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  • Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos, Abia, Anambra top reformed states in 2018

    Five states of the Federation on Wednesday night received awards for been top five reformed states in the year 2018.

    The states in descending order included Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos, Abia, and Anambra.

    They received their awards from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Awards 2019 held at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    Anambra State improved its score from 47 to 53.50 by making it easier to start a business and to register property in the State.  –  Abia State improved its score from 46 to 53.90 by making it easier to start a business and to register property in the State.  –  Lagos State improved its score from 48 to 54.90 by making it easier to start a business, register property and obtain construction permits in the State.  –  Enugu State improved its score from 47 to 56.82 by making it easier to start a business, register property as well as enforce contracts in the State.   –  Kaduna State improved its score from 55 to 65.97 by making it easier to start a business.

    Other companies and individuals that got awards at the ceremony included Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Corporate Affairs Commission, National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion.

    Others are the Senate and the House of Representatives, Court of Appeal, Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, National Assembly Environment Round Table, DFiD, World Bank, Oando Energy Resources, First Bank of Nigeria,

    Omotayo Omoniyi, who returned large sum of money found to the authorities also received award at the ceremony.

    Other awardees are FIRS, Nigeria Custom Service, Nigeria Port’s Authority, Nigeria Shippers Council, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Judiciary.

    Banwo and Ighodalo, KPMG Nigeria, Procter and Gamble Nigeria, Deloitte Nigeria and Aluko and Oyebode also got awards at the ceremony.

    Osinbajo said “It really is a pleasure to be here this evening to celebrate the phenomenal successes of the PEBEC reforms but more importantly to recognize specially some of those who made it all possible. Our incredibly selfless and committed private sector partners and the sterling performance of many in the public sector.I n the past three years, Nigeria has implemented more than 140 reforms to make doing business in Nigeria easier.

    “Some of the  successful reforms include the ability to: Reserve a business name within 4-hours, Complete the registration of a company within 24 hours online, Apply for and receive approval of a visa-on-arrival electronically within 48hrs, File and pay taxes online; and, Access specialised small claims commercial courts in Lagos and Kano, The World Bank also reported in 2018 that 32 states of Nigeria improved their Ease of doing business environment led by Kaduna, Enugu, Abia, Lagos and Anambra

    “In 2019, PEBEC set a goal to move Nigeria into the top-100 on the 2020 World Bank Doing Business Index (DBI). To achieve this, we will be pursuing the continued implementation reforms across all indicators, including

    “implementation of legislative reforms, specifically the  passage of the new Companies and Allied Matters Act  and the  Omnibus Bills, the expansion of the regulatory reform program started with NAFDAC and NAICOM to include other regulators, the establishment of a National Trading Platform for ports; and the concession of our major international airports.”

    Stressing that PEBEC has now commenced the fourth 60-day National Action Plan (NAP 4.0) on Ease of Doing Business, he said, NAP 4.0 is running from the 1st of March to the 29th of April, 2019.

    Read also: No controversy over status of Nigeria SEZ Investment Company – Presidency

    “It aims to deepen the reforms delivered over the past 3 years and drive institutionalization.

    “We have highlighted key action items in all of the focus areas to ensure they do not unravel, and to ensure we drive sustainability

    “Some of the targets achieved in the last NAP 3.0 include driving registration for utilization of the National Collateral Registry to facilitate access to credit for SMEs; Clearance of all pending NAFDAC registration applications to improve efficiency; and Creation of a strengthened single joint cargo examination interface in all airports & seaports for import and export to reduce the time spent at the ports.”

    He added “NAP 4.0 will focus on initiatives such as enforcing compliance with SLAs across all indicators/focus areas, driving the passage of the CAM Bill 2018 for improved effectiveness of company law in Nigeria, enhancing efficiency in the small claims court, and enhancing the application and approval system for visas on arrival, to mention a few.”

    The Council, he said, will continue to work extensively with all MDAs, the National Assembly and other key stakeholders.

    He said “All of us who have been involved in this incredible journey will agree that it has been both exciting and fulfilling even if admittedly sometimes frustrating. But that is the way of progress. I congratulate you all for the great successes and thank you all for keeping faith with our joint vision. In particular we must commend our private sector partners who have contributed immensely to the technical output of the EBES through the secondment of professional staff to the secretariat. Let me specially mention the KPMG Professional Services, Deloitte, Procter and Gamble, Banwo&Ighodalo, Aluko and Oyebode.

