Author: The Nation

Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture Otunba Segun Runsewe has hailed the Republic of Niger for instituting a formidable military collaboration with Nigeria to enhance the security of life and properties along the border communities.

Runsewe gave the commendation while receiving a delegation of senior military officers from the Superior Military College in Niger in his office.

According to him, apart from sharing common boundaries, both countries share similar values and ideals as common members of the United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Lake Chad Basin Commission, Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU) Organisation of Islamic Community (OIC), among others.  

He stated that the existing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Niger Republic has helped in tackling trans-border insecurity, illegal arms importation and smuggling.

“Niger, like Nigeria, is also facing challenges of Boko Haram insurgency, insecurity and jihadist movement and the multi-national task force on insecurity between Nigeria, Republic of Niger, Chad and Benin Republic have yielded positive results,” he noted.

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Runsewe noted that Nigeria and Niger Republic have signed a bilateral agreement for the coordination of frequency utilisation along their boarders to ensure seamless deployment of military services around and within the two countries.

He added that collaboration with the National Council for Arts and Culture in capacity building, youth empowerment and cultural exchange will further cement the existing relationship both countries share.

Head of the Nigerean delegation Col. Abdulrasak Ibrahim thanked the culturally-friendly reception accorded him and members of his delegation which, according to him, is a clear indication of the good attitude of Nigerians

Col. Ibrahim, who spoke through an interpreter, said the Nigerean delegation, comprising 10 supervising staffs, including Team leader, Directors and Administrative staff as well as 23 participants, were on a study tour of Nigeria under the theme ‘Military Cooperation and Cross Border Security’, with Nigeria as a case study.

He stressed that a rewarding civil-military relationship is often enhanced by the knowledge culture, norms and traditions of the environment under operation, adding that ‘despite the multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural nature of Nigeria, she is able to harness her diversity to meet the challenges of national integration, unity and development’.

He added: “The component of culture is what is needed to manage peace because as military men, we work in areas with different cultures so we need to know these cultures to define our scope of engagement.”

Col. Ibrahim was confident that the experience and knowledge they have gathered will enhance their opinions when they get back to their country.

Ogun Integrity Vanguard (OIV) has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, to present himself for trial instead of writing frivolous petitions to the police over his vote-buying scandal.

According to OIV, it is disturbing that after the Federal Government charged them to court  over vote buying, Adebutu and some PDP members are writing petitions to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, asking him to investigate Governor Dapo Abiodun and All Progressives Congress (APC) for vote buying.

The group spoke in a statement by its secretary, Duro Thomas, in Abeokuta, yesterday.

Thomas said: “The charges, which were filed by Director of Public Prosecutions, M.B Abubakar; Assistant Chief State Counsel, Aderonke Imana and Senior State Counsel, Bagudu Sani, on behalf of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, detailed how Adebutu and others did conspire to corruptly give gifts in form of Verve prepaid cards  which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged’ to induce voters to endeavour the  return of PDP candidates during the governorship and State Assembly elections in Ogun State.

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“Adebutu was further accused of providing 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000 each and inscribed with  the same name “for the purpose of corruptly influencing voters to vote for PDP candidates”.

“Given these facts, it is laughable these people are trying to push a counter narrative. When did they realise APC loaded cards to buy votes? There is nothing like that in the petition they filed.”

According to Thomas, when PDP candidate took Governor Abiodun to Ogun Election Petitions Tribunal over outcome of March 18 polls, he never pleaded vote buying by Abiodun and APC as a ground of appeal.

A stakeholder in agricultural sector, Mr Retson Tedheke, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to give priority to rural agricultural revolution.

Tedheke, who is managing partner of Nigeria Farmers’ Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS), farm estate, spoke in Keffi, Nasarawa State, during a tour with journalists and Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank assisted project.

He said with rural agricultural revolution, Nigeria  will not import food.

According to him, Nigeria’s agriculture needs more value addition for more foreign exchange, job and wealth  creation, especially at the rural farm estates.

“It’s all about community integration. Once we are able to integrate the community, then we can feed the nation. We don’t need to import food to feed Nigeria.

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Tedheke, who is convener of BATKASH National Farmers’ Forum Cooperative (CMS), said government and private sectors need to galvanise farmer-herder relationships with farm estates.

This model, he said, would reduce insecurity and contribute to high food productivity.

“We are going to have less insecurity because the truth is rural Nigeria is a gold mine, so why do we focus on the sentiment rather than the solution? Our own is to let us have food and let us have peace.

“We have been working in partnership with L-PRES, they have been supporting the project here over the last two years, and have come to see what their support has provided for us here.”, Tedheke added. 

