The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Justice Ukeje presents book

    The public presentation of a book written by former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Rose Ukeje has drawn quite a number of high society in the Capital City.

    The book titled, “Intrinsic And Extrinsic Aids to the Interpretation of the Constitution, Statues and Private Documents” was roundly hailed as a timely arrival on the judicial scene.

    It was not all talk and review at the book launch which took place at the Nigeria Air Force conference centre in Abuja as guests were serenaded with music and a cocktail at the end of the book presentation.

    However, it was accolades all the way as guests present praised the book that had its foreword written by the Chief Justice of the Federation of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, saying the problem of the interpretation of the content and spirit of the Constitution will no longer be a hard chore as the book would be a guide to both those in the legal profession and laymen alike.

    The event drew the presence of the President of the Nigerian courts of appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, Primate of the Church of Nigeria in the Anglican Communion, Nicholas Okoh, Justice Binta Nyako, Senator Andy Ubah, House Deputy Whip, Hon. Pally Iriase and the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema,

    Also present were former Head of Service of the Federation, Engr. Ebele Okeke, former Director-General of NAPTIP, Carol Ndaguba, former minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Chairman of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Sam Amuka and former Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Prof. Ndi Okereke Onyuike, Chris Uche (SAN), Hon. Abdulmmin Jibrin, and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State represented by Festus Osagie.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara while speaking at the event, applauded the book by the revered Jurist. He said Justice Ukeje’s latest book will bridge the gap in legal interpretation.

    He said, “There is a yawning gap in this area of law, and thankfully she has decided in make a concerted effort at plugging this gap. The issue of interpretation of statues including the constitution is absolutely important in the advancement of our democracy.

    “Democracy is all about laws, it’s all about due process, about the rule of law. Therefore, the deeper your laws, the deeper your democracy. We can deepen our laws by deepening the interpretation of these laws to make them applicable to situations that may arise after the laws have been written. There are no better ways to deepen our democracy.

    Legal luminaries Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and his wife, Victoria (SAN) were also at the event.

    Mrs. Awomolo noted that Justice Ukeje was being futuristic regarding the legal profession by writing a book that would educate legal and non-legal minds.

    She said: “What better time to present this book than the present, when we have democratic governance and with what is happening around us. This book will help interpret many of the legal logjams that we face”

    Former Nigerian Stock Exchange Director General, Prof.  Ndidi Okereke-Onyuike noted that the book is a must read for all Nigerians.

    She noted that it will educate and remove all legal misconceptions from the minds of Nigerians especially a regards the interpretation of the Constitution.

    Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Leader of the House, performed the unveiling of the book. He expressed his respect for Justice Ukeje’s intellect, adding that book is a significant contribution to legal intellectualism.

  • ‘How poverty keeps girls out of school’

    The phrase ‘period poverty’ may sound strange to some persons but it constitutes a major health challenge to the girl-child in Nigeria. In this report, ROSE OKEKE examines its effect in rural areas and how a not-for-profit organisation has taken up the task of assisting victims

    Period poverty, the struggle and inability to afford quality sanitary pads, is just one of the major challenges that young girls and women face in Nigeria as a result of major economic hardship.

    Period poverty poses a substantial threat to less-privileged schoolgirls who do not attend school during the entire duration of their menstrual periods. According to a UNESCO report in 2014, one in ten girls in Sub-Saharan Africa misses school during her menstrual cycle, which ultimately amounts to 20% of a whole school year.

    The report reads: “A focus group conducted among women in Nigeria, for instance, highlighted that almost all adult women, young women and girls used rags during menstruation. Many older women had tried disposable pads but did not find them comfortable, and therefore preferred using rags.”

    Also, the issue of lack of basic hygiene services such as adequate latrines and toilets in schools throughout the nation further promotes the absence of girls from school during periods.

    A 2015 UNICEF survey indicated that only 25% of school toilets/latrines in Nigeria had sinks and soaps, most toilets in filthy condition. The ratio of latrine to students was 1 to 297 for girls, and 1 to 1216 for boys, as opposed to the recommendation.

    In addition to missing school, period poverty also leads to participating in transactional sex among young girls and older men, in order to obtain financial resources to purchase sanitary products. This ultimately contributes to teenage pregnancy and forces the girl to leave school entirely.

