The Nation Newspaper

Tag: David B. Lawal

  • One die as robbers besiege Ekiti highway

    Barely 12 hours after armed robbers struck along Aramoko-Igede Highway in Ekiti State leading to the death of one person, another robbery has been reported on the road.

    The second robbery which occurred late on Wednesday happened at a spot not far from the place where an 18-seater bus was attacked leaving the driver, Toyin Kajiko, dead.

    The two robbery incidences have struck fear in the minds of residents, motorists and commuters plying communities along Ado-Aramoko-Ilesa Highway.

    The state police command has arrested one person in connection with the Wednesday morning robbery which claimed Kajiko’s life.

    This was disclosed to journalists on Thursday by the Police Spokesman, Alberto Adeyemi, saying a man “who claimed to be a hunter” is now cooling his heels in detention and is telling his interrogators all he knows about the incident.

    Adeyemi recounted how the Police arrested the suspect: “We have arrested a man in connection with the robbery. Our men arrested him around 4:00 a.m this morning.

    “The suspect claimed that he is a hunter but we wonder what manner of animals he wanted to kill at that time of the day, even baring in mind that robbery took place there recently.”

    According to him, the command has launched investigations into the unending spate of robberies along Aramoko area recently.

    He urged members of the public to assist the police with information which could lead to the arrest of suspects expressing optimism that they will soon be nabbed.

  • Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Aregbesola advocates reward for war veterans

    Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Aregbesola advocates reward for war veterans

    Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday said the Nigerian society must device means to reward and support war veterans that has kept the country together always and not annually.

    The Governor while launching the Emblem to commemorate year 2016 Armed Forces remembrance Day at the banquet hall of the Government House stated that veterans should not be made to regret serving their fatherland.

    ‎He noted that the least that Nigerians and government can do is to keep the memory of these soldiers alive, supporting those that are active and taking adequate care of the families of the departed.

    Aregbesola averred that the emblem being launched is a reminder of their service and sacrifice hence an obligation on Nigerians to support them.

    He enjoined all to encourage the effort by wearing the emblem with pride during the week of remembrance, saying President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians and visitors to wear the emblem throughout this week.

    The Governor said, “they must be well supported, they took up soldering as a divine call, or else they could have taken to other more lucrative and less tasking vocations. They should not be made to regret serving their fatherland in its defence.

    “Our own society must devise means to specially reward and support our veterans. Their plight should not be an annual event, during the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration only.

    “In other lands, stores give them special discounts; those returning to school have their tuition fees slashed while veterans are given free passes to gated events. In several instances, they enjoy free medical care and other social services”. Aregbesola stressed.

    He lamented the engagement of veterans for sentry duties, saying it is not enough and in many cases amounts to under utilisation of resources.

    The Governor held that there are diverse ways veterans can be engaged productively and maximally as most of them have acquired advanced skills in many vocations that could be deployed into nation building and development.

    “Those of them with combat experience can be re-programmed and put in a special police units needed to engage armed bandits and other violent criminals in our urban centres. They will be glad to resume their defence duties in civilian capacities.

    “It is also important that we review our philosophy of soldering by having a productive citizen’s army. In a peacetime like this, a lot of our teeming but idle youths can be absorbed into the armed forces.

    “Apart from giving them excellent professional training, they should also be given excellent vocational training and deployed for services where needed.”

    Earlier in his address, the Deputy Commandant-general and Chairman Nigerian Legion Osun, Col. Alimi Samotu‎ commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his fatherly assistance towards the plights of the legion since inception of his administration.

    Speaking on the significance and plight of ex-servicemen, he explained that the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Appeal Week is a familiar event set aside by Nigeria to express concern and appreciation for the fallen heroes.

    He said the fallen heroes must be forever remembered because of the supreme sacrifice they made particularly during the Nigerian Civil War.

    “The gallant fighters lost their lives on the battle field without a farewell to their families and other dependants and many who did not die became maimed. They suffered from mental degradation and all other forms of evils of war.

    “While remembering the Fallen Heroes today, we must as a matter of responsibility, remember their dependants, their children, the aged and those Ex-servicemen who had been maimed in the course of defending their fatherland”.