    “The NBA-SBL was also particularly instrumental in the drafting of the omnibus bill. About 40 law firms worked pro-bono towards this effort. Our nation is truly grateful to you.

    “We must also commend the Hon. Minister of Industry Trade and Investment Dr OkeyEnelamah for his focused and forthright leadership, and the incomparable and tireless Senior Special Assistant to the President on Industry Trade and Investment Dr JumokeOduwole and her team.

    “To the rest of us I think we have demonstrated that the work of creating a world-class environment for commerce will be done by like minds in the Nigerian private and public sectors, and these are the  exceptional ladies and gentleman such as yourselves who form the PEBEC family, well-done everyone God bless you.” he stated.

  • Abia CP expresses commitment to crime reduction

    Mr.  Ene Okon, the Commissioner of Police in Abia, has expressed his commitment to law enforcement and crime reduction in the state.

    Okon, who was away to Ebonyi during the general elections, made this known while briefing newsmen in Umuahia upon his return to Abia on Tuesday.

    He said that as the commissioner of police in the state, his mandate revolved squarely around law enforcement and fight against crime and criminality “without fear or favour.”

    READ ALSO: Abia gets new CP ahead of Saturday’s polls

    He said: “I am going to face the task of policing the state squarely because I have no other thing to do than ensuring adequate security in the state.

    “This briefing has afforded me the opportunity to sound it loud and clear to criminals that I am not here to fraternise with them but fight them.

    “If they are sensible and clever enough they can find another place to go because Abia will not contain all of us,” Okon said.

    The police boss said that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure thorough investigation of every criminal case in the command in order that justice would prevail.

  • You have no moral right to claim Omo-Agege’s seat, ex-Milad tells Emerhor

    A former military administrator of Abia State, and National Caucus Member of the All Progressives Congress, AVM Frank Ajobena (rtd) has taken a swipe at Olorogun O’tega Emerhor over his claim that he is now the Senator-elect for Delta central as a result of the ruling of the Federal High Court in Asaba, saying Emerhor has no moral right to claim the electoral victory of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who emerged winner of the March 23 Delta Central senatorial election.

    AVM Ajobena also accused Emerhor of pretending to be in support of a candidate from Delta North senatorial district of the state as the APC governorship candidate during the build-up to the 2019 gubernatorial election.

    Following a ruling by a Federal High Court, Asaba that Chief Cyril Ogodo led-Exco was the legitimate executive of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State, Emerhor had described himself as the “senate-elect” for the district, but Ajobena said that Emerhor has no moral right to make that claim.

    The former governor said Emerhor worked against Omo-Agege’s emergence for the Senate and didn’t contribute anything but God helped the party, and Omo-Agege was popular enough to attract votes that earned him victory, the margin would have been wider if he had the support of O’tega. So, on what moral grounds would Emerhor be spoiling to take the trophy from that contest?”

    Speaking on the status of State Executive of Delta APC, AVM Ajobena said “There are two sides to the court judgement. One side of the story is on the legitimacy of the Ogodo executive. I believe there was justice in that direction. The other side of the story is on whether Emerhor should claim that seat, I don’t think he should take that seat if there is any way the law could interpret it.

    Ajobena said Emerhor created confusion among that group (Delta North) to the extent that they could not even come up with a candidate.

    “He didn’t want any of them to emerge. Yet, the Ogodo-led executive was to be the platform to present a Delta North candidate for the party with all the northern candidates including Chief Okotie Osiobe except Chief Great Ogboru being on the Mainstream Delta APC platform which was being championed by Emerhor.

    “But Emerhor made sure he created confusion among these people and ensured that none of them emerges. At the surface, you will think he is supporting a Delta North candidate but in reality, he wasn’t interested in any of them neither was he supporting Ogboru but was working for himself and calculating for 2023.

    “He wants to be governor of Delta State in 2023 and wasn’t supporting any APC governorship aspirant for 2019.

    He saw it that if Ogboru emerges, Ogboru will want to do 8 years, so how will that help his cause in 2023. So, to justify what he is doing, he claims to support a northern candidate, but in same way, what is the guarantee that if a northern candidate emerges, he will serve for a one term hence he wasn’t comfortable with that.“

  • 9th Assembly: Onyejeocha declares for Speaker

    Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC-Abia) Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, on Monday declared her intention to contest the post of Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

    Onyejeocha, who is the only female so far in the contest made the declaration at a media briefing in Abuja.