    The Sanitary Aid Initiative Nigeria, founded by Karo Omu in January 2017, has distributed over 9,300 sanitary pads to Nigerian schoolgirls in 8 states across all geopolitical regions, and raised over N4,ooo,ooo for the cause.

    Karo, in an interview with Abuja Review said: “Sanitary Aid Initiative started after a conversation on Twitter about the 100% increase in pad prices during the 2017 recession. I couldn’t believe that the prices had doubled in only a year. My first thought was what less privileged girls and women would do in such a situation, so we decided to do something about it.

    “So far, 9,317 packs of pads have been distributed, 1,000 of which are reusable pads.

    “We have reached 7,397 girls and women so far. Currently, we have had outreaches in 8 states. Over the next couple of weeks, it will have surmounted to 10 states.”

    Aisha, an SS2 student and beneficiary from Ogun State, shared her experience in an interview that before the Sanitary Aid Initiative arrived at her school, she had been using tissues and cloths in place of pads, a practice she described as difficult.

    When asked if it affected her schoolwork and attendance, she replied: “I do come to school, but sometimes when the pain is a lot I just skip class. I can’t express how happy I am but I’m very grateful for the pads that Sanitary Aid gave us.”

    Another beneficiary of the initiative, Boluwatife, an SS1 student, complained about the increase in prices of pads making them less and less affordable. She said that the help received from Sanitary Aid Initiative made her “very, very happy.”

    In addition to the distribution of free sanitary products, Sanitary Aid also engages in positive sex education and orientation for both boys and girls in order to sensitize them about puberty and ease off the stigma surrounding it.

    “Many of them are aware of what’s happening within their bodies but sometimes they have been led to believe some myths with regards managing menstrual pain, their cycles,” Karo told The Nation.

    “For some, it’s not ignorance, they just don’t have access to products. So even when they are choosing to use cloth or skip school, it’s not because they don’t know what to do but because they can’t afford to do it.

    “I always say that is even more important than the products. We tell the girls about sanitary hygiene, period positivity and sometimes even sex education. We also involve the boys, encouraging them to be more receptive to such conversations. One time, on our first visit, a young boy was happy to share that he gave his sweater to his friend when she was stained. The atmosphere we create makes this an easy conversation to have.”

    According to the founder, Sanitary Aid Initiative is currently in the process of manufacturing reusable pads, and partnering with sponsors who share the same vision and goal.

    “For every stakeholder or potential stakeholder, it is important for us all to understand the effects of period poverty on girls from missing school to self-esteem issues to even health issues from poor period management.

    “The onus is on those with the means to actively and deliberately change the face of menstruation management in our country. We have so many impressionable young girls and boys and targeting them with the right information early enough helps the future,” Karo stated.

    She called on the federal, state, and local governments to contribute to the cause by prioritising the hygiene needs, especially of girls and women with little or no income at all. She implored the government to take a leaf out of the books of other countries that are already succeeding in this area.

     

  • Security: Abuja commercial motorcyclists get marching orders

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of  Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma has given commercial motorcyclists popularly called okada riders three days to quit the city centres, and operate only in the satellite towns.

    The riders were banned from the city centres some time ago but were yet to comply with the restriction order.

    Ciroma advised them to move to the satellite towns immediately as earlier spelt out by the FCT administration.

    The Police boss who is also Chairman Ministerial Joint Task Force, (MJTF) said the development become necessary to ensure law and order.

    Ciroma gave the warning during the meeting of the MJTF and the leadership of the National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS) and the Amalgameted Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), in his office.

    He told the groups to see beyond the commercial benefits of their business and contribute their part in making the nation’s capital worthy of emulation.

    According to the Ciroma: “ my brothers, the aim of this meeting is for us to give ourselves another ample opportunity to listen to each other and advise us on how to cooperate with each other. As the head of this operation I would like us to stick to those areas

     

  • Unveiling core Buharists

    The gathering at the Presidential Villa last Wednesday night was meant to be an appreciation dinner by President Muhammadu Buhari to his youth political appointees for their service to the nation in the past three and half years.

    But it turned out to be an occasion for the youth to express their unflinching support and solidarity for President Buhari beyond 2019 Presidential elections.

    The youth from the various parts of the country that filled the new Banquet Hall of the State House, now call themselves ‘Core Buharists’.