  • Ojudu’s appointment: Buhari enriches democratic credentials – Boroffice

    Ojudu’s appointment: Buhari enriches democratic credentials – Boroffice

    Senator Ajayi Boroffice representing Ondo North Senatorial District has described the appointment of Senator Babafemi Ojudu as Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Presidency by President Muhammadu Buhari, as a consolidation of democracy.

    In a statement on Thursday, the Ondo North Senator described Senator Ojudu is a true democrat, informed strategist and loyal party leader.

    His words: “President Muhammadu Buhari has again enriched his democratic credentials by appointing a true democrat as political adviser to the Presidency.

    “As my colleague in the 7th National Assembly, Senator Ojudu fought hard against anti-democratic ideas and actions.

    “With his vast political finesse, experience and connections, I am confident his appointment will herald tranquility and maintain the political stability of the country.”

    Prof. Boroffice further stated that it will certainly ease the political challenges associated with governance and likewise enable the Federal Government to smoothly deliver the dividends of change agenda to Nigerians.

    “I wish the newly-appointed Special Adviser on Political Matters to the Presidency a smooth and successful tenure in office,” he summed.

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  • Full text of Saraki’s speech during IMF Chief’s visit

    Full text of Saraki’s speech during IMF Chief’s visit

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    ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI TO THE MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THE VISIT OF MADAME CHRISTINE LAGARDE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, (IMF) ON 06 JANUARY, 2016.

    Protocol:

    Your Excellency, on behalf of my Distinguished and Honourable colleagues, I warmly welcome you and your entourage to the National Assembly. Your historic visit today, is a testament of the importance you attach to the role of the legislature in the attainment of economic development policies.

    Your Excellency, your visit in this New Year is very auspicious as we begin to deliberate on the 2016 Appropriation Bill as the world economy rebalances in response to falling commodity prices, in particular oil.

    Your Excellency, this National Assembly congratulates you and appreciates the new IMF recognition of the pivotal role parliamentarians could play in forging sustainable development policies for the attainment of the IMF mandate. To me this is critical to minimizing the erroneous perception on IMF policy prescriptions and conditionalities that have been entrenched over the years especially in Africa.

    This, I believe, is vital to the success of the Fund’s policies and programmes not only now but also in the future. As legislators, we play an important role in making our people understand IMF advice, policy trade-offs, consultations and other engagements, so that ownership, transparency and accountability are brought to bear in economic policy choices.

    Since the year 2000 when the IMF/World Bank Group founded the Parliamentary Network which is an independent, non-governmental organisation, participation in the programmes has been on the rise by legislators from all over the World. We commend the initiative. This outreach to legislators is a win-win situation since one of the objectives is to familiarize the legislators with the rationale behind the IMF advisory.

    We recommend that IMF should further strengthen this network as a veritable tool towards greater convergence of understanding and engagement.

    Here at home, the effect of the low oil prices on government revenue is challenging us to think out of the box in funding the repair of infrastructure, boosting employment, and securing our borders and people. These are no mean tasks and we welcome the support of our friends in this trying period.

    Our economic fundamentals remain robust and the economy is resilient to absorb the current oil price shock. The situation is bringing out the entrepreneurship in us. Our private sector is also rising to the challenge. We assure you we will use this occasion to build a new economy diversified away from the perennial effects of oil price shocks.

    The 8th National Assembly will provide the legislative leadership in ensuring a conducive environment for business to thrive.

    The Nigerian legislature strongly believes that having a collaborative working relationship with the Executive Branch of government brings development closer to the people. Since the advent of the new administration, we have worked closely to stabilize the economy and steady the fiscal environment. This, we have indeed demonstrated by the speedy passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF) and recently in the postponement of our recess in order to receive President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2016 Appropriation Bill. We have also set in motion activities towards reforming our oil and gas industry through legislative initiatives in order to meet international best practices.

    Engaging with our people the issues we strongly made here of FOREX – to do business.
    This is expected – what IMF can do to bridge the gap.
    CBN to advise open – allow Forex
    (ii) No devaluation.
    (iii) Loans to SMEs – bring interest to CBN
    (iv) Technical assistance
    (v) Support policies.

    The 8th Senate Legislative Agenda is of particular interest in Parliamentary Network initiative which brings together parliamentarians and representatives of private sector as well as civil society organisations to discuss how to improve the environment for doing business in the developing world and how countries can increase their ranking in publications such as “Doing Business Report”.

