Category: SouthEast

Sports consultant, King Mubaraq is set to collaborate with KMA to empower thousands of youth by providing them with a stable source of income

 Poverty is a familiar scourge to most Nigerian youth: Annually, millions of Nigerian youth perish in the Sahara desert and drown in the Atlantic ocean in a bid to cross to Europe.

 Many of those who remain in the country imagine that crime is their only option. In order to prevent our society from self-destructing, we need more noble options for the Nigerian youth to make a honest living.

 There is one man with one vision who is tirelessly working behind the scenes to meet a real need in the Nigerian society. His name is Mubaraq Popoola of KM analysis, also known as King Mubaraq.  KM Analysis is a well acclaimed sports consultancy organisation which provides insightful and accurate analysis of sporting events for its audience.

 The brand has an impressive online following and thousands of satisfied clients who attest to their brilliant services. KM analysis also has a SCUML verification from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 In addition to the sport analysis which they render, they also provide timely sport news and recreational activities for their audience.

 Resilience and doggedness are two essential tools for facing the slippery business terrain in Nigeria and fortunately, King Mubaraq, a sport analyst, public figure and serial entrepreneur, has these qualities in abundance.

With a proven track record, he has built KM analysis from an infant brand to a multi million naira brand and the growth is skyrocketing.

 A Significant part of this growth is the upcoming project to empower thousands of Nigerian youth to find their way out of choking poverty and provide a steady source of income for them.

The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Navy yesterday confirmed the release of the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MT HEROIC IDUN and its 26 foreign crew after nine months of incarceration.

The supertanker from Equatorial Guinea, which has the capacity to load up to three million barrels of crude oil per time, was arrested around the restricted Nigerian maritime areas around August last year.

She was charged for allegedly being involved in crude oil theft, violation of maritime laws and was convicted by a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The crew members were 16 Indians, eight Sri Lankans, a Polish and a Filipino.

Sixteen of the members were arraigned before the court last November and they pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Upon conviction, the crew and vessel entered a plea bargain with the government accepting to withdraw further prosecution and investigation of the vessel, her owners, charterers and the crew in line with Section 270 (5) (a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Briefing journalists onboard the vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, weekend, the Commanding Officer, Navy Forward Operating Base, Bonny, Captain Mohammed Adamu, explained that the federal government  had accepted to free the ship and its crew members after it pleaded guilty and voluntarily accepted to enter into a plea bargain agreement as well as made restitution to the government.

“It may be recalled that the public and indeed the maritime world was notified of the grave infractions of Motor Tanker HEROIC IDUN and her prosecution by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on January 10.

“It was equally disclosed that the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), MT HEROIC IDUN and her 26 foreign crew pleaded guilty and elected voluntarily to enter into a plea bargain agreement with the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as make restitution to the Federal Government.

“Accordingly, after the conviction of MT HEROIC IDUN and sentencing by the Court, in line with the agreed terms, the MT HEROIC IDUN and its owners were to pay conviction fines and restitution to the FGN and make an apology to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in print and electronic media as well as Llyod’s List.

“Accordingly, the owners of the vessel apologised to the FGN on the LLOYDS List on 12th May 2023 and the same apology was published in the Punch Newspaper(Page 27) of 18 May 2023.

“The vessel regretted the false pirate attack alarm she raised on August 7, 2023, which was in clear defiance of the state being that she disobeyed the orders of Nigerian Navy Ship GONGOLA after an attempt to load crude oil without appropriate approvals from NNPCL and the necessary security clearance,” he explained.

Returning the crew’s travel documents through the ship’s Captain, Tanuj Mehta, Adamu charged them to be of good conduct and respect maritime laws at all times.

He reiterated the commitment of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo towards continued partnership with other Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies, Navies of the Gulf of Guinea states and strategic partners to ensure Nigeria gets maximum benefit from its natural resources in her vast maritime area.

He threatened to ensure prosecution of anyone whose operation infringed on the provisions of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences (SPOMO) Act and all maritime laws and conventions acceded to by the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 Reacting to the development, HEROIC IDUN’s captain acknowledged that they were treated humanely by the Nigerian government and the Navy during their time in custody.

 His words: “We were treated extremely professionally by the Nigerian Navy and we are thankful to the Nigerian government handling us well.

 “Yes, we are aware of the arrangement between the Navy and the owners and plea bargain agreement and we are more than happy to go back home to our families,” he said.

Four persons including two siblings have been killed in resumed violence at Rundele community, Emohua Local Government area of Rivers State.

They were killed on Monday night with two of the victims said to have been beheaded by the assailants and their heads displayed at the “station” area in community.

The siblings were identified simply as Aboy and Onyema.

The deceased were said to be members of the community’s local vigilant group.

Their killers were said to have struck at the wee hours of Monday, while the victims were asleep.

A community source who pleaded anonymity, said one of the victims was an indigene of a neighbouring community and member of his community’s security group.

