Category: Featured

It is time for the Federal Government to wage a total war on bandits and terrorists, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said yesterday.

The North has been reeling under serious terrorism and bandit attacks which took a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

There have been daily attacks, including kidnapping for ransom, insurgency, killings and incessant farmer-herder clashes, among others.

In a renewed wave of terror, the gunmen on March 26 attacked facilities at the Kaduna Airport where they killed an airport worker.

Last week, terrorists blew up rail tracks on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

Eight passengers were killed on the Kaduna-bound train; 41 people were injured, while 21 others are believed to have been abducted.

In the Southeast, killings and arson have become almost a daily occurrence across the five states.

Yesterday, two officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) were shot dead at their duty post in Anambra.

In Imo State, a local government secretariat was burnt down.

The governors are struggling to end the Monday sit-at-home, which paralyses the entire geo-political zone.

The ACF, however, rejected the call for mercenaries to be brought into the country to fight the battle against terrorists.

Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai threatened to rally the Northwest states to bring in mercenaries.

The military has consistently reiterated that it is capable of ending terrorism and banditry.

The ACF urged the government to employ whatever is available to secure lives and properties and make every inch of the land peaceful and habitable.

ACF Secretary-General Murtala Aliyu, who spoke for the organisation, enjoined the military to deploy men and arms to attack terrorists’ enclaves, instead of providing security escorts for trains across the country.

The ACF urged the Federal Government to strengthen the anti-terror war with the utilisation of volunteers, such as ex-servicemen and women, civilian task forces and hunters.

The ACF said: “The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) calls on the entire Muslims, Christians and all religions, to embark on prayers towards the sustenance of peace and tranquillity in the North and the country in general.

“The Forum wishes the various religions utilise the entire holy month of Ramadan and the Easter period, in addition to, at least all Sundays and Fridays of the months of April and May, as a sober period to atone for our sins and pray for mercy from our creator.

“Nigeria, most especially the northern states, could not be said to be in the state of tranquillity that warrants development. The entire country cries for peace. This calls for sober reflection and absolute return to our creator for repentance.

“The ACF calls on the leadership of our political parties to structure their manifestos to address our challenges and refocus our psyche towards the peaceful growth and development of the country and not the current race for the sake of power or material gains.

“The holistic submission on the failure of governance, as attested by our governors, is an indication that all is not well in the nooks and corners of the territory called Nigeria. We have no other territory than this, so also a country but Nigeria.

“The survival of the country therefore must be paramount and lives and property of citizens, law and order and freedom of expression must be protected.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum appreciate the frustration of leaders at the sub-national level. However, we call on the governments, governors and citizens alike, to avoid any fire brigade approach on any pressing issue bedevilling the country.

“The security of the country rests on the central government and calls for a cursory, calm, implementable and lasting solution.”

It emphasised that invitation of foreign forces or mercenaries to fight our course must be treated with utmost caution.

ACF said: “On the proposition to escort trains from Abuja to Kaduna, Ibadan to Lagos or the Itakpe routes, by the Nigerian Airforce, the Forum calls on the security agency to redesign their operations and instead deploy their machinery and manpower in launching attacks on the bandits and terrorist enclaves.

“Dedicating such operations to only railway lines shall make air and road users more vulnerable to such attacks. The new dimension of the terror attacks, in the country, both on humans and infrastructure calls for total war.

“The authorities may look at the possibility of utilising volunteers, such as the ex-servicemen and women, the civilian task forces, hunters and whatever is available to make every inch of Nigeria habitable and peaceful.

“We must appreciate the responsibility bestowed on us by providence as the largest black nation and as a leader on our continent must do everything within our powers to keep Nigeria stable and strong.”

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has refused to list Lagos State among beneficiaries of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund, some six years after the state became oil-producing state.

A source at the RMAFC said Lagos State has not been added to the list of states benefiting from the 13 per cent derivation “due to some irreconcilable differences” with the state.

Two states- Anambra and Kogi, which are now oil-producing states, benefit from the 13 per cent derivation fund. They joined Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Abia.

Lagos State became an oil-producing state when crude oil was found in commercial quantities in 2016. Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Company Limited, an indigenous firm and operator of OML 113 offshore Lagos in 2016 announced the commencement of production of crude oil from the field. Other partners are New Age Exploration Nigeria Limited, EER (Colobus) Nigeria Limited, Pan Petroleum (Panoro Energy) Aje Limited and PR Oil and Gas Nigeria Limited.