    They are now ready to carry the message and what they have learnt under the Buhari’s administration all their lives.

    For a starter, they have vowed to leave no stone unturned to ensure President Buhari get reelected as President in 2019.

    With what they called their BMW, ‘Buhari Must Win’ vehicles, they have decided to hit every unit, ward, local government and state in the country on voter education tour and to sell the ‘good product’, President Muhammadu Buhari, to Nigerians.

    A 34 years old Executive Director at NEXIM Bank, Hon. Stella Okotete, at the dinner, said “What I will be doing here is to assure you what we the youth of the APC are going to do for us to win the 2019 election.

    “We are Core Buharists, that is what we call ourselves. It is something we want to drive beyond 2019.

    “We are here to assure you that we will do everything within our possible best to ensure you are reelected in 2019.

    “We are going to move from every units, wards, local governments and states to ensure that the voters are well educated to give you all their maximum support in 2019.

    “We will not sleep, we know what to do, we know how we did it before and we are willing to do it again.

    “We know we can give you above your expectations, in fact we are going to give you 100% in some of the states in the Niger Delta. I’m not talking as a politician, I’m telling you with facts.

    “Nigerians will not sit back to allow PDP to take us several years behind, it will not happen sir. We are going to give you 37 over 37.

    “Yes, they might look like a lion, but we are BMW, Buhari Must Win. I have my BMW parked already, and I know we all have our BMWs and we are going to drive with the maximum speed and expected to come back in 2019 to congratulate you sir,” she added.

    Another youth, who spoke at the dinner is the Executive Director at the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Jasper Azuatalam.

    Allowing the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to take over in 2019, he said, will be a disaster for the country.

    Everything, he said, would be done to prevent the opposition party from taking the nation 1000 steps backward.

    “Mr. President, I want to say that I’m very happy today because the young people are happy today. They are happy today because you have given them a sense of belonging. Sitting right here with you is one of the greatest things I know young people have yearned for. And today, we have it.

    “The worst thing we can do to this country Nigeria, is to allow PDP to come back to power in 2019. It is the worst thing we can do to Nigeria.

    “I will likened PDP to a lion that has been put in the cage for a long time. I have interacted with their members and I know how hungry they have become because they don’t see free money as before.

    “If we lose this lion again in 2019, then Nigeria is going to walk more than 1,000 steps backward.

    “Like we always said in those days we lost elections, Mr. President will always get eleven to twelve million votes whether he operates from a party or not. That’s how goodwill we had that time.

    “But that is because a lot of people believed that by Mr. President’s integrity and his anti-corruption, he is going to do magic when he resumes office as President. That in two months, Nigeria will change. They don’t know how it would happen.

    “But the truth is that most of these have been disappointed because they didn’t see the magic. That is why we need to do the real work,” he said.

    The youngest serving state governor, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State almost stole the show at the dinner.

    Bello set the ball rolling that night, by saying “Let me first of all appreciate Mr. President for recognizing our constituency”.

    He didn’t end his speech that night without warning members of his party of the hard task ahead and to market the ‘good product’ to Nigerians.

    “The APC that is going into the 2019 elections is radically different from the APC which won in 2015 presidential election.

    Our party have been through stiff learning curves and the lessons have been difficult, even painful in many instances.

    “The immediate task before us is to convince the masses that everything Mr. President has done, is for our overall benefits. We are to console our people with the good news that the planting season is over and the bumper harvest is now within the reach.

    ”President Buhari is a good product we know, but we must go out to sell him to Nigerians. Perception is very critical in times like this. If we fail, God forbid, the ugly narrative of PDP will overtake the land.

    “As members of the APC, we will not deny that our party has a huge task in the 2019 general elections, the election will never be a walk-over, the PDP will not be a push over.” he warned

    Highlighting the strength of the group, the youthful Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Programme,

    Ismail Ahmed said “This elections is going to be about the loud noise makers and the silent achievers.

    “The silent majority and the people who pulled crowd, Mr. President, this is the constituency, this is the troops on the ground that will work for your reelection.”

    In the same vein, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said “These ones will be the apostles of change in this country, and they will be able to drive the message with such determination that the sluggish PDP machinery will not be able to contain.”

    Speaking to the youths, President Buhari said “I thank you very much and I congratulate you for your guts, sitting with this administration for so long. I assure you, you are doing it for this country.