National Project Coordinator of NPC, Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, Sanusi Abubakar, said they were in the farm to reassess progress  made.

Abubakar noted NFGCS is operating according to the mandate establishing L-PRES.

Expressing satisfaction to efforts made, Abubakar said more support will be given to the NFGCS farm estate.

“The farm has been given technical support, and now it is at the implementation stage. We will give him more besides technical support and that is why we are here to reassess the work.

“In the livestock value chain, we will support him and do a needs assessment to know what he wants”, he added.

Youths have been trained on the importance of climate action and promotion of sustainable development practices in Nigeria.

The two-day training workshop was held in Lagos recently.

The initiative tagged: “Climate Education: Building Youths’ Response to Climate Change”, gave youths an opportunity to discuss climate issues peculiar to Lagos and ways on how to combat it.

Dignitaries including, Director Climate Department, Lagos State, Mr. Bankole Micheal; Adebowale Tolulope (Representative from LASEPA), and others were in attendance.

The experts unanimously encouraged the participants to take cognisance of their environment and be charged to take climate action.

In Lagos, over 80 participants attended the training, and in total, 600 young persons in Southwest Nigeria will get educated on climate action.

Co-founder of the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), Olumide Idowu explained that the training has helped influence the activities of young climate activists, and in turn, they are impacting their local communities by driving climate action.

Idowu, a recipient of the 2022 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund, noted that Climate Education is key, especially in finding solutions to climate change issues.

He said: “We’ve made the training a locally-led climate conversation, we are helping young activists take action within their immediate environment. We’ve trained the participants on how to take action in their respective communities.

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“The support came in from Alumni Engagement Innovation Support Fund under the U.S. Mission in Nigeria. Across the states, we’ve been able to get the government’s attention, especially in knowing our solutions to climate issues. From Osun, Kwara, Ekiti, Oyo states respectively, they have shown interest in climate action”.

The Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate, Joseph Kruzich posited that climate change deserves everyone’s attention.

He said: “We all know that climate change is one of the fundamental issues in the world, and it deserves everyone’s attention. Nigeria and the US in particular are feeling the impact, and we’ve to be careful how to manage the situation.

“We are working with Nigeria to combat these climate change issues. It is a global problem that requires a global solution.

“We are trying to raise consciousness, and also helping young ones to gain knowledge, and also engage in positive change by transforming skills and knowledge; taking positive action, taking issues of climate action seriously, working together, understanding the problem in the country.”

Also, the President, the IVLP Alumni Association of the U.S. consulate, Adetoun Tade said: “We are lucky to have enthusiastic youths passionate about the environment, and ready to tackle climate change issues.

“Climate change is upon us already which is why planting the seed in these young people is very timely, and it is a seed that will generate in no time because these young ones will take charge and make adjustments.”

The participants were equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions about climate change.

Chairman of Ifelodun Local Council Development Area  (LCDA) of Lagos State, Olufemi Okeowo, has said the council will investigate the attack on his predecessor, Fatai Ajidagba. 

Okeowo said he bears no grudges against Ajidagba deither did he sponsor the attack.

Ajidagba, who sustained injuries whe he was attacked by hoodlums in the council, took to his Facebook page to accuse Okeowo and a lawmaker of sponsoring the attack

But referred to the insecurity challenges he inherited which he had nipped in the bud. He said: “After the attack, I reached out to Ajidagba through text messages and phone calls to sympathise with him.

“The council executives, legislative council, management and workforce have no hand in the attack. The matter will not be swept under the carpet. It will be investigated and sanctions applied where necessary.”

Okeowo, in a statement, said:  “The assault on Fatai Ajidagba,  June 2, in the council premises,  was neither masterminded by Mayor Okeowo nor witnessed by him. The council boss holds no grudges against Ajidagba that could warrant orchestrating any attack on him…”

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“They were relating after the leadership meeting inside his conference room when the attack was reported by Ajidagba himself, and all the leaders in attendance rushed down to see if they could apprehend the thugs.

“Ajidagba slipped on the stairs while rushing down, and Mayor Okeowo even held him up. This made the Mayor immediately invite the police and set up an inquiry panel to look into the matter and bring the culprits to book.

“Mayor Okeowo since the occurrence of this assault on Hon. Ajidagba had written a letter, text messages, and placed many phone calls to the latter to sympathize with him and to exonerate the entire Council Executives, Legislative Council, the management staff, and the entire workforce from the incident and giving him his utmost assurances that he will not allow this to be swept under the carpet like the similar case of Hon. Femi Olumuyiwa John, that was assaulted during the handover ceremony to Hon. Ajidagba.”

Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has partnered National Image Educational Consult (NIEC) to enhance youth empowerment and promote Federal Government’s educational agenda for youths.

National President of ALGON, Kolade Alabi, hailed NIEC for the initiative, saying promotion of youth empowerment and education will engender the country’s growth and development.

He emphasised that youth empowerment will promote nation-building and reduce insecurity.

Alabi added ALGON offices in the 774 local government areas  will embark on campaigns to identify qualified youths who cannot further their education due to financial challenges.

He said they will be enrolled in NIEC’s scholarship scheme in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of ensuring accessible education for youths.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIEC, Seyi Bamigbade, said the organisation has, in the last five years, driven a tuition-free education project.

Read Also: Oyo Ex-ALGON boss lauds Makinde for immortalising Ajimobi 

According to him, efforts are ongoing to increase the number of enrolment through the educational policy of Federal Government which seeks to ensure majority of youths have access to education.

“Interested applicants should be between ages 15-35, and must have obtained a minimum of five credits, including English and Mathematics in either WAEC, or NECO,” he said.

Bamigbade urged applicants to submit their credentials to ALGON office closest to them.

Director-General of ALGON Mrs. Binta Bello, commended NIEC for the project, ‘which will be a game-changer towards achieving inclusive education in the country’.

According to her, ALGON will continue to play a role in grassroots mobilisation for the masses to participate in activities to enhance their development.

Federal  government has said  Nigerians should  stop consuming hides (ponmo), smoked meat and bush meat as they pose serious risk to human health.

 Permanent Secretary in Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Ernest Umakhihe, spoke in a statement yesterday while alerting to Nigerians to the outbreak of Anthrax in some neighbouring countries in West African sub-region; specifically, Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and Togo.

The Nation learnt the zoonotic disease, which has claimed some lives, is a bacterial  that affects animals and humans.

According to Umakhihe, Anthrax spores are naturally found in the soil and commonly affect domestic and wild animals.

“People can get infected with Anthrax spores if they come in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. However, Anthrax is not a contagious disease, and so, one cannot get it by coming in close contact with an infected person.

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“Signs of Anthrax are flu- like symptoms, such as cough, fever, muscle aches and if not diagnosed and treated early, lead to pneumonia, severe lung problems, difficulty in breathing, shock and death.

“Being a bacterial disease, it responds to treatment with antibiotics and supportive therapy.

‘’It is primarily a disease of animals but because of man’s closeness to animals, non-vaccinated animals with anthrax can easily be transmitted to man through inhalation of anthrax spores or consumption of contaminated/infected animal products, such as hides and skin, meat or milk”, Umakhihe said.

He, however, urged the public to remain calm and vigilant  till the situation is brought under control

The permanent secretary  noted  the Federal Government has resuscitated a Standing Committee on Control of Anthrax in the ministry.

He said relevant institutions and collaborators have been contacted to control the outbreak.

This, he said, is in addition to sensitisation of state directors of veterinary services nationwide.

Almond Life Builders Foundation has distributed food to 500 elderly residents in Ile Ife, Osun State.

   Dr. Lola Akindoyin, executive director and founder of Almond, said the foundation also offered free medical check-ups to ensure the well-being of the elderly .

He said this gesture was possible through partnership with Initiative for Girl’s Right and Health Development (IGRHD), nonprofit organisation committed to improving healthcare.

 Akindoyin  thanked the House of Oduduwa for its support, saying the effort highlights power of collaboration in making positive impact in the community.

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Almond Life Builders Foundation said it would go further in  to assist the elderly.

The organisation plans to launch a food bank tailored to this cause. The food bank will ensure a sustained effort to provide nourishment and support to the elderly.

Addressing a news conference, Dr. Akindoyin hailed in individuals who contributed to the food distribution and medical check-ups.

She greeted Femi Omidire, Mrs. Modupe Popoola, Adenike Akinrinde, Mrs. Oluwakemi Bisiriyu-Ovie, and Chief Franklin Omene for their efforts and support.

Almond Life, with IGRHD and House of Oduduwa have brought comfort and relief to the elderly in Ile Ife. By addressing their needs and well-being, they have proven that a caring community can make a difference for its vulnerable members.

As the Almond Life Builders Foundation prepares to launch the food bank, their commitment to serving the elderly remains strong. Their efforts serve as an inspiration to others, encouraging everyone to extend a helping hand to those in need and foster a more compassionate society.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has held the bid opening for the 2023 planned disposal of assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

Twenty-five auctioneers participated in the bid opening at the Abuja headquarters of the ICPC.

Spokesperson of the anti-graft agency, Mrs. Azuka Ogugua, quoted the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, as promising in his opening remarks that the exercise would be transparent.