But Lagos State cannot join states receiving 13 per cent derivation without clearance from RMAFC.

A source at RMAFC said the state has not started benefiting from 13 per cent derivation fund because the government was playing a “hide and seek game”.

RMAFC is disputing information provided by the government in respect of the state’s position on oil production as an oil producing state.

“They are making profit as oil-producing state but don’t want to come clean. Their case is being investigated by the oil and gas committee of the commission, and we are waiting for the outcome of the committee’s investigation,” the source said.

Besides the statutory monthly allocation that goes to each state as share of revenue allocation from the federation account, oil producing states get an extra 13 per cent derivation fund. The extra fund enshrined in the constitution is meant to take care of effects of degradation suffered by oil-producing communities.

Figures from StatiSense showed that in 2021, the 13 per cent derivation proceeds was shared as follows: Delta State, N141.9 billion; Akwa Ibom State, N91.2 billion; Bayelsa State N87.2 billion; Rivers State N83.1 billion; Edo State N17.1 billion; Ondo State N11.5 billion; Imo State N9.98 billion and Abia State N4.78 billion.

An RMAFC source told The Nation that the “legal unit of RMAFC has confirmed that Kogi and Anambra states are now receive 13 per cent oil derivation”.

Obiano had earlier written to RMAFC to request the state’s “due share of revenue accruing to the nation from oil and gas production activities in Anambra State”.

RMAFC, in granting the approval highlighted that Anambra and Kogi states would start benefiting from the 13 per cent derivation fund “once the proceeds from the oil wells are contributing to the Federation Account”.

The approval letter addressed to Obiano and signed by the RMAFC’ Secretary Mr M.B. Shehu, conveyed the Commission’s “attribution of 11 oil wells wholly to Anambra state”.

The commission also “approved the attribution of Anambra River One, Two, and Three oil wells, to be shared equally (50-50 per cent basis) between Anambra and Kogi states, pending the final delineation of boundaries of the two states”.

The 11 oil wells wholly attributed to Anambra State included Ameshi One, Two, Three and Four oil wells, and Enyie One, Two, Three, and Four oil wells. Others are Nzam-One oil well, Alo- One oil well, and Ogbu- One oil well.

However, RMAFC added a caveat, saying “for the states to benefit from the 13 per cent derivation fund, the proceeds from the operations of the oil wells should be contributed to the Federation Account”.

 

 

 

Wizkid, Femi Kuti and Made Kuti have lost out of the race to win a Grammy at the 64th edition at the MGM Arena, Las Vegas.

At a televised event, Wizkid, Femi Kuti, and Made Kuti lost out in the two categories, Best Global Music Performance and Best Global Music Album.

While the Nigerian music stars lost to Arooj Aftab for her single ‘Mohabbat’ in the Best Global Music Performance, Angelique Kidjo won the Best Global Music Album.

During her acceptance speech, Kidjo appreciated young Africans that have continued to collaborate with her to promote the continent to the world.

In 2021, Wizkid got his first Grammy award for a feature on Beyonce’s song, ‘Brown Skin Girl,’ while Burna Boy won the Best Global Music Album category after losing out in 2020.

Gunmen have killed three officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Anambra State.

The incident happened on Sunday along Igboukwu -Ezinifite -Uga road in Aguata local government area around 2.30pm.

An eyewitness told The Nation that the vehicle of the Commission’s officials was not torched.

The hoodlums burnt a section of Nnewi South local government area,ukpor in the State on Thursday, killing a security guard.

Read Also: FRSC officer crushed to death in Ondo

On Friday, another set of gunmen stormed Amichi in Nnewi South, burnt police station and killed unspecified number of policemen.

The killed FRSC officials were said to be in the duty posts when the attack occurred.

Anambra FRSC spokesperson Margret Enabe, told The Nation, the report was still sketchy for her to confirm the incident.

She promised to get back when reports were available but was yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Gunmen have reportedly killed no fewer than 10 persons in Chando Zerreci village in Bassa Local Government council of Plateau State.

The Nation gathered that 19 persons sustained injuries during the attack.

Eyewitness said the gunmen suspected to be herdsmen launched the attack during the annual Irigwe ritual festival ‘Zerreci’ celebrated to usher in the rainy farming season.

