The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Prisons chief to staff: don’t maltreat inmates

    The Controller General of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) Ja’afaru Ahmed has urged the officers and men of the service to respect the rights of prisoners in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, otherwise called The Mandela Rules.

    Ahmed gave this advice in his address to members of staff of the NPS at the National Headquarters Abuja in a brief ceremony to mark the celebration of the face of freedom, the former President of South African, Nelson Mandela.

    He reiterated the importance of operating within the scope of the Mandela Rules, stating that the Mandela Rules is a collection of guidelines approved by the United Nations in its General Assembly in the 1957 as the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Offenders and later updated by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna in 2015 and renamed The Mandela Rules in appreciation of the contribution of Nelson Mandela in the area of treatment of prisoners.

    In a statement issued by the NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore, the prison boss said that different countries are at different levels of development and as such the compliance to the Rules vary from country to country.

    He conceded, though, that the Nigerian Prisons Service is not a weeping child in this area, pointing out that efforts are being made to improve on services and treatment of prisoners in accordance with the rules.

    The CGP stated that since commencement of his administration, staffers have been given various trainings geared towards the improvement of service delivery.

    He pointed out that through the collaboration of development partners such as the EU, UNODC, PRAWA, UNICEF, etc, the staff of the NPS have are being equipped to face the challenges of modern penal management. In this regard, he noted, a Memorandum of Understanding has recently been signed by the Nigerian Prisons Service on behalf of the Federal Government with the European Union on Deradicalisation programme, which he says is novel due to the fact that terrorism is a new security challenge facing mankind.

    He therefore called on all to take these trainings seriously and be ready to add value to the system and make the world a safer place adding that: “Worthy of note is the current Federal Government financial intervention to address infrastructural gaps that have existed over the years.”

    He stated that modern cells are being constructed in different locations to replace old and dilapidated cells in order to improve living conditions of inmates with emphasis that a 3000 capacity ultra-modern prison with all the requirements for successful reformation of inmates will soon come on stream.

    Ahmed encouraged the members of staff to continue to give the administration support in order to get to the desired height of modern techniques of penal management that can be comparable to any developed country of the world.

  • 5,000 get MSME loan

    The nationwide Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic that was flagged off in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) appears to be hitting the right notes among many petty traders and small entrepreneurs in rural areas.

    The MSME Clinic is an initiative designed by the office of the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, in collaboration with some other relevant agencies to ease doing business in the country.

    There were indications from the beginning of the event that about 5,000 persons have benefited from the MSMEs loans disbursed through the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA).

    Disclosing this, FCTA Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, who represented the Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello said the FCTA will strengthen the scheme by creating more help desks in all the six Area Councils to stimulate more business growth.

    “Over 5000 individuals have benefited from FCTA loans, through Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA).  The FCT Administration is to create an Abuja Enterprise Agency desk across the 6 Area Councils to boost business growth in the territory,” he said.

    Earlier in his speech, the Managing Director, Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) Mohammad Arabi stated that the present administration places premium on the SME sector because it employs about 33 million people and holds about 96 percent of the business sector in Nigeria.

    Arabi who lamented that Nigeria was lagging behind in the SME sector, also said that the MSME clinic was a strategic effort to move away from the poor status.

     

  • Buoying the economy with promisory notes

    Not a few policies and strategies have been adopted by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to revamp the Nigerian economy since inception of the administration in May 2015. The government had then complained of inheriting a battered economy that would need time to fix. So in the past 26 months it had exploited several measures in order to put the economy on the path of recovery and growth.

    With all the efforts, the economy is still in bad shape and has not been able to snap out of recession.

    But the Presidency last Wednesday decided to exploit another policy in order to boost the economy. This time around, it plans to issue promisory notes to offset huge debts being owed contractors and State governments in the country, which have weighed down the economy as far back as 2006.

    According to economists, promisory notes in this context are written formal commitment by the Federal Government to make a payment at a certain date and time.

    Since the promisory notes can be traded on the financial markets, they enable the recipients to realise market based cash value for them whenever they want.

    They could also be granted liquidity status by the Central Bank of Nigeria, making them both tradable and discountable.