    “So we are doing it for our children, grandchildren and for this country. If people don’t speak good about this country, let them go and find out what is happening elsewhere.

    “But here, we are going to stay and we are going to salvage this country together.” he stated

    The prayers of every Buharists, at this time, is that the expectations of the youths towards 2019 will materialise.

    But there is no doubt that extra efforts are needed to make Nigerians know and see that the toiling is truly over and ‘bumper harvest’ is just around the corner.

    The ‘bumper harvest’ that will take Nigerians out of poverty line and meet their yearnings, and also catapot Nigeria to its rightful place at the international community.

  • A capital for everyone

    Even as achieving the Abuja master plan remains the battle cry of every minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), current minister Muhammad Bello says he would like a city that will appeal to everyone. GBENGÀ OMOKHUNU reports

    Every minister before him has spoken of the Abuja master plan that will produce a dream capital city and enticing environs. They spoke of well laid-out streets with houses built according to the master plan, not a place where anyone can put up any structure anywhere they please. Under Nasir el-Rufai, now governor of Kaduna State, bulldozers were often deployed to tear down structures said to have violated the ultimate plan.

    Current minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Bello also has his own vision of the nation’s capital, one that will accommodate people of all ages, and be relevant to generations unborn.

    That was why he  has directed  agencies and departments in charge of planning the city to evolve measures that would bring about inclusiveness at all levels.

    He said Abuja as a fast growing capital city should be planned in line with the current realities and in conformity with the international  standards which will be comprehensive in all phases.

    According to him, the planning  of Abuja would be more effective if traditional rulers and the youth are well represented in the scheme.

    Bello stated this on Wednesday at the inauguration of  Urban Thinkers Campus Implementation (UTC) committee in Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) conference hall.

    The minister called on the 20-member committee to adhere strictly to the 10 reference points it  mapped out  to enhanced the remodeling of Abuja city which everyone will be proud of.

    “Abuja is fast growing city and it must be plan in such a way that even generation unborn will come to enjoy”

    Recall that FCDA sometime last month put together an Urban  Thinkers Campus programme, which was party of UN habitat aimed at urban renewal agenda.

    The committee was constituted after the three days event to serve as drivers of the implementation.

    Bello said the committee members which comprises of all FCTA agencies and departments should work in line with  the Abuja master plan, advising them that despite their busy scheduled they should ensure that the needful is put in place.

    Responding, the committee chairman and Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr Umar Jibrin assured the   FCT minister that the committee members will work within the terms of reference to bring about the desired planning of the Abuja city.

  • Commission hails FCT on infrastructure

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has been lauded for the significant improvement in the outlook of the FCT through massive investments in infrastructure.

    The Chairman and Chief Executive, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Mr. Richard Egbule, gave this commendation when he led the Board of Commissioners and management of the Commission to pay a courtesy call on the FCT Minister.

    According to the Wages Commission boss, this has significantly improved FCT’s traffic situation and enriched the living standards of the residents.

    Chief Egbule noted that these achievements were particularly substantial, coming at a time of lean financial resources.

    The Chairman remarked that the level of accomplishment was not altogether surprising given what he knew of Malam Bello at the time he was the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    The chairman underscored the massive rehabilitation of road infrastructure going on in Karu, while observing, “It goes to tell of the commitment of the FCT Administration towards leaving no area of the FCT behind in the project of giving Abuja befitting infrastructure and amenities”.

    He thanked the Minister for going beyond the city to consider the satellite towns and grassroots in the spread of amenities.

    Chief Egbule used the occasion to appeal to the Honourable Minister for a plot of land on which it plans to develop a befitting headquarters for the Commission.

    He lamented that the Commission which came into existence 25 years ago, does not have a property to call its own. As a result, he disclosed, the various departments and units are flung and scattered in various parts of the city making operations and supervision of the Commission’s staff very difficult.

    Responding, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello welcomed the Chairman and his team and assured them that FCTA was willing to help the Commission in its quest for a befitting accommodation.

    The Minister lamented that while some establishments are eager to obtain plots for the development of their secretariats, some others who had benefitted from such plot allocations are either dragging their feet to develop their plots or have proved incapable of doing so.

    He disclosed that the FCTA intends to revoke such plots for re-allocation to establishments that are ready to develop their plots.

