•N1tr mopped up

•Reps invite CBN governor, want plan suspended

Possible adjustments to the cash withdrawal limit has not been ruled out, but the January 9 take-off for the policy is sacrosanct, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said yesterday.

CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, who dropped the hint yesterday, said the plan, which he described as the continuation of the apex bank’s monetary policy direction, has the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The CBN on Tuesday unveiled a revised cash withdrawal limit with a maximum of N100,000 cash withdrawal per week for individuals and N500,000 cash per week for companies.

The limits also affect other payment channels, including Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sale (PoS) and cheque-based transactions.

The maximum cash withdrawal through ATM is set at N100,000 per week, subject to a maximum of N20,000 cash withdrawal per day.

The maximum cash withdrawal through the PoS terminal shall be N20,000 per day. Only denominations of N200 and below shall be loaded into the ATMs.

Emefiele spoke to State House Correspondents in Daura, Katsina State, after a meeting with President Buhari.

He explained that the policy is not new, adding that the fears being expressed of excluding rural people were needless.

According to him, many financial platforms that will make the operation of the policy painless have found their way to remote places in the country.

He also said the policy was not targeted at any particular person, but aimed at developing the economy.

Emefiele spoke against the background of growing opposition to the policy, with the National Assembly calling for a review.

Many stakeholders have said the new policy would make life difficult for Nigerians and can negatively affect businesses.

Read also: Emefiele: Inflation rate will drop below 15% in 2023

The House of Representatives yesterday called on the CBN to suspend the cash withdrawal limit policy until it adheres to the Act establishing it, just as it summoned the CBN Governor to brief members.

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) also said it was worried about the timing of the policy and the impact on the ease and cost of doing business.

ACCI stated that it was concerned about the disruption the new policy would have on many Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in several big local markets, noting that the limitation on withdrawal will constrain business transactions, especially as most businessmen rely on such withdrawals for quick business engagement from one market to the other.

 

Buhari backs policy

Emefiele said President Buhari was “very happy” and has given his nod to the apex bank to “carry on our work”.

He also said the President told them there was “no need to fear, no need to bother about anybody”.

He appealed to Nigerians to accept the cashless policy, and assured them that the apex bank “will be reviewing from time to time how this is working”.

The CBN governor emphasised that the bank “will not be rigid, but this is not to say it will be reversed; nor that we will change the timing”.

“But whether it’s about tweaking some amount to be a little bit higher or a little bit lower and the rest of them; we will do so because we are human, we want to make life good for our people; we do not want to make life difficult for them,” Emefiele said.

To this end, he assured Nigerians that the CBN will be monitoring developments as the policy comes into effect.

“I can assure everyone that we are alive to our responsibility and we will do what is right for Nigeria and Nigerians.”

The apex bank will engage the National Assembly to underline the key policy points behind the overarching policy stance of the apex bank.

Emefiele said: “From time to time we brief them (National Assembly) about what is happening and about our policies.

“I’m aware that they have asked for some briefings and we will brief them, but I think it’s important for me to say that the cashless policy started in 2012.

“Almost three to four occasions we have had to step down the policy because we felt that there is a need for us to prepare ourselves and deepen our payment system infrastructure in Nigeria.

“Between 2012 and now 2022, almost about 10 years, we believe that a lot of electronic channels have been put in place that will aid people in conducting banking and financial service transactions in Nigeria.

“We heard people talk about some of the people in the rural areas and the truth is that even online banking, as I was coming out to Daura, I saw a kiosk that has super agent today.

“It’s because of the way we felt that there was a need for us to deepen the payment system infrastructure.

“We have 1.4 million super agents that are all over different parts of the country, all local governments, and all villages in this country.

“I have told my colleagues, some of their names are already on the CBN website and we will publish all the names of all the super agents, which is different from the banks, which is different from microfinance banks, which is different from other financial institutions.

“Having 1.4 million of them is as good as having 1.4 million banking points where people can conduct services and we think, Nigeria as a big country, the biggest economy in Africa, that we need to leapfrog into the cashless economy.

“We cannot continue to allow a situation where over 85 per cent of the cash that is in circulation is outside the bank. More and more countries that are embracing digitisation have gone cashless.

“I said it at different fora, that this is not targeted at anybody, it’s just meant for the good and development of the Nigerian economy and we can only continue to appeal to Nigerians to please see this policy the way we have presented it.

