives and made away with $4 million.

Dikwa was the Director, Special Projects and pioneer Secretary, Presidential Initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) under the Office of the Minister of Finance.

Recently, the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, was involved in a multi-billion naira fraud that rocked the treasury.

These series of financial indiscretions have left the ministry embarrassed thus necessitating the desire to implement reforms around financial fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to be investigating the matter.

Relief has come for Apapa residents in Lagos as the Mohammed Bello Koko-led management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has resuscitated the 2.4 million gallons per day capacity Apapa Water Works which had become dilapidated since 2012.

Speaking during handover of the rehabilitated facility in Apapa on Thursday, Bello-Koko said the intervention is part of NPA’s corporate social responsibility (CRS) to the immediate communities.

He said: “Responding to the existential needs of our operating environment is top priority on our corporate social responsibility agenda. “And this explains why we gave speedy approval to the request of resuscitation of the Apapa Water Works which had been moribund since 2012.”

This development is coming on the heels of the rehabilitation of the Accident and Emergency Ward at the Apapa General Hospital and the acquisition and deployment of a first-of-its-kind in Africa incinerator for efficient waste management by Koko-led administration.

The Managing Director of Lagos State Water Corporation, the Chairperson of Apapa Local Government, Hon. (Mrs) Idowu Shebanjo accompanied by the Chairman and officials of the Apapa Residents Association were full of appreciation to the NPA management.

They, however, promised proper maintenance of the facility for sustainability.

Osun State community, Ilobu, the headquarters of Irepodun Local Government, has commended President Bola Tinubu over the appointment of service chiefs.

The community specifically applauded President Tinubu for the appointment of Maj. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff.

A statement signed by the community through National President of Ilobu-Asake Development Union, Olufemi Salako and the spokesperson, Jare Tiamiyu noted that “the appointment is a professional attempt, which was done based on merit. We also wish to appreciate the President for finding General Lagbaja worthy of the honour.”

He added that “It’s also worthy of note that General Lagbaja has for decades dedicated his time towards defending the territorial integrity of Nigeria through participation and leading several operations across the length and breadth of Nigeria and beyond. Most recent was his efforts towards restoring peace to Northwestern states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Kebbi and Sokoto during his short spell as General Officer Commanding of 1 Division, Kaduna.

“We call on Nigerians to be rest assured that the fight against enemies of Nigeria will be won decisively as we believe the Nigerian Army General, Lagbaja, will be ruthless in dealing with them.

“Finally, we congratulate one of us, General Lagbaja and we believe in your capacity to take the battle against enemies of Nigeria to a level that will guarantee security of lives and properties, eliminate division and most importantly, corroborate the vision of President Bola Tinubu in bringing stability into the country. Be rest assured of our unalloyed support.”

No fewer than 125 Nigerians were evacuated from Sudan on Saturday.

The evacuees, which include 22 children and three students arrived the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja at about 5.30 pm on Saturday from Port Sudan.

Over 2,000 Nigerians were evacuated from Sudan following the outbreak of war between the Military led government and the Paramilitary.

Read Also : Sudan crisis: FG gives condition for fresh evacuation

The returnees were received by Director Special Duties, National Emergency Agency, NEMA, Dr Onimode Bandele.

Bandele said another batch would be arriving the country on Sunday.