He said: “Some members of Dey-Gbam cult group who escaped from the community invaded the community at midnight killed three members of Rundele vigilant group and one other boy working with the vigilant group.

“The members of the vigilant group killed were beheaded”, he said.

The state police command said the killings were cult related.

The Methodist Bishop of Awka Diocese, Anambra State, Rt. Rev. Moses Nwakanma, has hailed the efforts of Governor Chukwuma Soludo towards fight against banditry, insecurity, kidnapping and cultism.

He also lauded the governor for being firm in declaring Anambra a Christian state, saying there was no going back on that position.

Nwakanma made the commendation in Awka while delivering his address during the church maiden annual Diocesan Synod with the theme: ‘Contending for the Faith’.

He, however, advised the governor to have a listening ear, to ensure he was properly guided towards making right decisions. 

The cleric said: “I commend Governor Soludo and his deputy, Onyekachi Ibezim, for being firm in declaring that Anambra is a Christian state and that there’s no going back on that. 

“Your intense fight against all forms of banditry, insecurity, kidnapping and cultism is also commendable.

“I advise the governor that he should add to all his virtues, a good consistent listening ear. May God grant him good counsellors, keep and preserve him to fulfil God’s mandate for the state.

“Having been around the state for some time now, some of the complaints and agitations notwithstanding, I want to say that government is beginning on a good note and his one year in office is not a wasted one.”

On the state of the nation, the bishop condemned what he termed selective fight against corruption by the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

He lamented that Nigeria was viewed as an object of caricature in the comity of serious countries, in view of its skewed nature, describing selective corruption fight as another dangerous form of corruption.

Said he: “Permit me to ask, why has the office of the chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), right from inception, rotated around a particular tribe and religion?

“I don’t support corruption of any type, but I have problem with the pattern of the fight against it. What happened to others from the ruling party and their religion?”

The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has partnered Rural Africa Water Development Project (RAWDP) and Initiative for Disaster Risk Reduction and Urban Resilience (IDRRUR), to increase water security and resilience for 2.5million residents in Imo State, through its ‘Resilient Watershed for All’ initiative.

The initiative will support the state Water Corporation Board and the social and economic development of 25 communities in Imo State, all of which depend on Otamiri River as a critical water source.

The community-based interventions focus on watershed governance, sanitising and protecting watershed sources through the conservation of forest and woodland ecosystems.

It attempts to provide long-term access to clean water and lower the prevalence of water-borne illnesses.

The project addresses several important challenges faced by these communities such as inadequate access to clean drinking water, caused by the degradation of the significant Otamiri watershed; low awareness levels of the importance of, and capacity for, watershed management; insufficient capacity of the communities to sustainably manage the watershed; and loss of biodiversity and forest cover caused by high levels of deforestation.

Speaking about the project’s significance, the President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, Saadia Madsbjerg, said: “We are dedicated to enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities by promoting sustainable access to safe water. We take pride in collaborating with strategic partners and stakeholders to amplify our impact and efficacy.

“Over a 24-month period, this project is set to reach 2.5 million people across the three urban local governments of Owerri North, Owerri West and Owerri Municipal in Imo State. This intervention will restore and replenish over 15,000m3 of riparian landscape, using nature-based solution, especially riparian buffers on the riverbank.”

To sustain this, he said the initiative would mainstream asset management into the management of the water facilities, “to guarantee longevity and sustainability of this impact investment. “The project will also accelerate community impact by prioritising sustainability and ensuring that key inputs to unlock sustainability gains are optimised.”

On the project aspirations, Executive Director, Rural Africa Water Development Initiative,

Ogechi Ezeji, noted: “The Resilient Watershed for all project holds great promise, not only for the watersheds, but also for the countless communities and individuals who depend on them.

“Through innovative strategies and collaborative efforts, we aim to enhance the resilience of our watersheds, ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

“By adopting nature-based solution, implementing robust water management practices and fostering community engagement, we can safeguard our precious water resources in the target communities.” 

The foundation continues to improve access to safe water, facilitating sanitation and reliable protection of natural water resources in Nigeria through meaningful partnership with the government, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and local communities.

Thanking the organisers of the initiative, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Dame Ann-Dozie, said the global water crisis was accelerating and called for collaboration and synergy among governments, corporations, utilities, CSOs and NGOs “towards solving the water security challenges of today as well as planning for the uncertainty of tomorrow, which requires urgent action.”

The foundation’s mission is to make a difference in communities around the world where Coca-Cola Company operates “and where our employees live and work.”

Since its inception in 1984, the foundation has awarded grants of over $1.5 billion in service of its mandate to strengthen communities across the world.”

The member representing Delta State on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Olorogun Bernard Okumagba, has said the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration would tackle the economic woes bedevilling the country.

He made this known in a congratulatory message to President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima on their inauguration as the 16th president and vice-president. 