“We will be reviewing from time to time how this is working because I cannot say that we are going to be rigid.

Read Also: Reps summon Emefiele over cash withdrawal policy

“But it is not to say that we will reverse it. It is not to say that we will change the timing, but whether it is about tweaking some amount to be a little bit higher or a little bit lower, and all the rest of them (we will do it).

“We will do so because we are humans, we want to make sure that we make life good for our people. We do not want to make life difficult for them.

“So, there is no need for anybody to worry, the Central Bank is monitoring what is happening and I can assure everyone that we are up and alive to our responsibilities and we will do what is right for Nigeria and Nigerians.”

 

CBN ready for new naira note rollout

Asked how ready the CBN is for the rollout of the re-designed naira notes, which has been slated for the 15th of this month, Emefiele said: “We are more than prepared.

“The banks have received the new cash and they have started dispensing them.

“I can only just assure you that it will come round, let us just be calm. Luckily, the old currency continues to be legal tender till January 31, 2023.

“So, I want to crack a joke, both the painted (new notes) and unpainted (old notes) will operate concurrently as legal tender, but by January 31, the unpainted one will not be useful to you again, so please take it to your bank as quickly as possible.”

Asked how much of the old notes have been returned, the CBN governor said: “The CBN has taken in over N500 billion while the banks have also received another N500 billion.

“By implication, the system has been able to mop up over N1 trillion from the N2.73 trillion outside the banking system.”

 

Reps kick

The House of Representatives yesterday asked the CBN to suspend the implementation of the policy pending an interface with the National Assembly in accordance with the provisions of the Act establishing the bank.

The lawmakers also asked Emiefele to appear before the House at plenary on Thursday in accordance with the CBN Act to answer questions on the various policies introduced by the Bank.

Some members accused the governor of violating the provisions of the CBN Act which required a periodic interface with the National Assembly as well as relevant committees of the parliament.

 

 

Section 8 (4) of the CBN Act states that: “The Governor shall appear before the National Assembly at semi-annual hearings as specified in subsection 5 regarding (a) efforts, activities, objectives and plans of the board with monetary policy and (b) economic development and prospects…”

Leading the debate on the motion to compel the apex bank to rescind the decision, the sponsor of the motion, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, said while it is good to operate a cashless policy, about 90 per cent of Nigerians live in rural areas where there are no facilities to carry out cashless operations.

He said: “Only a month ago, we woke up to hear that there will be new currency notes and change of the currency notes.

“As far as I am concerned, there is no single bank in my constituency. I do not know how my people will go and change this money, I do not know where my people will go and get it; the best we have is the POS, and our people still deal in physical cash.

“It is good to have a cashless policy, but we seem to be borrowing ideas and policies from other countries that are far ahead of us. We are comparing ourselves with the United States and the United Kingdom.

“These people are far ahead of us. We will get there one day but this type of policy disturbs the people that voted for us.

“The issue affects everyone. Most of our people are in rural areas and everything is being done in Naira and cash and somebody will wake up and make a policy that will start tomorrow, with no consultation.

“People have forgotten that 80 to 90 per cent of our people are in the rural areas, we must do something to save the situation, if there were enough banks and facilities, why not, it will work”.

Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Education, Aminu Suleman, said the policy could be inimical to the lawmakers if they allow the radical decision to succeed.

“There are several government chief executives in this country that have outlived the essence of their positions because I cannot simply understand how we can wake up one day and introduce this draconian approach to businesses, giving Nigerians one month to adjust their belts.

Read also: Emefiele: USSD code for eNaira out next week

“More than 70 per cent of communities in this country do not have a banking system, only a few like Lagos, Rivers, Kano and probably Delta states might bust of about 70 per cent banking coverage,” Suleman said.

He argued that allowing the policy could erode the successes recorded through the introduction of small scale businesses.

“I cannot understand how Nigerians will be able to manage our businesses that is predominantly in cash with a withdrawal of N100, 000 per day.”

Nnolim Nnaji said the new policy was completely against commerce.

“In the economic situation we are in now, we need more spending than savings. The only way to drive an economy in this situation is for people to be spending money not saving money, and for businesses to be moving.

“We cannot at this point subject ourselves to one man, the decision is wrong and all of us must rise and say no because it affects the people.

