A section of the popular main market in Onitsha, Anambra State is on fire.

The cause of the fire, which reportedly started around midnight is yet to be ascertained.

A trader in the market, Obenta Jude said two block of shops within the section of the market known as Kano Street have so far been razed by the inferno.

He said efforts by fire fighters who arrived the scene shortly to put out the fire have not been successful as the fire continued raging.

Read Also: Suspected arsonists burn INEC office in Ebonyi

Confirming the incident, Fire Chief, Engr Martin Agbili said his men were promptly deployed to the area immediately he was alerted.

He said: “At about 0220hrs (2.20am) of Monday 28-11-2022, Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of fire outbreak at Kano Street behind Main Market, Onitsha.

“However, we deployed our fire truck and firefighters to scene of fire and they have been working there. They have gone for refilling of the fire truck twice.”

Details Shortly…

A new chapter opened yesterday in Osun State, following the swearing in of Senator Ademola Adeleke as governor.

He promised to strengthen security and boost the welafrae of workers in the State of Living Springs.

Shortly after taking his oath of office, Adeleke dropped former Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s government slogan: “State of Osun” and “Land of Virtue”.

He also promised to review the appointment made by former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, particularly those of permanent secretaries.

Oyetola, who is still protesting Ademola’s victory at the tribunal, said he left N14 billion in the state coffers, adding that he had also paid N97 billion inherited debt.

The governor who took oath at the Osogbo Township Stadium, Osogbo, capital of the state, issued an Executive Order freezing all operational bank accounts of the state till further notice.

At the ceremony, presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Atiku Abubarkar, and  five governors of the party were present.

The dignitaries included Atiku’s running mate, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Emmanuel Udom(Akwa Ibom), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi.

The PDP National Chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Atiku’s wife, Titi, former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) Rasheed Ladoja (Oyo), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti) Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Senator Bukola Saraki and Tony Elumelu also witnessed the ceremony.

The G-5 governors led by Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) shunned the inauguration.

The new governor was accompanied by his two wives; Titi and Ngozi.

Adeleke reversed policies introduced by Aregbesola and vowed to review all appointments made by Oyetola since July 17th 2022 when he lost election.

He said: “Under my watch, I will correct past injustice, corrupt acts or policies by previous administration, which are against the collective interest of our people.”

The governor reiterated his commitment to his five point agenda, namely: welfare of workers and pensioners; boosting the state’s economy; home-grown infrastructure policy; people-focused policy on education; affordable health care, security and social welfare and agro-based industrialization for wealth and job creation.

Adeleke promised to launch reform, with direct focus on improvement of learning environment and outcome to reverse the poor performance of students in public examinations.

He also said promised to establish a standard diagnostic centre, using the Public Private Partnership model as he said he will reform local government.

Ademola said: “I ordered an immediate return to status quo of all fresh appointments, placements and other major decisions taken by the immediate past administration with effect from the 17th of July, 2022.”

On security, he said his administration will embark on reform that will target crime prevention, detection, neighbourhood policing and better synergy among security agencies.

He added: “The Amotekun Corps will be strengthened while our administration will ensure operational linkage between local hunters and the Amotekun Corps. A ‘Know Your Neighbour’ security initiative will be implemented.”

On the Executives Orders, Adeleke said: “Since you elected me as your Governor on the 16th of July 2022, which the INEC announced on July 17th 2022, the former governor, Alh Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, maliciously started putting road blocks to make things difficult and almost impossible for the new administration to serve you.

“Mass employment were carried out without budgetary provisions for salary payments for the new employees; even when the state was struggling to pay salaries and deliver other services. Various hurried and criminally backdated contracts were awarded and again without budgetary provisions.

“Appointments of several Obas were hurriedly done without following due process, just to mention a few. All efforts to get the governor set up a Transition Committee and submit hand-over notes in line with best practices proved abortive.

“I hereby issue the following directives, which will be backed up with appropriate Executive Orders: Immediate freezing of all government accounts in banks and other financial institutions; immediate establishment of a panel to carry out an inventory and recover all government assets; an immediate establishment of a panel to review all appointments and major decisions of the immediate past administration taken after the 17th July, 2022; an immediate reversal to the constitutionally recognised name of our state, Osun State. All government insignia, correspondences and signages should henceforth reflect   Osun state rather than State of Osun, which is unknown to the Nigerian constitution. Welcome to a new Osun State, The State of The Living Spring.”

There were several attacks by hoodlums in Osogbo after the swearing in of Adeleke.

There were forceful take over of three motor parks at Old-Garage, Oke-Fia and Aregbe areas as gunshots were fired at transport union members who attempted to resist them.

Scores were injured in the attacks of the motor parks and other places in Osogbo.

Two policemen were reportedly injured when hoodlums attempted to take over the Aregbe Area park.