Owasanoye, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), commended the auctioneers for their cooperation and assured them that the commission would not renege on its pledge to ensure a fair and transparent process.

The ICPC boss, who was represented by Dr. Louis Mandama, a board member, noted that the bid opening was the first for 2023 and promised that the second exercise would hold in the second half of the year.

He stated that the mode of allocation of assets in the current stage would be different as there would be no batching of assets.

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Owasanoye gave assurance that the auctioneers would be allowed to go and take a look at the assets while working with the technical team in order to evaluate them.

The ICPC boss went further to say that complaints received from the five bidders after the broadcast of results on the commission’s website had been addressed.

After sorting the submitted bids, the marked and observed revealed the number of property bided for and its cost which were certified by the auctioneers.

The representatives of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Alhaji Bello Nasir and the representative of the Civil Society Organisations (CSO), Mr. Paul Odokara, expressed satisfaction with the exercise.

They commended the transparent nature of the exercise hoping that its outcome would certainly meet the criteria set for the bidding.

The observers also advised other agencies to take a cue from ICPC, and charged the auctioneers on the need to adhere to instructions for easy identification of their bids to avoid any disqualification.

 Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday clarified his position on the need for inclusivity in the National Assembly leadership.

He said his support for a Southern Christian Senate president was misinterpreted to suit an agenda.

During an interactive session with senators campaigning for Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin, Shettima made a case for the emergence of a Southern Christian and a Northern Muslim as the fairest balance to promote inclusivity at the centre.

In a statement by Abiola Sola, director of information in his office, the Vice President said his comments were motivated by a profound awareness of the divisive factors within the nation and were in harmony with the governing party’s pledge to ensure no group is left out. 

The remarks, he said, have unfortunately been stripped of context and mischievously circulated as an attempt to minimise the suitability of Muslim contestants in the race for the Senate leadership. 

The statement reads: “The remarks have not only been taken out of context but also misinterpreted to suit an agenda that sabotages our collective bid for unity.

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“What Vice President Shettima advocated during the meeting was that, considering Nigeria’s President and Vice President are Muslims, it would not be ill-advised for the lawmakers to choose a non-Muslim contestant, even if against a more qualified Muslim option, in order to achieve balance. 

“It is alarming that such an unambiguous plea has been unfairly misconstrued to imply that the Vice President said the most incompetent Christian candidate is superior to a Muslim candidate.

“One can understand why this absurd interpretation would be found distressing and hijacked by those with a malicious agenda to push.

“At the time of the Vice President’s remarks, approximately three contenders for the Speakership race had withdrawn their candidacy to support the candidate from the Northwest. 

“This well-considered balancing strategy aimed to mitigate the potential for crisis within the country, particularly by those anticipating the domination of leadership from the same religious faith in all branches of government as a signal.

“It would be illogical for the Vice President, who is himself a Muslim and an essential member of the community, to second-guess the competence of fellow Muslims in a nation headed by a Muslim President who has demonstrated unmatched leadership qualities, on the strength of which they were elected under the banner of the APC last February.”

The Vice President regretted the mischaracterisation. 

The statement adds: “While some are made innocently and without mischief, there are entities that have seized on the story to cause further chaos that transcends the realm of power politics. 

“This weaponisation of our divisions is why the Vice President appeals for inclusivity to prevent any agenda designed to undermine the new government and Nigeria as a whole.

“Before the media interface, the Vice President became aware that some entities and individuals were covertly pushing for Muslim leadership of the National Assembly with the sole aim of using the instance to legitimise their grievances against the Nigerian state and to prove to their communities that they have been marginalised and must rise to cause chaos. 

“This sheds light on the paradoxical situation where the same lawmakers who opposed a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket are now actively campaigning for political arrangements that would result in Muslims occupying all the highest four or five positions in the country.

“The covert intent of their actions is evident to astute observers of our politics. This is the dimension to which our politics has descended, a dimension that does not align with President Tinubu’s and the APC’s vision of a Nigeria for all, which is the promise that propelled this government to power even when some interest groups attempted to mischaracterise the APC ticket.

“The senators who met with the Vice President are known as the Stability Group, a group of 77 patriots who have signed up for the Akpabio/Barau ticket and believe the pair would represent the interests of the nation and the party. 

“The group is neither an ethnic nor religious group but a collection of well-intentioned senators with a convincing solution to Nigeria’s stability dilemma, as their name implies.”

The statement noted that the President remains grateful to the media outlets that have seen through the mischaracterisation and have been able to provide context to those who missed it. 

“We are at a critical point in our nation and cannot afford to lose our focus because of mischief-makers obsessed with starting a fire where there is none,” the statement adds.