    Briefing journalists on the new policy after the Federal Executive Council meeting, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said: “The

    Federal Executive Council has approved process to validate and pay inherited Federal Government contractor and employee liabilities

    “Obligations accumulated over the last two decades to be paid through bond and promissory note issuance to resolve long outstanding dues and stimulate economic activity

    “The Federal Executive Council has today approved the Ministry of Finance’s proposed validation process and promissory note and debt issuance programme to resolve a number of inherited and long outstanding Federal Government (FG) obligations to contractors, State governments and employees.

    “This will be followed by a request to the National Assembly to approve the programme ahead of implementation.

    “These obligations largely consist of dues owed to State governments, oil marketers, power generation and distribution companies, suppliers and contractors by Federal Government parastatals and agencies, payments due under the Export Expansion Grant (EEG), outstanding judgement balances as well as pension and other benefits to Federal Government employees.

    “Some of the obligations date back as far as 1994. The resolution of this will significantly enhance liquidity in critical sectors of the economy.

    “Following an exhaustive process of reconciliation, the committee has been able to provisionally confirm a discounted total of N2.7trillion of obligations, consisting of N740billion of outstanding pensions and promotional salary arrears (not discounted) and N1.93 trillion (discounted) of other obligations including dues to Federal Government contractors and suppliers.

    “These numbers are aligned with existing Federal Government estimates, and in some cases, are lower than previously estimated.” she said

    To check fraud in the system, she had maintained that the supplier and contractor obligations will be resolved through a strict and rigorous process of final validation.

    Those confirmed for payment, she said, will be settled through the issuance of liquid promissory notes (ten-year tenure) phased over a three-year period to minimise impact on liquidity and with preference given to those willing to offer the largest discounts.

    For obligations owed to individuals like pensions and employee benefits, she said, will be resolved through the issuance of specific bond instruments, to be phased over next three years.

    The obligations will then be incorporated into the Medium- Term Expenditure Framework by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

    Harping on the benefits of the new policy, she said: “We cannot get our economy moving at the pace we need to if we do not address the legacy issues we have inherited, which act as a significant drag on economic activity.

    “The government must be a driver of growth, and enable private sector activity. It should not be the most significant obligor to many value creating businesses.

    “At the same time, we have an obligation to our Federal Government employees to address these long-outstanding pension and employment benefit issues.

    “We are doing this systematically, and we want to do so once and for all. We are enhancing the Government’s controls and processes to ensure we do not find ourselves in this situation again.

    “Over the last two decades the Federal Government has built up over N2.7 trillion of obligations which were not cash backed, and remain outstanding to this day.

    “We have developed a solution that will simultaneously resolve these issues, and deliver a boost to economic performance. Our solution will remove the drag on economic performance these obligations cause, improve liquidity in key sectors, especially the power sector where we will resolve Federal Government dues to the distribution and generation companies, and so boost investor confidence.

    “It will also help to improve Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio’s in the banking sector, where an unacceptable number of NPL’s are presently linked to Government contracts.

    It is really hoped that when the National Assembly finally gives its nod, the policy will go a long way to free the Nigerian economy from the adverse impact of the huge indebtedness.

    Its hightime the accumulated economy mess over the years be cleared once and for all.

  • FCT guarantees more education for IDPs

    The FCT administration has said it will continue to provide access to basic education to the children and other vulnerable persons at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the FCT, pending when their return to their original communities.

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello disclosed this in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI).

    Bello disclosed that the FCT Administration has made available its vocation and rehabilitation centres for use by NGOs and other relevant government agencies in the FCT for the training of internally displaced persons to at least equip them with the basic economic skills while they are still housed at the IDP camps.

    According to the minister, “We have tried using our relationship with a number of NGOs to make sure that we concentrate on giving the young boys and girls basic education that they require so that by the time they move back to their communities, at least they would not have missed out too much.”

    “Within the FCT, we have a number of vocational institutions that we usually make the facilities available to the agencies of government that may want to use them to provide some form of intervention or some kind of skill acquisition training. So, in order for every agency not to duplicate by establishing its own vocational centre, I will advise that your organisation leverage on what is already on ground because you are going to cater for people who are really not going to be permanent. All you need to do is to give them some semblance of stability before they move on,” he said.

    The minister in a statement issues by his  Special Assistant (Media) to FCT Minister, Abubakar Sani charged the NCRMI and similar agencies, including those in the FCT to really assist these people, especially the young ones, noting that most of them have missed out of school for four to five sessions.

    “That impact will not be seen in our communities and their communities until many years down the road. Then you will realise that a certain age group missed out, either in terms of employment or in terms of getting into tertiary institutions.