The National Publicity Secretary of Irigwe Youth Movement Comrade Lawrence Zongo confirmed the attack in a statement on Sunday in Jos.

The statement reads: The National Leadership of Irigwe Youth Movement(IYM) condemned the attack of the Irigwe people on her annual ritual festival ‘Zerreci’ the festival that will usher them into the rainy farming season.

“They group alleged that they were attacked by herdsmen late Saturday night at about 11pm at Chando Zerreci in Bassa Local Government of Plateau state”

Zongo further added that 10 persons were killed and 19 people survived gunshots wounds.

Read Also: JUST IN: Gunmen set Imo council secretariat ablaze

They are said to be undergoing medical treatment at Enos Hospital Miango while others are receiving treatment in Jos.

The statement further called on Government to come to their rescue.

“The Nigerian government has a responsibility to promote and protect human rights, including the right to life, and a duty to protect civilians from attacks by taking effective measures to prevent and deter attacks on the Rigwe people.”

“The government must as a matter of urgency investigate the attack in Irigwe land and bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure families and other victims are adequately compensated.”

“Brutal attacks on Rigwe communities are becoming rampant and frequent. This is unacceptable. The government must take more concrete steps to protect lives and property across Rigwe chiefdom and neighboring communities.”

The Irigwe nation further pleaded to International communities to come to the aid of the people and to support the

Plateau police spokesman Uba Ogaba, confirmed the attack, adding that the Command had mobilised armed personnel to the place to restore normalcy.

Gunmen on Sunday set on fire the secretariat of Orsu Local Government Area in Imo State.

A resident of the area, Chibuzo Ukah, said the attack, which happened around 2:30am might be the handwork of the gunmen troubling communities within the South East.

According to her, several buildings, including the chairman’s office , administrative block and parked vehicles among others were among the facilities torched.

Another community source, who pleaded anonymity, said : “Orsu is a no- go area for the youths especially young men because the activities of these gunmen is so dangerous in the area.”

Read Also: Police kill one, repel attack by gunmen in Ebonyi

He said like Orlu alleged that have become haven for gunmen, Orsu has turned a dead zone for young men .

He called for caution from government officials to avoid inflammatory comments that could trigger crisis.

Imo Police spokesman, Michael Abattam, when contacted for confirmation of the incident, said: “ Officially I don’t know about it for now but let me confirm from the DPO in Orsu.”

However, the lawmaker in the Imo Assembly, Hon. Ekene Nnodumele, confirmed the incident to the Nation.

He said: “It happened but we are not sure those who carried out the act.”

The Presidency has berated the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly attempting to wrongly place events in the nation’s economic and sociopolitical history.

Reacting to a recent communique by PDP Governors’ Forum on the state of affairs across the country, the Presidency noted that the opposition party’s leaders played the Ostrich by attempting to indict the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government in its handling of the economy, while leaving a critical element like the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PDP Governors recently met in Umuobiakwa community, Abia State to X-ray, among other things, national affairs and issued a communique, which generally indicted the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) government over the economy, security, infrastructure and other issues, concluding the party was not fit to run the country any further.

However, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency threw the blame back at the opposition party, highlighting side-by-side the damages done by PDP in its 16-year rule and how the APC government had worked in the last seven years to refocus the country.

“The rejected Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fantasy communiqué is a work of fiction by those who truly believe black is white and one plus one equals three.

“This statement of the delusional seeks to cover up the serial and criminal failures of the PDP’s long and damaging period in office, which the Muhammadu Buhari administration and All Progressives Congress (APC) have strived these past seven years to repair.

“We cannot forget under PDP, the nation had an army full of phantom soldiers whose pay went to PDP politicians’ pockets while our under-resourced real soldiers died in the fight against terrorist insurgents and our international allies refused to supply Nigeria kit and military aid.

“Today with the APC, the army is resourced, we have fighter jets from our partners, Boko Haram is being driven from every inch of Nigerian territory, and ISWA’s leader eliminated in a Nigerian airstrike.

Read Also: State House in Dodan Barracks to be revitalised — Presidency

“We cannot ignore how PDP politicians sought – and continue to seek – to inflame ethnic and religious tensions by refusing to even proffer a solution to the herder-farmer clashes which became most prevalent under their misrule.