“Yes the CBN has the power to do so but we also represent the people and before you let such a decision out, we as the representatives should be aware so we can see how we can face the people,” Nnaji said.

Julius Ihonvbare said the policy was a clear indication that the CBN was completely out of touch and out of tune with the content and context of polity.

“I represent Owan Federal Constituency. In both local governments, there is no one bank.

“Since I came to this House, there has been no bank there, there is none today and there may be none tomorrow.

“So, even the transfer they talk about, who am I transferring to? They are farmers. Beyond the work I do in this place, there is no federal presence in my constituency and we don’t have any big agency.

“Essentially, there are many communities like that across the country. The CBN has not done anything to ensure that they get the banks to establish their branches sufficiently across the country so that someone does not have to travel for one and a half hours or more before they can perform banking services.

“I believe that we should look at the implementation of this policy to ensure that we get the Central Bank to do the right thing.

“The CBN Governor is behaving as if he is more powerful than the President and the National Assembly,” Ihonvbare said.

Mark Gbilah said the House was statutorily supposed to be receiving a briefing from the CBNN governor even before such policies are brought to bear on the economy and the Nigerian people.

“We believe that the governor has not been keeping up with statutory provisions in that regard as clearly stated in the act. I am not aware he has briefed the committees on finance and banking and currency. The act says from time to time.

“It is well within the purview of this house. The governor is somebody that has not been appearing even when asked to appear before the House,” Gbilah said.

 

Minority leader backs policy

House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, rose in defence of the new policy, insisting that it will help curb insecurity, corruption and banditry in the country as kidnappers will be able to demand cash for their victims.

“If you go to the communities today, they will ask them to contribute money because there is cash everywhere. If you want to stop banditry, make it impossible for them to have cash. There should not be available cash for them.

“Secondly, we passed the law on this floor, it is our law, the fact that the CBN has been sleeping all this while and never went into the law passed and followed it to the letter does not mean that it was not there.

“They are only now waking up to implement the law we sent to them. If we want to amend it, we have to amend the law, it will not come by a resolution and that is the truth.

“No matter how bad we feel, no matter how we feel that our people will be endangered, in think the right thing is to amend the existing law.

“On the issues of cashless policy, I think that is the best thing that can happen to this country even though the timing might be difficult, we may ask for an extension of time for it to be well implemented.

“The policy will help. Stories are going around Abuja, even when people go to use the POS to withdraw money, there are people waiting to cut off their hands to collect the money.

“If there is a cashless policy and people use their phones to transfer money, some of such things will not happen and that is the truth,” Elumelu said.

Ruling on the motion, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said it was important for the House to invite the CBN Governor under the laws establishing the bank and requested that all prayers contained in the initial motion be reduced to one or two.

“If you want to comply with the act, ordinarily he should be appearing before the whole national assembly. I think you will allow me to speak to the Senate President and see whether, in compliance with the act, we can have a joint session.

“I think this is important enough for him to brief the National Assembly but if that fails, appearing before the National Assembly does not necessarily mean in a joint session.

“If he appears before the senate separately and appears before the House separately, he has appeared before the National Assembly but to save time, I will ask if that is possible,” Gbajabiamila said.

 

 

CHIEF of Defense Staff (CDS) Gen. Lucky Irabor yesterday assured Nigerians that the armed forces will not betray public trust in their resolve to defend democracy.

The CDS restated the determination of the military to resist all pressures to compromise next year’s general election.

According to him, security agencies are constantly under pressure to compromise the electoral process, but the military has chosen to stay neutral.

Gen. Irabor spoke at this week’s edition of the ministerial briefing, organised by the Presidential Communication Team at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

Noting that pressure come through inducements, the CDS said necessary measures have been put in place to ensure that the military obey President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to maintain neutrality.

In his remarks at the opening of the Chief of Army Staff’s Annual Conference in Sokoto, President Buhari directed the military to remain apolitical and continue to work within the bounds of the Constitution.

He told the Army to improve on its human rights obligations during operations in line with global best practices, reminding that personnel are being trained to be more professional with the rules of engagement before, during and after the elections codified and distributed to them.

Tasking them to evolve enduring strategies that will consolidate their efforts in securing the country, the President said: “As a key element of our national power, the Nigerian Army will continue to be a major catalyst for our development especially by providing the needed aid to civil authority.

“This administration has therefore maintained a robust policy towards modernisation of the Nigerian Army and the Armed Force Forces in general.