    The Minister noted that FCTA is desirous of bridging the housing deficit in the Territory by emphasising mass housing, especially through workers cooperatives.

    Bello commended the Commission for its support in the efforts towards establishing the right salaries of the teeming workforce of the country, a task, he noted, the Commission has discharged creditably over time.

  • Hospital unveiled in Abuja

    The project started with three staff, one of whom a nurse, one other person and himself consulting from a plastic table in a room.

    At the time Dr Sunday Onu had chalked up over 10 years of practice, whereupon he felt he could give more where he was in charge.

    That was the beginning of 30-bed Deda Hospital, which has been launched in Jahi-Katampe, Abuja. It is now about 12 years ago since the project started.

    Chief Medictor  Director of Deda Hospital, Dr. Onu said,

    “We started with three staff including myself, consulting in a room with a plastic table. Most of our patients had trust in our services, with some paying in advance for treatment that they are yet to access. That is how we started. We accepted every criticism and challenges thrown at the team and took correction.

    “God has been helping us at Deda hospital. When we wanted to start the project, a lot of obstacles came up but today, we are unveiling this project.”

    “Given excellence in a conducive atmosphere, we are here praying for divine healing for all that we do here.

    The hospital which started as women and children hospital, he also announced have changed and hence change in logo.

    Onu also called for government support for private hospitals as it has a big role to play in health care delivery, stressing that public hospitals alone cannot meet the needs of the populace.

    He also urged government to increase the spread of Health Insurance Scheme as a way of reducing cost of accessing health care in the country.

    He said: “Government can come in, in terms of waving duties for medical equipment and drugs coming in, if that is done the end users will get it at a low cost, government can also subsidize importation of this equipment, get involved, have a central store, bring it in and distribute to your private individuals at a subsidised rate.

    “But the call of subsidised health delivery in any nation is insurance, that’s the national health insurance of government, the private health insurance we have not gotten it, only very few are benefiting from the insurance scheme, government need to expand because the scheme is reaching only people who are working with the government and only a little percent of the populace are working with the government”.

    Supporting Onu’s call for government support for private hospital so as to reduce medical tourism, a Member of the House of Representatives, Olusegun Dokun Odebunmi called for the establishment of a platform where Nigerians can approach to secure loans with minimum interest to help establish and develop the economy.

    Odebunmi who spoke at the ground opening of hospital, stressed the importance of the private sector in engineering economic growth and development as government alone cannot meet the yearning of the teeming young graduates seeking white collar jobs.

    He said: “It is only private driving economy that can survive this country especially in the aspect of medical sector investment. if private institutions can be given access to a lot of funds they can bring a lot into the system and save Nigerians from going abroad for medical challenges. There is nothing they cannot do provided they have access to fund.

    “And Nigeria medical personnel are very sound, the only problem we have is equipment, if they can get equipment they will do wonderfully well,” he said.

    The Chief Medical Director, Abuja Teaching Hospital, Prof. Bissallah Ahmed Ekele who commended Onu for his foresight, saying that the project is a challenge to those in public service.

    He hope that the services rendered at Deda will be great and successful given the atmosphere and equipment available at the hospital.

  • Boosting economy with diaspora funds

    Apart from revenues and other domestic incomes, the Nigerian economy also relies substantially on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

    While FDI is different from portfolio investments, which are made indirectly into another country’s economy using such financial instruments as bonds and stocks, FDI is made into a business or a sector by an individual or a company from another country.

    By incorporating a wholly owned subsidiary or company, acquiring shares in an associated enterprise, through merger or an

    unrelated enterprise and participating in an equity joint venture with another

    investor, a foreign direct investor may acquire 10% or more of the voting power of an enterprise in the Nigeria economy.

    FDI is believed to produce positive effects on host economies including adoption of foreign

    technology, licensing agreements, employment opportunities, and increased productive efficiency.

    While the investment code that created the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) (Decree No. 16 of 1995) and

    the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provision) Decree,1995, gave full backing for FDI inflow into the country, Nigeria like other developing countries has made moves to attract FDI because of its advantages as a tool of economic development.

    Formation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) provided Nigeria and other African countries the platform to join the rest of the world in seeking FDI.