    “With respect to your request for a transit camp for deportees, we would look into the master plan, and we believe there should be something that could accommodate this so that if for any reason deportees are brought to Abuja for instance, you can have a place where you can keep them, do some medical checks on them and then try to work out how to link them up with their final places of abode. That is something we can work on and we should be able to make land available to sort this out”.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Federal Commissioner for the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI), Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk said the Commission has been receiving Nigerian nationals who have been returned from various parts of the world, stressing that their intervention for this group has been focused on return, readmission as well as integration to at least to ensure that the returnees are brought back in dignity and safety and are able to settle back into the society so as to contribute to the development of such communities.

    She said the Commission is currently engaged in providing economic and employment opportunities for the displaced persons living in camps “because we believe that poverty has contributed immensely to the internal displacements especially in the North East. We are committed to keying into the recovery plan envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari to alleviate the sufferings of our persons of concern while protecting their dignity.

    “We realised that we cannot do it alone without reaching to those that are widely known for their empathy to the plight of the vulnerable persons, hence our coming to the FCT Administration to explore areas of collaboration in terms of providing skills for the IDPs and transit camps particularly for deportees.”

  • Excellence conquers poverty

    Excellence conquers poverty

    The story of Onyinye Onuigbo, the 2017 best graduating student of America University of Nigeria (AUN), is proof that fate and hard work will always defy financial challenges. GBENGA ADANIKIN reports

    Miss Onyinye Onuigbo, the 2017 overall best graduating student of the America University of Nigeria (AUN) was born into a family of seven. She hails from a remote village in Enugu State. In 2006 she won a 10-year scholarship from the Yar’Adua Foundation and AUN. Onuigbo’s fairytale story continued. As she rounded off her study she was chosen to deliver the valedictory speech at the AUN Maiden University Fair in Abuja to encourage prospective students while commending the foundation for the educational support she never dreamt of.

    Onuigbo made 3.98 Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) despite her humble background from a poor home. Officials of the institute have it in confidence that no student has ever attained such grade since inception. Her parent could hardly handle welfare of the ward talk less of meeting her educational needs effectively. As a result, two of her siblings had to be an apprentice in the informal sector. Onyinye’s father is an electrician while mother is into the nursing profession.

    The 22-year-old’s success story started with the Yar’Adua Merit Scholarship. It was a keenly contested competition across the country in which she beat 23 others. She also did well in the oral and written interviews.

    Onuigbo later got all expenses paid offer all through her six years in the secondary school and subsequently enjoyed the scholarship to varsity level in AUN. But she was not the only one. Eleven others among the 24 also secured same scholarship admission into the private varsity in Yola. Only three graduated this year from AUN.

    Altogether, 24 of the pupils were lucky enough to have won the Yar’Adua Foundation scholarship programme to university level while 12 others gained admission into federal universities across the country.

    The scholarship scheme of the AUN was a clear indication that there is still hope for the less privileged that are seeking for qualitative education and reward for excellence.

    It was the proof of reward for hard work, determination, persistence and courage.

    All thanks to the AUN and Yar’Adua Foundation for their vision. The search by the foundation for very bright but indigent students is already bearing fruitful results. The aim, according to the Director-General of the Yar’Adua Foundation, Mrs. Jacqueline Farris was to improve lives by providing a comprehensive education for talented youths. She said it was a deliberate plan to offer indigent children best and quality education through its scholarship scheme.

    “We do a lot of work ranging from public policy, government, elections but this is one initiative touching the lives of people. Let me say this is not my idea. It belongs to Hajia Binta Yar’Adua. She is the one who decided that this is an initiative the foundation should embark upon.”

    The foundation board is chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo while the vice chairman is the founder of AUN and former Vice-president of the country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The trustees include Hajia Binta Yar’Adua and other prominent and influential Nigerians.

    Abuja Review gathered that the Yar’Adua foundation was established by friends, family and associates of the late President, Shehu Yar’Adua to inspire the nation’s future generations with his legacy of service.

    Challenged by funds to execute the set humanitarian gesture, the foundation had to make use of its endowment fund, to implement the life changing programme of the 24 indigent students from Junior Secondary School 1 to Graduate level.

    “The school fees increased overtime. With six years in junior and senior secondary school, we were just lucky and excited that AUN took the brightest students and provided them with full scholarships but we paid for the 24 students from secondary school and we are also paying for those in government universities,” said Farris.