    She said that she is in the race to improve lawmaking and to help advance the party’s developmental policies.

    According to her, legislative oversight will be given priority attention to ensure effective policy and budget implementation.

    READ ALSO: Agitations for Senate President, Speaker hot up

    The parliamentarian said that if elected speaker, she would improve the communications among members of the house and the general public.

    Onyejeocha said that she would adopt a legislative agenda with clear framework for compliance and monitoring.

    The rep said that she would ensure the house committees and processes would be strengthened for the over growth of democracy.

    Onyejeocha who represents Isiukwuato/ Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia would be returning to the house for the fourth time in the 9th Assembly.

    NAN

  • CSOs, Human Rights activists push for female Speaker from S’East

    Coalition of South East Civil Society and Human Rights Organizations are pushing for a female Speaker of the House of Representatives for 9th National Assembly.

    To this regard, the coalition endorsed Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha for the job.

    Onyejeocha is coming back to the House for a record four times, representing the Isuikwuato/Umnneochi Federal Constituency of Abia state.

    Addressing reporters Wednesday in Enugu, leaders of the coalition, Dr. Jasper Uche and Ibuchukwu Ezike said since she contested on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), it would not only be proper that the position be zoned to the South East but also to the womenfolk.

    Onyejeocha whose previous tenures were on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had served in several House Committees which include Women in Parliament, Appropriation, Works, INEC, Police Affairs and Aviation.

    According to the coalition, she has 3 Bills to her credit. These include the Local Government Autonomy Bill passed and merged with the Constitutional Amendment Bill, Anti torture Bill and Gunshot victims Compulsory Treatment Bill, both also passed and assented.

    The coalition argued that the Federal character principle should be taken into consideration and that the South East has not produced the Speaker since 1999.

    The coalition also pointed to the fact that Abia state gave the needed 25 % votes to President Buhari as well as the need to change the perception of the President in the South East.

    It also averred that Onyejeocha had never been indicted or involved in any banana peel scandals.

    “Right Honourable Nkeiruka Onjeocha is most qualified from the South East to take the Speakership position in the 9th Assembly,” they i

  • Electoral offenders held in Rivers, Abia

    The Army yesterday said it arrested about 20 persons in Rivers, Imo and Abia States for electoral offences.

    The spokesman, Col. Sagir Musa, said the Army worked with other security agencies to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the elections.

    A statement in Abuja said despite the risk to the lives of soldiers, especially in Rivers, they prevented thugs, kidnappers and ballot box snatchers from having a field day during elections.

    He said: “During the elections, the Army supported the police to ensure a secure and peaceful conduct. Despite pockets of crisis witnessed in few states, the election was secure and peaceful.

    “To achieve this, the Army with other security agencies struggled to checkmate criminals, kidnappers, political thugs, ballot box snatchers from perpetuating their acts, in some instances at the detriment of soldiers’ lives, as witnessed in Abonema and Andoni in Rivers State.

    “Around Everyday supermarket in Owerri, Imo State, four impostors in military uniform (Woodland camouflage) – Chinedu Odogwu, Longinus Okelue, Oguzie Princewell and Kelvin Samalia – were arrested while escorting a prominent female politician in a party vehicle.

    “This development further reaffirmed the Army’s earlier warning against the activities of unscrupulous individuals who sponsor thugs to deepen and further their selfish political objectives.

    “34 Brigade troops on Operation Safe Conduct deployed around Osisioma junction, Abia State, also arrested Mr. Allwell Enwereji and five others conveying already thumb printed ballot papers in his vehicle. Enwereji claimed the ballot papers were specimens for campaign. Investigation is on to ascertain the culpability of the suspects.

    “Similarly, troops on patrol around power plant substation Odukpani LGA, in Cross River State rescued Mr. Authur Nkama, who was kidnapped at Ikot Ansa, in Calabar Municipal Area Council, Cross River State.

    “Troops also intercepted and arrested suspected ballot box snatchers at Air force junction near Ngor Okpala council in Imo State on March 9. On sighting the troops, the suspects abandoned their vehicle and ran into the bush. Items recovered included one Sienna bus, a pump action gun with 11 live cartridge, voters’ cards and assorted ATM cards.