“Today with APC in government, there are ranches on Federal land and in state land where there is the willingness to establish them. Clashes are reduced. Lives are saved, and livelihoods are enriched.

“We will always remember how PDP politicians intentionally encouraged and exploited the black market in currency exchange to convert ill-gotten gains to foreign currency and undermine our national currency, then spirited their funds abroad in their billions and into foreign bank accounts.

“Today with APC we support our national currency; we have achieved self-sufficiency in rice and fertilizer production; we refuse to allow greedy politicians and businessmen to hide their money overseas, and instead build an economy here in Nigeria for all.

“We will always know how PDP politicians raided the NNPC, consistently failed to pay into the Federation Account and, in the last year of PDP misrule, $20 billion dollars was simply found ‘missing’.

“Today with APC, funds from NNPC are directly and transparently used to fund social and health programmes – such as COVID-19 response, the construction of roads, bridges and rail, and equipping of hospitals to cope with new and existing challenges,” the statement reads.

It further carpeted the Governors of the opposition party, who were signatories to the communique, noting that their antecedents make them unfit for the trust of Nigerians, adding that they have for long profited from playing divisive politics, setting the nation up in flames by fanning hate.

“And then there are those PDP leaders in attendance who signed the Communique. Who would trust such people with the running of our country?

“Who can believe a word these people say, as they looked outwardly stylish but harrowed by power-sharing and other troubles inwardly?

“These people, who play politics of division and hate, create communal disturbances, need to change.

“The Governors reeled out numbers on the economy, pretending as if the once-in-a-life COVID-19 pandemic, with its huge and devastating effect, disrupting global supply chains, uniformly battering the world economy, never happened.

“Covid-19 brought suffering and hardship to the doorstep of the entire global community-less maybe, of the affluent and pretentious PDP Governors-and to the credit of this administration, Nigeria’s economy recovered faster and stronger than the entire world ever imagined.

“Check the facts and leave the politics: What does the country get with this kind of gimmick?”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that its various interventions in various sectors are responsible for the revival of the nation’s economy.

CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele disclosed this at the weekend at the ‘CBN Day’ in Enugu during the ongoing Enugu International Trade Fair in Enugu.

Emefiele, who was represented at the fair by the director, corporate communications department, CBN, Mr. Osita Nwanisobi, noted that the apex bank in its continuous efforts to revive the economy and create access to credit, had extended the interest rate of 5% across all its intervention loans to March 2023.

He added that the bank’s 100 for 100 Policy on Production and Productivity (PPP) is gradually reversing the nation’s over-reliance on imports.

According to him, the broad objective of the 100 for 100 Policy on Production and Productivity (PPP) is to boost production and productivity, necessary to transform and jumpstart the productive base of the Nigerian economy.

“It is also expected that the initiative will reverse the nation’s over-reliance on imports by creating an ecosystem that targets and supports the right companies and projects with potential to immediately transform Nigeria’s productive base every 100 days”, the governor said.

He also disclosed that the bank had disbursed N948 billion to 4,478, 381 smallholder farmers under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) across the country.

ABP is an agricultural loan scheme launched in 2015 by the Federal Government through the CBN to boost agricultural yields, halt large volumes of food importation and address negative trade balance.

The governor said the smallholder farmers who benefited from the scheme cultivated 5.2 million hectares of farmland across the country, thereby, creating over 12.5 million direct and indirect jobs.

Under the CBN targeted Credit Facility designed to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic, Emefiele said that the apex bank had disbursed N368.79 billion to 778, 000 beneficiaries.

READ ALSO: Tinubu recommends revival pills for economy

He explained that the beneficiaries comprised 648, 052 households and about 130, 000 Small and Medium Enterprises.

“Specifically, the bank disbursed N1.452 trillion to 337 large real sector projects in agriculture, manufacturing, services and mining under Real Sector Support Facility (RSSF),” he said.

He said the CBN did it through its developmental role as enshrined in the CBN Act 2007 (as amended) led policy and financing support to about 40 interventions, adding that the interventions were executed through the bank’s development finance initiatives.

He mentioned some of the initiatives to include the RSSF, the Agri-business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme and the Non-oil Export Stimulation Facility among others.

Earlier, the President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr. Jasper Nduagwuike, applauded the CBN for its various intervention efforts.