    “Onyinye is our success story,” she said stressing that there were other success stories but Oyinye should be commended for her excellent performance. “She is the valedictorian. Not just that she graduated with the highest grade honour in the nine years history of the AUN. We are exceedingly proud of her.”

    Farris emphasised on mission of the foundation to promote national unity, good governance and social justice by creating platforms to engage citizens, policy makers and stakeholders in national conversations that foster an inclusive and prosperous nation.

    Speaking at the AUN, Yar’Adua foundation maiden university fair, Onyinye Onuigbo appreciated the foundation and AUN for the rare privilege to accessing quality education. As for her it was an unimaginable experience. From Enugu to Yola was a different life travelling experience. Unlike normal Igbo speaking environment, she had to contend with the new environment, strived to interact with new people and eventually made good grades from it.

    “At AUN, things were a bit different from what I had expected. Even though I didn’t make use of all the opportunities, the little I had I was able to utilise it very well.

    “From my parents income, definitely they cannot support me through my education at AUN. Now they are proud parents of me, a valedictorian of the 2017 set. That is something that should make every parent proud even as i proceed with studies.”

    All these were her words of advise to the potential undergraduates willing to study at the AUN. The valedictorian hope to be a Professor of Chemistry in the future as she found it exciting to impact knowledge.

    She further attributed her success to preparedness and time management. These she said were factors responsible for her fete.

    New President of the AUN, Dr. Dawn Dekle said the event was to celebrate old students, interns and valedictory for the graduating students. She stated her commitment to developing the students, shape their career ambition and develop their leadership skill.

    “I am here to invite you to consider our learning community to transform you into future ambassadors, somebody working with the government and a great and successful personality in life.”

    At the fair, students were invited to Abuja to be offered life changing opportunities. They were provided with information about all the opportunities the foundation and AUN had to offer before being admitted into the varsity.

    But good news to other indigent students. There is hope for them. They can as well fulfil their ambitions even with little or no financial commitment. The new president of the AUN shared her vision to continue with the humanitarian support. To her, children of the poor should also have same access to very good and quality education despite tuition fee of the private varsity.

  • Abuja gets more electricity

    With the commissioning of the Kukuaba Transmission Station, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said that it is now reinforced and better positioned to provide more electricity to its customers.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, where the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Louis Edozien, the Managing Director of AEDC Mr. Ernest Mupwaya explained that the company can now distribute power directly to Lugbe and its environs.

    This, according to him, is that the line from which the consumers are now getting their power is nearby.

    He added, saying, “Those who are being served from Katampe in Gwarimpa, Life Camp, Mabuchi, Maitama, Wuse II, Jahi and others will also enjoy improved supply. This is so because it has now been freed of the power it was releasing to Lugbe. In the long time, we will have the capacity to take more electricity.”

    According to him, the firm has reinforced 4,048 sub-stations in its network through maintenance services while surveying the protection system of 68 others.

    Speaking earlier at the opening session of the 17th Power Sector Meeting in Abuja, the said the reinforcement was to boost power supply and enhance health and safety in its operational environment.

    The AEDC boss noted improvement in the power sector, saying, “The usual discussions in the past about power deficit is gradually giving way to discussions about increased power not being utilised. This is further supported by the rate at which incremental generation is being commissioned in the industry.”

    He noted that commissioning the 132/33Kva Kukuaba transmission sub-station by the federal government shortly after the meeting would boost power supply directly in Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Majority of customers in Abuja city such as Maitama, Wuse II, Gwarinpa and Mpape will also benefit from improved supply because of the freed capacity in the Katampe transmission substation, Mupwaya added.

    Reeling out other achievements of the Distribution Company (DisCo) since it was privatised in 2013, he said, “We have completed Large Power Users (LPU) metering of 3,885 customers by February 2017; flagged off metering of Small Power Users (SPU) in December, 2016 and close to 90,000 are metered so far.”

    AEDC said it has improved the organizational design, corporate governance and compliance, and improved training for its personnel.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power, Engr. Louis Edozien who chaired the meeting said the ministry has rolled out policy directives to address limitation of 33Kv and 11Kv distribution infrastructures across the DisCos to solve the issues of power unutilisation often tagged as load rejection.