    “Troops also rescued officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) abducted at Ohafia Technical College in Anna Village, Abia State, on March 9. Four of the suspects have been arrested and efforts are on to apprehend others. The suspects have been handed over to the police for further action.

    “Five political thugs were nabbed at Lokpanta, on March 9 while on their way to disrupt election in Lekwesi community, Abia State. Items recovered from them include camouflage trousers, daggers and assorted charms.”

  • PDP decries killings, violence, militarisation of elections

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the heavy militarisation, violence and killing of innocent Nigerians during Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly elections across many states of the federation.

    A statement on Saturday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan blamed the development on what the opposition party described as the desperation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the elections.

    “The world watched with utter horror as soldiers under the command of the Buhari Presidency, hound, arrest, shoot, terrorise opposition figures and provide cover for APC thugs to unleash violence, kill opposition members, cart away electoral materials and disrupt polls in PDP strongholds, all in the bid to forcefully foist the APC on Nigerians,” the statement said.

    The party further bemoaned the resort to bloodletting, violence and alleged official high handedness by the APC in the electoral process, which it said, has further confirmed this administration has no regard for the lives of Nigerians and lawful processes, but only interested in seizing power by all means.

    The PDP noted that never in the history of the nation had a general election recorded such bloodletting, violence and manipulations as triggered in the 2019 elections.

    Lamenting further, the PDP said: “In Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, among others, soldiers brazenly aided APC thugs to unbridle violence, hijack electoral processes and write fictitious results for APC candidates.

    “In Rivers state, soldiers invaded INEC office in Bori, beat up and chased away PDP agents and assisted the APC in ballot stuffing and writing of results.

    “The scenario was the same in Akwa-Ibom where security agents provided cover for APC thugs in their bid to hijack the electoral process.

    “In Imo state, APC thugs, accompanied by security agents disrupted polls in PDP strongholds and reportedly killed a PDP agents in Umudo/Umuwala area of Owerri.

    “In Ebonyi state, APC thugs aided by security agents, burnt down INEC facility in the state, seeing that their party did not have any foothold in the state.

    “In Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Olamaboro, Ijumu and several other local governments in Kogi state, APC thugs, assisted by soldiers invaded polling units and carted away ballot materials, a development which sparked off restiveness in some areas and resulted in mass destruction of property in the area”.

    The party regretted that in many other states, the APC, in connivance with INEC, orchestrated the deliberate diversion of electoral materials meant for certain areas to unknown destinations, resulting in the frustration of electoral processes in the affected areas.

    “We know that the APC plot to derail our hard- earned democracy and impose a fascist regime on our nation but we are resolute in standing with Nigerians and all lovers of democracy to ensure that nobody, no matter how vicious, is allowed to vanquish our democracy.

    “In all, our party stands with Nigerians in their resilience at this defining moment in our political history.

    “The PDP commends the courage of Nigerians in standing firm in defence of democracy, despite the machinations of the APC,” the party added.

  • No going back on use of card reader, says Abia REC

    Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Joseph Iloh has stated that the commission was prepared to ensure that there was credible election in the state on Saturday.

    This is as he warned that any community that refused using the card reader may not have their votes counted.

    Iloh who spoke to reporters at the INEC headquarters on Thursday said that the commission has enough technical manpower to address any technical challenges that may arise from the card reader.

    According to Iloh, “Our card readers are highly functional. The battery lifespan has been improved that they can last for 48hrs. When politicians want to circumvent issues, they create problem. But this time around they know that it won’t be easy for them. Any community that refuses the use of card reader shall have a score of zero and their votes may not count.

     “Please, I am appealing to all citizens, stakeholders of Abia State to please make use of the card reader. It is a very cardinal instrument. We classified it as a sensitive instrument. For in a special case where one of the card readers starts malfunctioning, we have reserves in all the RAC and Local Government Areas in this state. We have reserves.

     “The RAC techs are there. If a card reader is mal-functional in a particular unit, the polling officer should call the RAC tech or the supervisory officer there. The senior supervisory officer should as a matter of fact call the RAC tech that will come and rectify them. We have provided them with vehicles to enable them move around to rectify issues. That the card reader failed to identify one person doesn’t render it invalid. If it becomes malfunction and the technical staff couldn’t effect the repairs, they will replace the card reader.

     “For Aba North and Aba South Federal Constituency, there will be a rerun and there will be a rerun in Abia South Senatorial district. We have scheduled them to go on at the same time with the elections for the state house of assembly and Governorship. We are doing this to ensure that we don’t have influences from adjoining local governments. Everybody should be in his or her wards to vote and then do the things that are necessary to keep our democracy moving.