“It is evident that the ongoing progressive modernization of the Nigerian Army under our administration has greatly improved the capabilities as well as combat efficiency of the service to discharge its roles.”

The CDS said of the presidential directive: “I’m glad that you reiterated the Commander-in-Chief‘s directive to the armed forces. I’m afraid you say you have a worry. Rather than worry, I would rather think that trust should be anchored. Why?

“Of course, there will always be pressure from all quarters, wanting to induce security forces, not just the military, the security forces, the police, and that’s what criminal enterprise is all about, that is what something that is wrong is all about.

“But what makes the difference is the professional approach to dealing with those issues and that’s what the military, we, are committed to doing.

“Now, the reason why we have ramped up our training in that regard, sensitization, a lot of engagement across the formations and units, is being undertaken and then more so to no articulate code of conduct for all our personnel, which has been done and distributed.

Read Also: 2023: Court validates Tinubu’s candidacy

“So, how they should act before, during and after the elections, these are being codified in the SOP that have been issued to them. So, it remains the duty of the commanders to ensure that the directive as indicated and the contents of the SOP are adhered to by every personnel in the armed forces.

“So, please, cease from worrying, rather trust and also engage others to trust that we will keep faith to these desires.”

He noted that the armed forces have heightened operational engagement across the country to tackle contemporary and emerging threats, putting contingency plans to facilitate the smooth conduct of the 2023 General Elections in support of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in conjunction with other security agencies.

He spoke of the key achievements of the military in the effort to keep the country safe including more recruitment into all branches of the security services, routing of insurgency and banditry as well as the action to curtail oil theft leading to increase in crude oil production.

He also said that over 300,000 people have been freed from the hands of abductors since 2014 while refugees who fled the Northeast due to insurgency have started to return.

Gen. Irabor also said that the repentant insurgents now being trained will graduate in February next year before their reintegration into the society.

On the fight against banditry, the CDS said the armed forces have strangulated bandits supply chain and destroyed several hideouts.

On crude oil theft, he noted Nigeria’s colossal loses of oil revenue as at 2014 that was about N1.92 trillion, saying that piracy and kidnapping were unprecedented just as several illegal pipeline connections were used to steal crude oil and illegal entry of unauthorized vessels undetected.

He affirmed that between January and July 2022, Nigeria lost about 437, 000 barrels of oil per day to criminal entities.

Gen. Irabor said as part of the solution, Falcon Eye Maritime intelligence facility was commissioned in July 2021, offshore Patrol Vessels were purchased, and operational deployments and capabilities were rejigged.

“The President directed the CDS to coordinate the kinetic and non-kinetic interventions to curb oil thefts. Through several joint operations, security operatives destroyed 959 metal tanks, 737 ovens, 452 dug-out pits, 355 cooking pots, 179 wooden boats, recovered 35.8 million litres of crude, 22 million litres of diesel, 25,000 litres of PMS, 207 pumping machine and 12 welding machines.”

 

Rivers State Government yesterday said it uncovered a plot by a faceless group to begin a campaign of calumny against Governor Nyesom Wike.

The governor and four of his colleagues, known as the G-5, have been demanding fairness in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

They are asking National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu to resign because, according to them, it was agreed that he would step down if Atiku Abubakar, also a northerner, becomes the party’s presidential candidate.

Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chris Finebone, said the government obtained an unsigned document containing the plot to blackmail Wike.

“This is the evidence of the plot to blackmail Governor Wike. This is the document and it is titled, ‘proposal with hashtag, to end Wike rascality programme,” he said, displaying a paper.

Finebone said the development did not surprise the government and wondered why the group chose to remain faceless.

“We encourage them to remove their mask and show themselves as the governor and the government is equal to the task of responding to them adequately,” he said.

He said the government found out that individuals within the party were behind the campaign.

He said: “They can’t even sign it (the document) to push for this. It is important we warn them. It is important we also warn Nigerians about this scheme.

“We expect more of them to come. But I can assure you that the governor and the G-5 would rise to the occasion as they continue to start this type of campaign of calumny.”

Finebone also gave reasons why the government sealed the premises of the EUI Event Centre located along Sani Abacha link Road within the Government Reserved Area (GRA) Phase 3, Port Harcourt.

“The management of EUI Events Center had refused to refrain from blocking an entire stretch of part of Sani Abacha link Road, GRA phase 3 without government approval,” he said.