    Edozien urged the DisCos not to feel threatened by the recent ‘Eligible Customer’ pronouncement that will allow certain customers to buy power directly from the Generation Companies (GenCos). He said the declaration will strengthen their services and improve revenue base to tackle the liquidity crisis in the sector.

    He also revealed that the Market Operator and the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) are in the process of restructuring the bulk energy debts owed by DisCos to help them raise financing while improving their services to customers.

     

  • Maitama Sule stood for unity, says Peace Corps boss

    Maitama Sule stood for unity, says Peace Corps boss

    The National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Ambassador Dickson Akoh has described the late Maitama Sule as somebody who stood for the peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Reacting to the elder statesman’s death, the PCN boss in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja said: “The Peace Corps of Nigeria commiserate with the Federal Government, the Kano State Government and indeed Nigerians in general over the demise of an illustrious Nigerian, an orator par excellence, Elder Statesman, Alhaji (Dr) Maitama Sule, Dan Masanin Kano.

    “Before his transition into eternal glory at a ripe age of 87 years, resonated de persona which actually defined his leadership qualities in all ramifications of our National life; he exuded the candour of an astute politician and selfless Nationalist and his fidelity to the indivisibility of the Nigerian project was not only legendary, but simply unbeatable.

    “As a man not easily convinced by multiplicity of men fighting a particular course, but would always seek out reasons before venturing into either declaring supports or opposition to an idea on display, he stood as an eagle with uncompromising standard as he offered his continuous and total support towards the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps before the National Assembly at that time. His supports for the Bill no doubt acted as a clarion call on many leaders of thought in our nation, as Peace Corps of Nigeria got an overwhelming support from all across the Nation, indeed he will be forever remembered by Officers and Men of the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

    “He will always be in the minds of Nigerian youths for the unprecedented support and policy initiatives he championed which has led to the emancipation of the youth into the main stream of activities of our dear nation.

    “We recount with mix feelings of fulfillment and sadness how he magnanimously Chaired our 18th Anniversary Celebration held at Eagle Square with colorful event such as the Anniversary Parade  just a year ago, despite his age, he was not weary as he equally Honored us by making it to the Gala Night held at International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja later that evening, his charisma and oratorical prowess were on display, a development that made that event a reference point in the annals of such occasions in Nigerian history.

    “We join the good people of Kano State to mourn the Elder state man that stood for the Unity of our dear Nation even till death; his Nationalistic spirit is cherished by all our members across the Nation.  May the ever merciful and most benevolent God grant his departed soul eternal rest!”

  • ‘Fed Govt can’t fund tertiary institutions’

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has said there is need for more alumni of tertiary institutions to join in funding universities in the country in order to improve the overall standard of the schools.

    The minister who disclosed this while receiving the Alumni Association of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria led by the President, Prof. Ahmed Tijani Mora, that paid him a courtesy visit, said reliance on Federal Government funding alone for tertiary institutions is no longer sustainable as there are too many issues competing for the lean resources of government.

    Bello said Alumni associations have to take a lot of initiatives and drive as is the case in other intentionally renowned universities around the world, to ensure that universities in the country continue to function and play their roles in the society.

    According to the Minister: “We do know that many of the internationally renowned universities in the world basically, are now being run by funds from investments and more importantly also, funds from their Alumni associations. Usually, it is these funds that were used to provide the initial investments that keep the universities running. Any country, especially in the western world that you speak of, you will be able to identify one or two universities where the alumni associations are very strong.”

    In a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Abubakar Sani, the minister stated that the country could benefit from the huge remittances that Nigerians make to Alumni associations of foreign universities, stressing that it would not be out of place if Nigerians also showed concern for the welfare of schools in this country as government is no longer able to fund these schools the way it did in the past due to dwindling resources.

    Bello, however, praised the resourcefulness of the current ABU Alumni Association for the numerous capital intensive projects it has embarked upon to improve the overall welfare of the school, saying this would not have been possible without a strong leadership and highly motivated administrative officials at its secretariat.

    The minister while acknowledging the huge challenge in accomplishing these tasks said the most important thing is not really the amount raised, but the ability to sustain it on a long term basis, no matter how little it is.

    “That sustainability will not be possible if we don’t have an Executive Council (EXCO) that is very strong like your own and probably also, in addition to the exco, having a crop of full time highly paid, highly dedicated staff to run the administration of the secretariat. There is no doubt that the current exco of the Alumni association will be able to build on the great work done by the previous exco as well as the other previous leadership of the Alumni association,” the Minister stressed.