It was gathered that the hoodlums threatened some people at the park with gun as one of them wrestled with one of the policemen stationed at the area.

In the process, it led to altercation where the hoodlums fired several gunshot at the police. The police repelled, with the hoodlums sustaining bullet injuries.

Similarly, no fewer than five men of Amotekun were assaulted by hoodlums at Osogbo Township Stadium.

The Field Commander Comrade Amitolu Shittu, said: “five of our men were attacked at the venue of swearing-in. The hoodlums that attacked our men are criminals that are involved in robbery, drug, stealings among others which we have arrested their gang members at a point.

“They are only hiding under political party to lunch such attack on us. It has nothing to do with politics. We will not be intimidated by such attack, we will get rid of them with the support of government.”

No fewer than 10 members of National Union Of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have been injured by hoodlums in Osogbo, as they attempted to take over secretariats after the swearing-in.

The secretary of the union, Mr. Osundiya Akinsola, said the hoodlums who were armed with guns, cutlasses, knives and other dangerous weapons stormed the secretariats to chase the executives out.

The parks that were attacked are Ilesha- Osogbo, Oke-fia, Aregbe and Old garage motor parks.

He confirmed that executives of the union also sustained injuries, saying, “10 of our members were injured, I appeal to the new government in the state to call them those hoodlums to order for peace to reign within the union.

 

Adeleke appoints Chief of Staff, SSG, CPS 

The new governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has made three appointment on the night of his inauguration.

A statement personally signed by Adeleke SAID:  “I approve the appointment of Alhaji Kassim Akinleye as the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as the Secretary to the State Government and Mr. Rasheed Olawale as the spokesperson to the Governor.

“The appointment takes immediate effect.”

 

I left N14b in coffers, paid N97b inherited debt

Governor Oyetola disclosed at the weekend that his administration is leaving behind for the incoming government a total sum of N14 billion cash in the state’s coffers.

Oyetola also revealed that his government had successfully paid N97 billion from the total debt inherited in 2018 when he assumed office.

He disclosed that his administration didn’t borrow a dime anywhere in the world to finance the economy of the State, saying he successfully kept faith and maintained fidelity with his electoral promises since the assumption of office.

The disclosures were contained in his farewell message to the people of the state.

Oyetola bowed out of office on Saturday after completing a four-year term. He was inaugurated on November 27, 2018. He took over the baton from Rauf Aregbesola.

The results of the last governorship election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Ademola Adeleke of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

Adeleke’s victory is being challenged by Oyetola and his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – at the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo.

Oyetola averred that his administration has put Osun’s economy on a surer footing through the myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects timely and promptly implemented to make life worthwhile for the people of the state.

He said Osun, under his watch, has been stable economically as manifested in the astronomical increment in the GDP of the State since he assumed office.

Oyetola affirmed that Osun is more stable economically than he met it in 2018, saying despite all the visible socio-economic challenges confronting the State with its attendant effects, he was able to take care of the fears and evil of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation, which hamper projects and services in the nation’s public service.

He said: “As I step aside today following the conclusion of the four-year tenure you freely gave me, I thank God and I thank you for your support, cooperation and prayers over the years.

“I recall how the journey began four years ago; how by your belief in me and your conviction in the plans and programmes of our Party, you exercised your right to vote for me.

“As we draw the curtains on this first tenure, we are convinced that we neither reneged on our promise nor disappointed you. We kept faith with you and maintained fidelity with our electoral promises. It was our wish to continue to serve you but we are constrained by the outcomes of the July 16 Governorship election which we are already challenging in court.

“As a law-abiding citizen and government, we are stepping aside to allow the law to take its course.

“However, we look forward to continue to serve you in no distant future. We have absolute trust in God that we shall be back soon, as we have implicit trust and confidence in the Judiciary to do justice in the case before it.

“We are confident that this period of temporary political eclipse shall pass. The sun shall shine again, brighter and warmer and the sustainable development and participatory governance that we enthroned, which have been applauded by local and international organisations, shall be restored and put on a surer and better footing.

“There can be no substitute to people-oriented and development-savvy governance in a democracy. The tap roots of the unprecedented good governance, inclusive and participatory governance that we introduced, which delivered massive equitable projects and programmes are too strong to be uprooted.

“As we end our first term, rest assured that Osun is more stable economically than we met it in 2018 and it remained the most peaceful state in the country under our leadership.

“For four years, we did not take any bank loan facility. But we benefitted from the N3 billion monthly intervention from the federal government to all the states for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailout accessed by the previous administration, just as we have paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018.

“We are leaving behind cash of over N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR. Also, another Seventy-Two million Dollars will come to the State soon from RAMP 3, NG-CARES, Nigeria for Women Project and Ease of Doing Business. These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them.