    But despite the generous incentives to attract FDI inflows with its enormous human and natural resources, the quantum of the FDI into the country has not matched the expectations of the past and current governments in Nigeria.

    Besides insufficient FDI to the country, some of those that flowed into Nigeria have sort of being a disadvantage to the economy.

    Some foreign firms have taken advantage of the incentives offered by Nigeria to achieve their various motives of enthroning stable monopolistic control over sources of raw materials in Nigeria for their parent companies.

    Apart from their unhindered access to control of local markets, they have also utilized low cost labour, thereby boosting their higher returns.

    Foreign direct investors have also enjoyed low corporate and income tax rates, tax holidays, other types of tax concessions.

    They also have at their disposal preferential tariffs, special economic zones, investment financial subsidies, soft loan or loan guarantees, free land or land subsidies, relocation and expatriation subsidies, job training and employment subsidies, infrastructure subsidies, research and development support and derogation from regulations, usually for very large projects.

    Other disadvantages of the FDI inflows into Nigeria include hindrance to domestic investment, risk from political changes in the FDI’s country of origin.

    Some of them have also posed negative influence on exchange rates in Nigeria.

    They may also have negative Impact on Nigeria’s Investment while foreign direct investment may also lead to  some kind of modern-day economic colonialism, which leaves host countries vulnerable to foreign companies’ exploitations.

    To overcome the disadvantages inherent in the FDI Nigeria is used to, there is a new move to ensure the country gets  higher benefits from investments coming from abroad.

    The new move, under the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit (NDIS) scheduled for November 27 and 28, is being spearheaded by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

    The summit is to get Nigerians residing abroad to channel their investments to Nigeria towards boosting the economy.

    One great benefit of the new move is to ensure that there is no capital flight abroad and that such investments stays in the country.

    Speaking on the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit, Dabiri-Erewa said, “Considering the current measures introduced to improve the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria and the fact that Nigeria is fast becoming a robust investment destination for smart investors given the fact that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) is set and hopes to achieve the ERGP’s goal of 7% GDP growth by 2020.

    “When we look at the Nigerian Diaspora remittances, the fact that it is over N22 billion a year, which typically goes into helping their families regularly.

    “However, these funds do not have lasting benefits for majority of the benefactors. Therefore, the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit aims to encourage Nigerians in the diaspora to channel their funds into formal sectors.

    “This way, they and their beneficiaries will have a more sustainable means of generating income on a regular basis.

    “The Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit aims to demonstrate that targeting Nigerians in the Diaspora is an effective and sustainable strategy for attracting Diaspora Nigerians to look inward into their home country and channel their funds into investment into the emerging diversified economy of Nigeria.”

    “It will establish a platform where Diaspora investors can interact with potential sponsors, partners, collaborators and the government. They will have direct round table deals for mutual benefits.

    “It will showcase and explore in an unprecedented manner, the vast number of government diaspora investment incentives, business investment and potential sponsorship opportunities in all the 36 States of Nigeria.

    “Also, this summit will explore ways to harness the substantial but unexplored skills, the capital and technical know-how of Nigerians abroad and institutional participants that are major players in the Nigerian economy, including the Organized Private Sector; Government Agencies responsible for Investment Promotion; Foreign Development Partners like USAID, DFID, UNDP, World Bank, IMF etc.”

    She said that areas of focus for the investments include agribusiness, education, training and skills development, entertainment, hospitality and tourism. Other areas are extractive industry, healthcare, infrastructure and real estate, manufacturing, telecommunication, technology and innovations, transportation, waste management and environmental remediation.

    Throwing more light on the new initiative, Dr. Badewa T. Adejugbe-Williams, Chairperson, planning committee of NDIS said “Instead of foreign investors coming to invest in Nigeria and taking their foreign currencies back to their countries, we want Nigerians to come and invest here, so the money stays here.

    “You know our people send monies to their families in Nigeria on a monthly basis usually, but that money goes, it is spent and it is gone.

    “But we want a sustainable way for them to be remitting money to their families. So with this investment summit, if they come in and invest in businesses in Nigeria to develop the Nigerian economy, and help Nigeria and the same time help their families, they will have sustainable returns on their investments.

    “And like Honorable said, it could be up to N60 billion

    This is the inaugural, we hope it will be annual event,” she added

    It will really be a good news for Nigeria, if this initiative succeeds and more Nigerian investments flows into the country.