    Bello who stated that the ABU has the advantage of having most of its alumni in various institutions of the Federal Government in the FCT, most notably the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), advised the current exco to reach out to these individuals, including those that are now retired to encourage them to participate in its activities.

    He assured that the FCT Administration will provide the association with all the needed support through the FCT branch, especially on some of the requests it has made to the FCT Minister.

    The President, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association, Prof. Ahmed Tijani Mora, said the ABU is the largest University in Nigeria, West Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and by extension, the Alumni Association is the largest with over 800,000 students having graduated from the university.

    He listed four major projects that the current NEC of the association is carrying out, including an overhead pedestrian bridge at the North Gate, ABU, across the busy Zaria-Sokoto Highway, which would cost N80 million.

    Other projects he said include a laptop computer loan scheme for students, post graduate students’ hostel as well as the intra-city-bus shuttle service for students to begin initially with five number, 33-seater buses.

    Prof. Mora said the members of the Association in the FCT and anywhere in Nigeria and the Diaspora were ready and would be willing to bring their skills, expertise and competences in the services of the FCT to make it great and most beautiful and safe place to live.

     

  • Lottery grips the nation’s capital

    Lottery grips the nation’s capital

    A game of chance is gaining stature in Abuja, attracting celebrities, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Lottery is becoming very popular in Nigeria. It may seem revolutionary but it is not entirely a new thing. It started with pools betting which has been around for a very long time. This revolution is now fueled by several things which include access to media, technology and the internet, which have now brought lottery even to our mobile phones.

    Some companies worth hundreds of millions of Naira have in the process of building their brands embarked on vigorous publicity to attract massive followership. The passion lottery evokes has contributed immensely to the popularity of so many games.

    Not minding the recession, Abuja residents and other people across the country now have fun and play the recently lunched ‘Give and Take’ lottery game in Abuja.

    Since the launch, the lottery jackpot price which was N15 million has now been increased to over N18 million because the last draws have produced no winners.

    Managing Director, of Give ‘N’ Take lottery Limited, Jolly Enabulele, at the launch of the national jackpot game said it is the first of its kind in Nigeria aimed at creating millionaires like never before in the country.

    He said the company is passionate about giving back to the society adding that this would be done by engaging in good causes as part of the Corporate Social Responsibilities.

    He said, “In the National Jackpot game, Lottery players would genuinely win millions and even billions of Naira every week as Give ‘n’ take lottery limited, one of the leading lottery companies in Nigeria rolls out the first National Lottery Jackpot on June 25, 2017 here in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT),

    “We plan to hold draws every Sunday, featuring Nigeria celebrities from across the entertainment industry. It is important to state here that our big jackpot prize which starts from N15 million shall be rolled over if no winner/winners emerge at any draw in addition to a percentage of the total money realized for that week, This simply means that there will be a bigger jackpot prize in our next draw and the rollover shall continue until eventually winner/winners emerge.

    “Segun Arinze and Linda Osifo are hosting the game show every week…We thank God we have been able to achieve a lot successfully and Nigerians will have the privilege of playing a game that is not foreign but our own.”

    He said the company had offices in over 24 states adding that: “We have the web play. People can go to the web to play. This means we are all over Nigeria. Every part of Nigeria will benefit from this noble cause.”

    The Acting Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, (NLRC), Mr. Adamu Sifawa confirmed the authenticity of the lottery and urged Nigerians not to panic.

    Acting Director, Administration and Finance of the commission, Mr. Robert Bolokor also called for the utilisation of lottery funds to revamp the sports sector in the country.

  • Signs of 2019?

    Events in the polity last week were probably the toughest for Acting President Yemi Osinbajo since he became Vice President. The happenings, which occurred in quick sequences, must have presented Osinbajo a test case to prove to those in doubt, or with ulterior motives, that he was fully in charge in his capacity as Acting President of the federal republic.

    What appeared to be the problem started last Tuesday when the Senate resolved to ask the Acting President to immediately implement its resolutions, which included the removal of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

    Failing to comply, the Senate resolved to suspend confirmation of nominees until issues relating to the power of the Senate to confirm executive nominees as contained in the constitution are resolved. The Senate also resolved to ask Osinbajo to withdraw a statement credited to him that the Senate lacked the powers to confirm nominees.