“It was part of the same performance that earned us the award of Best Governor on Efficiency of Public Expenditure and TOP Performer on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation by the World Bank’s States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability, SFTAS, recently.

“We have gone this length to let you know that Osun under our leadership was sustainable. It was done through fiscal discipline and personal sacrifices.

“On behalf of our team, I appeal to you all to continue to be law abiding and to work assiduously to build the Osun of our dream. Together, we shall continue to mend the broken walls of our dear State and restore her glory for our collective good and that of posterity. Thank you all and may God continue to bless Osun.”

•Aisha Buhari: women, youths will deliver APC candidate
•Asiwaju’s presidency will improve rural healthcare services, say Akume, Ibikunle
•Party’s group appoints Masari Grand Patron

 

Cross Rivers State Governor Ben Ayade has said the presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the most experienced and progressive candidate on the ballot for next year’s general election.

He also said Asiwaju Ahmed and his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, are the most qualified pair to lead the country out of the current challenges occasioned by a global crisis.

The governor spoke during APC Women’s Southsouth presidential campaign rally at the U. J. Esuene Sports Stadium in Calabar, the state capital, at the weekend.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja by the Head of Media of APC Women Campaign team, Rinsola Abiola, the Cross River State governor lauded the leadership qualities of the APC presidential candidate.

Addressing a large crowd of women from the six states in the region, Ayade said: “Our support for Asiwaju Tinubu is not because he is perfect. Our support for Asiwaju is because of his proven excellent track record as a person who can consolidate on the gains of the present, drive inclusive growth, and lead our country to become more prosperous.

“The Tinubu/Shettima ticket is the most experienced and the most progressive combination available on the ballot.”

The First Lady and Grand Matron of the women’s team, Dr. Aisha Buhari, who was represented by her daughter, Zahra Buhari-Indimi, expressed optimism that women and youths would deliver massive votes for APC in the 2023 general election.

Wife of the party’s flag bearer and chairman of the women’s team, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, extolled the qualities of women from the Southsouth.

The Lagos Central senator pledged her commitment and that of her co-chairman, Hajiya Nana Shettima, at ensuring that women’s issues are prioritised, if their husbands are elected.

Wife of Cross River State governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, urged fellow women and youths to vote for APC, especially as the current administration has performed creditably.

APC National Women Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, who is from Cross River State, promised to work for the protection of women’s interests and rights.

Also, the Minister of Special Duties, Senator George Akume and a former Chairman of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, have assured Nigerians of improved rural healthcare services under the Bola Tinubu presidency.

A statement by the Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC) in Oyo State, Alhaji Kehinde Olaosebikan, quoted both men.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the duo spoke during the inauguration and handing over of multimillion naira hospital equipment to Igboora General Hospital in Ibarapa Central Local Government of Oyo State.

The minister urged Nigerians to support Asiwaju Tinubu to win next year’s election, assuring them that he would consolidate on the achievements of the Buhari-led administration with improved healthcare services at the grassroots.

Also, Kaduna State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has solicited support for the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima joint presidential ticket.

The governor said both men are eminently qualified to continue the development strides of President Buhari.

He said Asiwaju Tinubu has the mental capacity to take the country to the next level of development.

Masari spoke when an APC support group, the APC Grassroots Governance Group, also called APC G3, named him its Grand Patron.

He promised to work with the group to enable it achieve its objectives.

•Six plants underway in Ibadan, Kano, other cities

 

THE Federal Government has banned the export of raw gold, gemstones and other solid minerals, Mines and Steel Development Minister, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite, said yesterday.

The ban, according to the minister, followed the recently approved ‘Down Stream Mineral Policy,’ by the government.

Adegbite, who spoke while featuring in a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum at Abuja, explained that the policy would help avert the country’s mistakes in the oil and gas sector.

According to him, an enabling environment had been created for stakeholders in the mines and steel sector to add value to mineral deposits before exporting.

He said: “If you mine and you cannot process it yourself, you can sell it off to processors in Nigeria. These processors would either buy it off you totally or process and resell or they can process and return it to you. That is the policy in Nigeria now because we do not want to lose jobs or wealth to other countries.”

The minister said he noticed on assumption of office in 2019 that the mining sector was beginning to make the mistakes of the oil and gas sector.

Adegbite said: “You know what we do in the oil and gas sector. We export crude oil and import petroleum into the country; by that, we export all our jobs.

“I said we cannot make the same mistake with mining, so I started very early in 2019 to develop a policy called ‘Down Stream Mineral Policy.’”

He described the Federal Executive Council’s approval of the policy as a milestone for the sector, saying it would go a long way in repositioning it.

Citing the numerous benefits of a mineral resource called kaolin, the minister said the mineral, which abounds in Bauchi State, is used by the pharmaceutical, plastic, cosmetics and paint industry.

Adegbite added that as a fallout of the policy, the government had set up demonstration policy centres in Bauchi and other places.