Wishing them success in piloting the affairs of the country “towards stability, true democratic governance and economic development,” the NDDC member hailed the president for his firm and unequivocal commitment to “progressive good governance in furtherance of the Nigerian ideal”, as captured in his five governance principles.

Read Also : NDDC Board, MD fight dirty at Senate over alleged corruption

“The principles include governing according to the constitution and the rule of law; to defend the nation from terror and all forms of criminality that threaten the peace and stability of our country; and to remodel our economy to bring about growth and development through job creation, food security and an end of extreme poverty,” Okumagba said.

According to him, “I look forward to your tenure marked by peace and prosperity of our country through an inclusive national reconciliation process; remarkable focus on confronting insecurity through a reform of the sector, growing the economy and tackling multi-dimensional poverty, which will boost Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), thereby creating a robust middle class that will drive our country’s economic rebound under your watch.”

He lauded the President’s vow to address the nation’s economic problems and his directive to the relevant authorities to make monetary policy more business-friendly and work towards a unified exchange rate.

The former commissioner reaffirmed the President’s reputation as a “bridge builder, a true progressive, an astute believer in true federalism, who has over the years sacrificed to ensure the sustenance of democracy in our country,” noting: “He will bring these remarkable skills to bear in renewing the hopes of Nigerians for a more prosperous nation.”

He said Tinubu’s transformation of Lagos State as a governor between 1999 and 2007 and the “sustenance of a succession pipeline, have made Lagos the state of choice to live in, work and play.”

A former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, has advised Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno not to allow cultists run his administration.

Speaking to reporters at his country home in Eket yesterday, Essien, also an ex-federal lawmaker, said cultists were the ones running political affairs in the state.

He advised the new governor to tackle cultism, “without which he will  not make appreciable progress.”

“We have to reduce indiscipline in the state. The operation of cultists has been very embarrassing to the state. 

Read Also : A’Ibom 2023: Umo Eno remains PDP candidate, as party files appeal

“It has gone to a level that you must belong to a cult before you can become somebody, to the extent that cultists are now the ones that appoint people into positions. This should no longer be tolerated.

“Cultism has to be reduced, otherwise whatever we do will not be effective,” Essien said. 

He hoped with the background of the governor, cultists would not be able to get on well with him

He called on the governor to sustain peace and consolidate on the achievements of the former administration, by completing ongoing projects.

Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) says it has developed a scheme to address youth restiveness in the Niger Delta.

The Executive Director (Projects), Mr. Charles Ogunmola, in a chat in Port Harcourt, said the hope to restore peace to the oil-rich region was in ‘Holistic Opportunities Projects and Engagement’ (aka Project- HOPE).

Project HOPE was reportedly designed to create a comprehensive potential resources database of the youth population of the Niger Delta, focusing on their needs, qualifications, skills, passion, interests and employment status.

It is meant to empower youths with legitimate livelihood, in line with their educational directions, qualifications, skills, among others, with a view to giving them the opportunity to attain the desired economic freedom.

The development is coming after years of unplanned and mismanaged project execution in the region.

Ogunmola said the NDCC board came prepared with new ideas to focus on youths, initiate and execute the right programmes, and deliver people-oriented projects.

He said Project- HOPE comprised human capital development and human capital determination. 

He said the project is expected to create at least 1,000 jobs in each of the nine states of the region when it comes on full stream.

The executive director said the jobs would come through securing of sustainable international and local partnership for the establishment of multi-agro processor industries, internship development, training opportunities, chamber of commerce and overall youth engagement statistics, among others.

Project-HOPE Resource Person Mr. Blessing Fubara said: “The time has come for a serious development model to kick off in the Niger Delta.

“The Samuel Ogbuku and Charles Ogunmola-led board of the NDDC has brought HOPE to Niger Delta youths, so it’s time for serious business. 

“Project-HOPE is designed to deploy the first Niger Delta Youth Potential Resources Database System, which focuses on applicants’ qualifications, skills, interests, status and passion identification.”

He gave insight into areas of job generation potential in each of the nine states: “In Abia State, Project-HOPE will set up a textile village and a commercial vegetable farm/ a processor industry on farm, while a poultry and egg hatchery and a processor on farm will be set up in Akwa Ibom State. 

“In Bayelsa and Cross Rivers states, the project will see to the development and establishment of plantain/banana plantation and snail farm for export, as well as a processor industry on farm and rice plantation and a processor mill on farm.

“An automobile village and aqua culture and processor on farm will be set up in Delta State, while Edo State will host a cassava plantation and a processor industry on farm, as well as a furniture village. 

“Ondo State will enjoy a livestock and diary farm plus a processor industry on farm, while Imo State will accommodate a sugar cane plantation and a processor industry on farm, and Rivers State will host the Tech community, onshore and offshore fish farming plus a processor industry on farm.  

“Project HOPE has also created other areas of youth engagement such as ‘Niger Delta MAP (Music and Arts Project)’, to encourage the creative industry, and ‘simple money (no collateral and no interest money), among others.”