    At least, it will check capital  flight and leave more money for Nigeria’s development.

  • Drama as NAPTIP busts underage sex workers

    Officials of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), with help from the police, have raided a hotel in downtown Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where underage girls were allegedly used as commercial sex workers. But the girls arrested are angry and eager to return to business. GRACE OBIKE reports

    Some things do not add up. Some information went out to the authorities that a brothel in Kubwa, a suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was a thriving centre for not just teenage prostitution but also child trafficking. The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) briefed its officers. The police were also informed, and together they mounted surveillance on the spot, watching the goings-on for a length of time. When they felt they had enough evidence, they swooped in, arresting some girls and patrons of the facility. They also sealed up the brothel, in accordance with the relevant laws.

    Now, you might think that the officers were on a salvage mission to rescue underage girls who were being exploited, but what the NAPTIP and police officers got was not what they expected.

    First, it looked as if they were rudely interfering in the girls’ private businesses, and that whatever the girls were up to was fine by them. They were angry at the visitors, and were making faces at them. Some of them were even overheard plotting how to beat the authorities by lying about their ages to create the impression that they were old enough to be responsible for their behaviour.

    Second, the girls did not betray any fears or shame. Some were saying they were not likely to be away for long, and will soon be back to take off where they left off.

    Prostitution, they say, is the oldest trade known to man. The FCT has its fair share of the trade. In Kubwa, a suburb of the FCT, Woman Boku, a hub of the flesh trade, is known by all.

    On September 27, NAPTIP said that they received intelligence report about a place being used for underage and exploitative prostitution. Intense surveillance was mounted by officers of the agency which led to the arrest of four suspects: Onyinyechi Osuoha, 32, Nkechi Chukwuma, 37, Sandra Chi, 32, and 27-year-old Favour James during the raid.

    NAPTIP in a joint operation with officers from the police busted the human trafficking gang and rescued 11 girls while four suspected human traffickers were also arrested. The hotel where the girls were harboured, Thales Guest House, is located at Pipeline Area in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja.

    According to the agency, the raid was done in accordance with sections 43 and 52 of the Trafficking In Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which authorise NAPTIP to enter, search and seal up properties suspected to be used for human trafficking purposes.

    The agency said preliminary findings revealed that the suspects often lure the victims, who are underage girls, from various parts of the country with promises of employment in the Federal Capital Territory. However, upon their arrival at Abuja, they are put to work at the Guest House, serving the clients and thereafter introduced to prostitution, at the end of which the suspects collect the money paid to them.

    Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended her officers for a smooth operation, while lauding the collaborative efforts of the Nigeria Police Force, which she described as a “true proof of strong partnership between the two law enforcement organisations, aimed at ridding the society of ills such as this”.

    She also sent a strong warning to operators of brothels who use underage girls as prostitutes to desist from such acts, as the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015 criminalises the sexual exploitation of minors, in any form.

    She further enjoined members of the public to report such establishments to NAPTIP, as they are not only immoral and an abuse of human rights, but also a criminal act that is punishable by law. Dame Julie Okah-Donli added that “young girls should either be in school or learn skills that will enable them be empowered as functional members of the society, not holed up in brothels to be sexually exploited by human traffickers”.

    But the girls who were rescued did not look excited about the rescue. Looking very angry as they were being taken away, the girls whispered among themselves, warning each other to inflate their ages and pretend to be older. Some confronted their mates who packed more luggage, saying, “Why you do pack plenty cloths, this arrest no pass two, three days, dem must release us and life continues.”

    One of the girls who gave her name as Emmanuelle Okoroji explained to The Nation that she came to Abuja on her own.

    “I came to Abuja on my own,” she said, “I am from Abia State and used to live in Aba. Before I left Aba in February this year, I was an SS2 student of Chinwe Unique Secondary School in Ohanku Road, Aba. I take care of myself and my family through my hustle, my father is dead, my mother is a cripple and I have four other siblings.”

    The second victim Favour James explained that she has finished her NCE and is prostituting to get enough money to return for her HND. She said, “I rounded up my ND at the Delta State polytechnic Uzoro in 2016, I came to Abuja in 2017 and am here to hustle for myself so that I can make enough money to return for my HND.”