He urged foreign and local investors who do not want to invest in mining to invest in processing.

Adegbite expressed optimism that the Kano Gold Souk and other regional projects being executed by the ministry will become operational by 2023.

Adegbite said the souk would make the country a world destination for gold, adding that Nigeria has trained people “who will make jewellery; they will be resident in that gold souk.

“In Kano, our gold is being taken out of Nigeria to places like Dubai and others where they turn them into jewellery.

“You buy them at expensive prices there but when that gold leaves Nigeria in its raw form, they pay next to nothing for it.

“So, we said let’s have a gold souk in Kano which can rival any souk in the world.

“They will turn the gold in Nigeria into jewellery. They can make bangles, straps, earrings necklaces, and pendants.

“People are trained to do this now so, we are adding value in Nigeria and we are saying that Kano Gold souk can join the world calendar of souks.

“This will enable people to know that at a certain time of the year, we will organise a gold festival in the Kano Gold Souk so that women and men from all over the world can come to Kano and buy gold.

“That is why we have done all these six regional projects and those projects are at advanced stages of completion.

“We should be commissioning them very soon. We will look at suitable dates to inaugurate these projects early in the New Year.”

The minister also noted that his ministry was training artisanal miners on safe ways of processing gold to avoid an outbreak of lead poisoning.

On the outbreak of lead poisoning in Zamfara, he blamed it on the activities of artisanal miners, adding that advocacy is ongoing to curb the harmful ways artisanal miners process minerals.

As for the ban on mining in Zamfara, Adegbite said it still subsisted but would be lifted at the appropriate time by the National Security Adviser (NSA).

On the quick trial of mining cases, the minister said that special courts and judges had been designated to handle the cases.

He urged artisanal miners to expand their frontiers by registering with Cooperative Societies, adding that this will enable them to access as much as N100 million loan at only five per cent interest rate and a loan repayment duration of up to 20 years.

The minister warned that the Federal Government would stop the operations of mining companies that fail to fulfil the requirements contained in their Community Development Agreement (CDA) to their mining communities.

“If we find out that any company’s consent is fake, the company will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and that is perjury which attracts 14 years imprisonment.

“Before a mining company can work, they must have a CDA unless it’s an illegal operation.”

Adegbite also explained that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia/Ukraine war stalled the planned take-off of the full operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

The minister, however, said that the present administration had already laid a solid foundation for full take-off of the steel company for the next administration.

Explaining the retention of workers at the Ajaokuta Steel Company despite the firm not being fully operational, the minister said it was to protect the infrastructure from vandalism.

He said: “The steel territory where Ajaokuta sits is about three times bigger than the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“So, you can imagine an investment of that magnitude being left without people to maintain.

“If everybody is withdrawn from there, we would not be seated here today talking about Ajaokuta because it will not exist anymore.”

He said the plants are still functional, adding that at full production, the company has capacity to employ more than 10,000 workers.

MOVES by some top officers in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to extend their stay in office have created tension in the Service.

The affected officers, including some Deputy Comptrollers-General and Assistant Comptrollers-General, are due for retirement next month.

Investigation showed that the officers, who have spent statutory 35 years in service, want additional one year in office.

There were conflicting figures on those lobbying to overstay their years of service.

Some claimed that they were four officers, but sources said they were about 15.

A document, obtained by The Nation, contained the list of the concerned senior officers.

It was learnt that the officers refused to proceed on pre-retirement leave because of alleged plot to remain in office after their exit date.

A source said: “Some members of the NCS Management Team who are due for retirement by December 2022 have perfected illegal plans to extend their stay for an additional year even after enjoying their three-month pre-retirement leave in the Service without recourse to the NCS Board.

“The plan is spearheaded by one of the DCGs, who is known for impunity and recklessness against due process as well as frustrating trade.

“It is suspected that the plan does not have the approval of the NCS Board. This is also against Civil Service provisions.

“It is sad that such plans would even be considered. There are over 17 ACGs who are more than qualified to step into the shoes of these DCGs upon retirement.

“This development has dampened the moral of Officers of the service as it would certainly lead to stagnation in the Service.”

An insider gave insights into the tension in the service, especially circumventing of the relevant laws.

“What has created anxiety was the refusal of some DCGs to proceed on leave prepatory to their exit from service. It is mandatory for them to undergo a three-month leave leading to their exit date.

“The pattern these days is to tag some officers as ‘indispensable’ and give them a waiver from complying with Service rules. The excuse often is that they are still needed in the system.

“Why will a public servant want to stay beyond 35 years in service? What other motive can be responsible for this than selfish reasons? President Muhammadu Buhari should look into this development.”

The NCS National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Timi Bomodi, whom The Nation called on phone to confirm if the 15 officers have applied for the extension of service, simply said “there is nothing like that.”