“The various interventions in the various sectors of the economy have more than proved their commitment to seeing to the welfare and wellbeing of the Nigerian economy”, Nduagwuike said, urging the CBN to redouble its efforts in bank supervision.

“There must be a way the CBN will control the activities of fraudsters in the financial circle.

“Ponzi schemes seem to have a way of dodging the organisation until it has wrecked huge financial damage to individuals and the economy,” he said.

Regards,

The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) on Sunday said 21 passengers are still missing seven days after the Kaduna-bound speed train attack.

This is also as it said 172 passengers who were also in the said train have been reunited with their families.

The Corporation’s Managing Director First Okhiria made this known in the latest, (i.e. fourth statement) issued yesterday, since the incident took place on Monday, March 28, 2022. He said the corporation is cooperating with all security agencies to ensure that all missing passengers are reunited with their families and the tracks made safe for its operations.

“The Corporation also confirms that a total of 172 Passengers onboard the AK9 are safe and okay while 21 Passengers are still reported missing. Let us assure our esteemed passengers and the general public that the Corporation in collaboration with other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in our efforts at rescuing the missing persons,” he said.

READ ALSO: The Abuja-Kaduna train attack only a sign of the problem with Nigeria

According to Okhiria, four coaches out of the 11 Involved in the incident have been recovered, while work is ongoing on track repairs, bringing the total number of coaches recovered in the incident to seven,.

He said: “At the end of work on Saturday (02/04/2022), the NRC’s restoration team had further recovered four (4) more Coaches and two (2) of the Coaches (SP 00007 and SP 00013) and have been safely taken to Idu and Rigasa Stations respectively. The other two Coaches are still at the site due to damaged tracks. This brings the total Coaches recovered to seven, but only five successfully moved to the Stations.”

Okhiria, who disclosed that efforts are on to link the tracks, explained that at the moment, a total of 80 metres of the affected sections have been fixed, including affected sleepers and twisted rails.

The corporation, he said, condoles with those who lost loved ones and prayed for the repose of the lost souls. “We equally sincerely sympathise and empathise with our injured passengers and indeed everyone on board the AK9 train of Monday 28th March, 2022 for the trauma this unfortunate incident has caused them,” he added.

Okhiria thanked all security agencies for their support and corporation and especially thanked the Inspector-General of Police Usman Baba for his visit of the site of the incident on Saturday, a development he said had greatly boosted the morale of the corporation.

The Emir of Agaie in Niger state, Alhaji Yusuf Nuhu, has rescued two girls from their parents who wanted to force them into early marriage.

Nuhu disclosed this to newsmen shortly after a sensitisation campaign on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Saturday in Agaie Local Government Area of Niger state.

Nuhu said that the girls are currently in his custody and have refused to release the children to their parents until they allow the girls to marry men of their choice.

“Here in my emirate, I preach against early and forced marriage, currently, I have two girls under my custody whose parents wanted to force into marrying men they didn’t love.

“Until their parents agree to allow them marry the men they love, I will not release the girls. This is because if they are forced into the marriage, they might not live in peace as husbands and wives due to lack of love.

“As parents, we must learn to respect the option of our children and we have been preaching on that which to some extent is yielding results,” he said.

He described the sensitisation campaign as “key and timely” as it would complement the efforts of the council in sensitising members of the area against child abuse, early marriage and domestic violence.

READ ALSO: Niger 2023: The race for guber tickets

Earlier in her welcome address, Hajiya Mairo Mann, Chairperson of the state GBV Advocacy Committee, advised parents to open up on violence perpetrated against them and their children in order to get justice.

She said the sensitisation campaign was to enlighten and educate parents and children on GBV and the appropriate steps to take when confronted by such a situation.

Mann advised parents and guardians to be up to their responsibilities by training their children on the right part as well as monitoring the peer groups their children associate with.

Also, Malam Mustapha Yunusa, Director, Child Development in the state Ministry of Women Affairs, said the sensitisation was to educate parents on response and preventive steps to GBV such as what to do to help victims in terms of medical attention and financial assistance.

In her remarks, Hajiya Tallatu Ekawu, Officer in Charge of Women Development in the Council, lauded the committee for bringing the sensitisation campaign to the area which had further expanded their knowledge and opened their eyes on what GBV is all about. (NAN)