    The girls who stared angrily at the officers that raided their place of business were taken away alongside some customers as NAPTIP sealed the establishment.

  • Buhari breaks Eagle Square jinx 

    For seven years the Eagle Square venue for October 1st Independence Day Anniversary celebration was a no-go-area for the last two administrations.

    Since October 1, 2010, the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the current administration moved the Independence Day parade to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa.

    In the forecourt of the State House, only limited aspects of the independence parade were carried out during the period.

    The aspects of showcasing the military might of the nation in the form of equipment parade and air shows were completely avoided during the seven years.

    The shift in the venue by the Jonathan’s administration was informed by the bomb blasts that rocked the Square and  its environs during the celebration in 2010.

    The celebrations that year, which were also to mark 50 years independence of Nigeria from Britain, turned out to be everything the Jonathan’s administration never expected.

    People residing or present in the city during the blasts were shaken to their marrows by the attacks.

    The once peaceful Eagle Square arena turned rowdy and unsafe as guests and other Nigerians at the venue and its environs scampered for safety.

    In the blasts, at least 12 people were feared dead while many others were injured.

    Some eyewitness accounts that day claimed that the blasts were caused by car bombs.

    The two first blasts appeared to have been timed to achieve the highest damage to those who responded to the first blast, as they went off about five minutes apart.

    It was also reported that a smaller third explosion went off within the parade ground, believed to have occurred from a gun that accidentally went off.

    Interestingly, before that day, the militant group, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) had threatened to target the Independence Day festivities.

    The attacks by MEND, which had been pushing for a fairer distribution of the country’s oil revenues, were the first time the group was targeting the capital city.

    Prior to the attacks, most of MEND’s attacks were targeted at pipelines and supply terminals in the Niger Delta region.

    The group believed that there was “nothing worth celebrating after 50 years of failure”.

    Jonathan, who was then inspecting a guard of honour at the time, described the attack as  a “wicked act of desperation by criminals and murderers.”

    While the fear of the 2010 attacks kept the Eagle Square deserted for seven years on Nigeria’s national day, a former militant leader, Charles Okah, in March this year was found guilty of plotting the 2010 Independence Day bombing.

    From the ruling, he is to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

    To return Nigeria’s independence day anniversary celebration to what it used to be, President Muhammadu Buhari last week Monday, October 1, 2018, broke the jinx.

    He observed the 58th Independence Day parade in high key at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

    Contrary to some sceptics, who believed that the event scheduled for Eagle Square that Monday will be cancelled at the last minute, Buhari arrived at the Eagles Square for the anniversary  parade around 9.30am.

    He stayed at the venue with other top government officials and dignitaries for the two hours duration of the parade.

    Buhari kickstarted the parade with inspection of guards, which was followed by march past in slow and quick time.

    There was also a march past by para-military organisations, agencies and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) mounted troops.

    Also on display were military equipment march past on low loaders

    Apart from police dogs displaying the trainings they had acquired and thrilling the guests, outriders also took the stage by displaying their skills.

    The Nigerian Air Force mishap during training three days earlier also could not stop them from participating colorfully in the aerial show at the Eagle Square.

    To bring the ceremony to a close, the military personnel also took part in firing of volleys and 21 gun salute.

    Before departing the venue, President Buhari signed the 58th Independence anniversary register.

    There were however some dramas at the venue shortly after Buhari and the dignitaries left the venue.

    Some APC youths wearing black T-shirt took over the arena and in a procession with the APC flag, started moving around, singing songs in support of President Buhari’s reelection bid in 2019.

    Trouble however started when somebody, who infiltrated the group, stole the telephone set of one of the youths.

    Rather than submit the telephone set when he was caught, he drew out a dagger to scare away those who tried to get the telephone set from him.

    With the thief’s supporters at the venue backing him, it almost turned to a free for all fight.

    They ran, pushed and pursued one another around the venue for over 15 minutes.

    It got bloody when some of the thief’s gang started throwing stones, which made the youths to run helter-skelter around the venue for safety.

    One young boy of about 15 years was not too lucky as one of the stones landed on his head.

    The boy, who was bleeding profusely, was given first aid treatment by some members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps at the venue.

    With the 58th Independence Day Anniversary celebration over, it is hoped that the 59th anniversary next year and subsequent ones will not experience bloodshed of any kind.