    “There was a meeting on Wednesday between the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and Inter-party Advisory Council. We met and sorted out identified areas that we could be classified as flash points and security agencies will focus more in such areas. We are calling on you; journalists to please let us know where you observe things going wrong.

    “However, I am promising that this time around everything is going to be set according to specification.”

    On the case of over voting as witnessed in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly election, Iloh said “where the card reader and the manual votes failed to correspond, it is not going to be a problem. The consequences are there. So every stakeholder should work to ensure that the card reader and the manual voting correspond. It doesn’t see where a community will reject the use of card reader and conduct manual voting.

     “The result for Saturday election will be announced by Saturday night or by Sunday morning by the special grace of God. It is not going to be delayed. We have perfected our arrangement to make that this things run parallel. The structure for the collation this Saturday’s results are very clear to us and may not be known to you people as of now.”

    Iloh stated five hundred and seventy four candidates from 43 political parties would feature in March 9, Governorship and House of Assembly elections in Abia State.

    He added that 39 of the candidates are for governorship election while 535 candidates are for the House of Assembly poll.

  • 54,000 women benefit from World Bank-backed Project in Edo

    Efforts to bridge gender gap in Edo State has received a boost as 54,000 women from the three senatorial districts are set to benefit from the pilot phase of the Nigeria for Women Project, Governor Godwin Obaseki has said.

    Obaseki who inaugurated the State Steering Committee and State Technical Committee of the Nigeria for Women Projects at Government House in Benin City, said the project is supported by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government and designed to empower women across Edo, Ogun, Niger, Taraba, Abia and Kebbi states.

    Expatiating on the benefits which the programme holds for women, the governor maintained that his administration was committed to bridging the economic and social gaps that exist between men and women in the state.

    “We are addressing all forms of gender gaps which have encouraged extreme poverty in the state.

    “So much is being done to ensure that women and girls are empowered with relevant skills to enable them to become self-reliant and contribute more to the economy,” he said.

    According to Obaseki, “when women are empowered, it has a multiplier effect on the nation’s economy and poverty reduction.”

    He stressed the importance of a robust data base for the committees’ work and charged members to come up with modalities on how the projects will be executed.

    Read Also: Edo Poly eyes grant for research

    “We need to come up with specific action plans and monitoring mechanism so we can measure outcomes,” he urged, and tasked the various Ward Development Committees to be part of the screening of the project beneficiaries, to allow for fair representation, he said.

    In her votes of thanks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Magdalene Ohenhen, said the ministry was passionate about the project and would ensure it succeeds.

    Ohenhen commended the governor’s efforts at mainstreaming women in governance and particularly for ensuring that Edo State is part of the project.

    She assured that the committees would act on the terms of reference given by the governor.

  • Kalu: We’ve no issues with Abia North result, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has said that the commission has no issues with the result of Saturday’s National Assembly polls in Abia North Senatorial District.

    Mr Bamidele Oyetunji, the Public Relations Officer of the commission in Umuahia, the Abia capital, said this in an interview with newsmen on Friday.

    Bamidele said that the commission only had problem with the results of the National Assembly polls in Abia South Senatorial District, which were still awaiting declaration.

    The clarification was coming on the heels of the agitation by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the declaration of Chief Orji Kalu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the election in Abia north.

    Kalu, who polled 31,201 votes was declared the winner ahead of the two other frontline contenders, including Ohuabunwa and Chief David Onuoha, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, who scored 20,801 votes and 11,410 votes, respectively.

    Read Also: Injured Lagos INEC official undergoes surgery

    Ohuabunwa had alleged in a statement issued in Umuahia that the Returning Officer for the election, Dr. Charles Anumudu, did not declare anybody winner of the poll.

    He claimed that the number of canceled votes, totalling 76,889, was higher than the margin of lead, put at 10,402 votes.

    He said that the difference between the margin of victory and canceled votes was 66,487.

    He therefore urged INEC to order for a rerun in the areas, where the election was cancelled.

    But according to Oyetunji, “the commission has no problem with the result of the polls in Abia north.”

    Also, the Head, Voter Education and Publicity Unit of the commission, Mr Achibie Chigozie, said that Ohuabunwa knew where to direct his grievances.