He said the centre was sealed with effect from December 7.

Finebone urged owners of event centres to plan for the vehicles of their guests not to obstruct traffic and create inconveniences for other road users.

 

Rivers govt, Atiku’s campaigner differ on attack

Also yesterday, the state government and Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council for Rivers, Senator Lee Maeba, expressed divergent views over the attack on his residence in Port Harcourt.

Maeba claimed that one of the attackers called and told him that they had instructions from some quarters to kill him.

But, Finebone asked security agencies to probe the possibility of the incident being staged for political reasons.

Read Also: G-5: Rivers alleges campaign of calumny against Wike

Maeba condemned the attack of his residence, saying the assailants came less than 30 minutes after he drove out.

Maeba, a former senator, who represented the Rivers Southeast at the National Assembly, insisted that the hoodlums were after his life.

It was gathered that the thugs in their numbers at about 7am marched into the Senator’s residence, shot thrice into the air, scaled the fence and gained access into the compound.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Those of them inside tied the security man and started breaking the padlock of the fence from inside so that others can come in.”

The hoodlums destroyed windscreens and glasses of four Toyota salon cars and one SUV in the compound.

Maeba: “There was some uneasy movement along this street. Some neighbours called my attention that they saw a lot of strange faces like a build-up of thugs. I dismissed it.

“Then, at about 9:00am, I said let me go and see my mother-in-law. But, before then, a young man called me with a number that I don’t know and told me that I have done him a favour before, that I should be careful if I am at home.

“He said they had instructions from some quarters to attack my house and attack me. But, I dismissed it because I don’t have problem with anybody.

“I just drove out with my security personnel to see my mother-in-law. As I entered my mother-in-law’s house, my phone was ringing and my nephew picked up the phone and said my house was under attack.

“They shot at the gate and forced it open. They climbed the second gate and tied up the security man. They entered the compound and were shouting ‘where is he? Where is he? Only one bullet will solve this Atiku problem’.

“My elder brother was standing somewhere there and they descended on him. The next thing they started doing was to use the butt of their guns to destroy the cars.

“They got to the front door (main house), hit at the door but they couldn’t succeed. So, they started retreating. You can see the destruction.

“My worry is, what is my offence that people will come to my compound? Atiku does not live here.

“I only work for Atiku, yes. I am an Atiku’s supporter. What has that got to do in attacking my house in a bid to kill me? This is democracy and I am a democrat.”

Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, said a full scale investigation had been ordered.

Finebone urged security agencies to do a thorough job.

He said: “It is not strange to find politicians staging high level melodrama to either cover up their tracks or muddle up the waters to achieve a preconceived narrative aimed at hoodwinking the public for political reasons especially at a time like this.

“Today (yesterday), a report by former Senator Lee Maeba surfaced on social media that he got a call from a young man.

“And the caller purportedly, in his own words said, ‘that they have instructions from either government or some quarters to attack my house’.

“This makes it obvious that Senator Maeba should help security agencies in unraveling the purported attack on his house and those behind it.

“It is not enough to blame such an attack on ‘either government or some quarters.’ He should try and remember exactly whom the caller said sent him (the caller).

“The Rivers State Government, working with security agencies, will continue to render all possible assistance for security agencies to ensure safety of life and property in Rivers State at all times.”

•Sule confident APC candidate will be next President
•Senator Tinubu thanks Lagosians for her political career, eulogises Nana Shettima
•Why youths, other Nigerians need ex-Lagos governor, by Nnamani, BRT boss

The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, performed brilliantly during his appearance at the Chatham House in London on Monday, the party’s Northwest Presidential Campaign Council has said.

The council expressed delight that Asiwaju Tinubu displayed an in-depth knowledge of issues affecting the country when he unveiled his plans to rebuild the nation’s economy, security, and foreign policy, if elected president, before the international community in London, the United Kingdom (UK), after a series of the town hall and strategic meetings in the country.

He spoke on the topic: Nigeria’s 2023 Elections: Security, Economic and Foreign Policy Imperatives.

Arising from a zonal meeting, the North West APC PCC under the leadership of Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle and Deputy Zonal Coordinator Salihu Lukman described the former Lagos State governor’s outing as successful.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the zonal PCC spokesperson Muhammad Molash reads: “Chatham House has been a source of independent analysis, trusted dialogue and influential ideas for over 100 years.