    But Osinbajo through Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, last Thursday insisted that the status quo must remain in the appointment of Magu as EFCC Chairman. Like President Buhari, Osinbajo believed that Magu holds the key to eradicating corruption in Nigeria.

    Osinbajo, at the commissioning of the EFCC zonal office in Kaduna, said: “We have every confidence in Magu to fight corruption to a standstill. He would remain the EFCC chairman as long as I remain the acting President and as well as Muhammadu Buhari remains the President.

    “It is our belief that Magu would continue to remain a nightmare for corrupt people for years to come.

    “Mr Chairman, two weeks ago, I discussed the EFCC and your appointment with President Muhammadu Buhari and he told me he has every confidence in you and every confidence in the commission and the work that you have been doing, and as long as he is president you remain the chairman of the EFCC,” he said.

    But before Osinbajo’s declaration, some Nigerians appeared to be confused with the tunes that came out from the Presidency last week Wednesday.

    In a statement on Wednesday, the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said “Our understanding is that some remarks made by the Acting President some months ago when he was the Vice-President, because the President was around at that time, an opinion he gave is being misconstrued.

    “A senior lawyer in the country offered an opinion, in which he said some categories of public officers, traditionally cleared by the National Assembly, need not go through that process, that those ones can be appointed through presidential fiat; they don’t have to go through screening.

    “But several months ago, in his position as Vice-President, Prof. Osinbajo gave a personal opinion, saying what this lawyer said makes sense.

    “There is no official position by the government of Nigeria, and the Federal Executive Council never sat down to take a decision to say that some categories of officials will not be sent to the National Assembly any longer.

    “The authority of the Senate, under the Constitution to screen and pass nominees, has never been questioned by the government or the Federal Executive Council.

    “From the time the Vice-President gave that opinion till now, more than 20 nominations have been forwarded to the Senate and quite a number of them have been screened, sworn in and are now occupying positions.

    “Therefore, this is not a big issue as some people want to make it. The party, government and the National Assembly will sit at a round table and this matter will be discussed and resolved.” he stated

    Fielding questions from journalists on the rift between the executive and the legislature after the Federal Executive Council meeting, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed simply said that the matter, which came up during FEC, was being addressed.

    At the same press briefing, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami also responded to the question, saying: “The fundamental consideration about the alleged statement is the fact that at no point ever did the Federal Executive Council sit down to arrive at the decision in one way or the other as far as the issue of nomination or otherwise is concerned.

    “So I do not think it constitutes an issue for the Federal Executive Council to make any clarification about because it has never been considered by the FEC. So the Minister of Information will throw more light on the matter.” he said.

    By the time Malami’s remark was interpreted to mean that he disagreed with the Acting President on the matter, he had no option but to issue a press statement to clarify his earlier remarks.

    In the new statement, Malami said “It has come to my notice that a number of media organisations have been distorting and misreporting the proceedings of yesterday’s (July 5, 2017) Federal Executive Council (FEC) press briefing, and suggesting that the Presidency ‘disowned’ the Acting President on a matter relating to a presidential nomination.

    “As the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, I would like to make it categorically clear that: The President – and in this case the Acting President – is the Presidency, and therefore cannot be disowned by the Presidency.

    “All matters relating to Presidential Appointments and Nominations are strictly a matter for the Presidency to handle. They are not for the Federal Executive Council, and are therefore not discussed at FEC level. This was the point I made yesterday at the press briefing, and which was unfortunately distorted by the media.

    “I would like to appeal to the media to take seriously its responsibility to inform the public honestly and accurately, to refrain from distorting or sensationalizing the news, and to seek clarification when in doubt,” he added

    While Osinbajo has given the final Presidency’s position on Magu’s appointment, some Nigerians have wondered why the issue resurfaced last Tuesday.

    Everything became normal in March following President Buhari’s insistence on Magu after he was rejected twice by the Senate.

    The Senate, which then was threatening to stop screening and confirmation of all nominees, soft-pedaled and continued with its assignment. With that, it was thought that the hatchet had been buried, only for the threat to resurface last Tuesday.

    Political watchers are now, however, divided whether the new threat was purely for the good course of the functions of the Senate or corruption fighting back. Others also wondered whether it was part of a grand manoeuvering towards 2019 general election.

    But only time will really tell what the true motives of the latest resolutions are.