“Therefore, it is the right place for Asiwaju to demonstrate his team-work acumen, both in politics and governance.

“We also noted the cognitive capacity and knowledge of issues affecting our beloved country displayed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his presentation at the session. He is obviously the most prepared presidential candidate in Nigeria.

“Indeed, the secret behind Asiwaju’s success can be found in his ability to assemble a good team and assign each of them a task that must be accomplished!

“The response of (House of Representatives Speaker) Femi Gbajamiamila on policy was impressive, just as the dissection of security issues by (Kaduna State) Governor Nasir El-Rufai was equally superlative. Other members of the team, like (former Lagos State Information Commissioner) Dele Alake and (APC National Women Leader) Dr. Betta Edu, also displayed high level professional skills.

“The London outing is obviously a good preview to what Nigerians should expect from Tinubu’s presidency in 2023, God willing. It was indeed an opportunity for him to showcase his leadership skills to the international community, his vision for Nigeria, his enviable track records and his ability to identify talents and delegate responsibilities to them.”

Also, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has expressed the confidence that by God’s grace, Asiwaju Tinubu will be the next President.

The governor said this yesterday while addressing a huge crowd of APC supporters in Lafia, the state capital, at a rally for his re-election.

He urges eligible voters in Nasarawa State to turn out en masse on February 25 and vote massively for Asiwaju Tinubu and all National Assembly candidates of the party.

Also, wife of APC presidential candidate, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has hinged the success of her political career on the support she got from the people of Lagos Central Senatorial District.

She said their support culminated in her making history as the only woman to serve three terms in the Senate.

Mrs. Tinubu spoke at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium in Onikan, Lagos, when women from the six states of the Southwest held the zonal rally under the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign.

A statement by the media office of the campaign team yesterday in Abuja said the Lagos rally was the fourth in the series held across the country as part of efforts by the women’s wing of the APC presidential campaign to promote the candidature of Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima.

Read Also: Tinubu demonstrated creative empowerment at Chatham House, Onoh replies PDP

“I want to thank particularly Lagos Central Senatorial District for sending me to the National Assembly. I became the first woman to serve three terms. I thank you from the bottom of my heart that you gave me such a wonderful opportunity,” Senator Tinubu said.

She recalled that her humanitarian efforts in the state had positively impacted many lives and extolled the virtues of the wife of the APC vice presidential candidate, Hajiya Nana Shettima.

“Since 2007 when my husband finished his tenure as the governor of this state, I kept working for the good of our people and humanity through my various charities. I see a kindred spirit in my sister, Hajiya Nana Shettima. When I first met her, in my second term in the National Assembly, then I was chairing the Senate Committee on Women’s Affairs. There was a motion raised on the floor of the Senate and we had to go to Borno State to observe what was going on in the IDP camps. I visited Borno State while my husband was governor. I saw a woman passionate about the people. She served the women and the IDPs relentlessly.

“I can reassure you that women’s issues and youth unemployment will be on the front burner of the Tinubu/Shettima administration,” she said.

Also, a former Enugu State governor and senator representing Enugu East in the National Assembly, Chimaroke Nnamani, yesterday gave reasons why Nigerian youths should see Asiwaju Tinubu as their preferred candidate.

Nnamani spoke as the Managing Director of Primero Transport Services Limited, operator of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) in Lagos State, Mr. Fola Tinubu, organised a road show in support of Asiwaju Tinubu’s presidential candidacy.

In a statement in Abuja, Nnamani that “Lagos State, at the period, saw a significant influx of youths looking for better livelihood”.

He added: “Tinubu recognised that it would have been disastrous if left unattended and, therefore, launched waves of reforms that re-invigorated the economy and ensured that the vast majority of the working population, who were primarily youths, were employed…

“Vocational training centers were developed by Tinubu’s administration in March 2003 to rehabilitate hoodlums, neighborhood boys, and the homeless who were desirous of making a turning point in their lives by economically empowering them through training in professions, like carpentry, shoemaking, hair dressing and tie-and-dye.”

Fola Tinubu explained that the objective of the road shows was to take the campaign about the APC candidate to where people live and where they work.

“We are telling everyone that the best person that can take this country forward is Asiwaju Tinubu. He is not only the best man for the job, we know he has the best team for the job in every facet of the economy, security, health, education, and what have you,” he said.