    The purpose of our Legislative Agenda is to enable us focus our lawmaking in areas that will help create jobs, expand our infrastructure base and make our economy work for the benefit and happiness of the majority of our people. Pivotal to the attainment of this overarching objective is the state of the Nigerian business environment. In collaboration with major stakeholders, the 8th Senate is presently signing a memorandum of understanding on “The Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for Better Business Environment Project,” a National Assembly business and investment round-table initiative, with developmental organizations.

    These roundtables will provide opportunity to the private sector to work closely with the legislature in developing friendly-business environment.

    The initiative will commence with a review of institutional, regulatory and legal instruments currently becoming impediments and bottlenecks to doing business in Nigeria.

    Your Excellency, Distinguished and Honourable colleagues, in closing, I want you to take away these messages:

    Legislature/Executive Collaboration on the Economy:

    The National Assembly is committed to working closely with the Executive arm in addressing the challenges facing the Nigerian economy. This is the position on both sides of the aisle;

    Diversifying and Modernizing Our Economy:
    We will support the Executive with legislation where necessary to give confidence to investors.

    Blocking Revenue Leakages:
    We are assiduously working towards blocking identified legal loopholes on revenue leakages and expanding our tax base;

    Conducive Business Environment:
    We are giving priority to legislation aimed at providing a more conducive business environment in general and reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria; and

    Ending Impunity and Reducing Corruption: The National Assembly more than ever before, is working at improving its oversight systems to expose corruption wherever it may be, and providing better legal frameworks to entrench the rule of law and end impunity.

    The global economy is currently well interconnected. With our economic weight in our sub-region, a well functioning Nigerian economy provides a strong pillar to its growth. We therefore, implore the international community and financial institutions to partner with us in supporting our economic development aspirations.

    On this note, Your Excellency, we welcome you once again to our beautiful city and wish you the Season’s Greetings.

    Bienvenue!

    PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

  • Boy in recent ISIS video, my grandson – Nigerian

    Boy in recent ISIS video, my grandson – Nigerian


    Nigerian-born United Kingdom immigrant, Henry (also Sunday) Dare has identified the four year old boy in the latest ISIS video as Isa, his grandson.

    In the video, which showed a group of ISIS militants executing five supposed British spies, Isa was heard calling in Allah’s name, for the execution of the individuals.

    Speaking with the correspondence of a UK based media organization on the development, Sunday Dare, the boy’s grandfather acknowledged the boy saying: “He’s my grandson. I can’t disown him. I know him very well.

    “The Islamic State is just using a small boy. He doesn’t know anything. He’s a small boy. They are just using him as a shield.

    Isa appeared at the end of the 11-minute video that surfaced on Sunday. He was wearing military fatigues and warned in English: “We are going to go kill the kafir (non-believers) over there.”

    The boy's grandfather, Dare is a Christian Nigerian who migrated to the UK with his daughter, Grace “Khadijah” Dare.

    Khadijah was radicalized while at university in London and joined the Islamic State in 2012. She had reportedly praised the beheading of an American journalist, James Foley, and said she wanted to be the first woman to behead a hostage.

    Khadijah Dare, who was christened Grace by her parents, grew up in Lewisham to Nigerian Christian parents, but converted to Islam as a teenager before leaving for Syria.

    In 2014, she posted a photograph on her personal Twitter account of her then four-year-old son Isa, meaning Jesus in Arabic, smiling with an AK-47 rifle.

    All her social media account, or those linked to her, are known for posting pro-ISIS messages, encouraging other young women to make the journey to the war zone and she is one of the first known western women to have travelled to Syria.

    Dare said he recently spoke to his daughter ‘weeks ago, when she called me’. “I keep on ignoring her calls because she has brought shame to our family and to herself,” he said.

    The boy was born in 2010 and has been named by some news outlets. The British press has also nicknamed him ‘Jihadi Junior’.

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  • Call for massive youth employment, false – Minister

    Call for massive youth employment, false – Minister

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has denied an online report calling for the submission of Curriculum Vitae (CV) by unemployed youths to the ministry.

    The minister said this on Monday in Abuja in a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry, Samuel Olowookere.

    According to him, the attention of the minister had been drawn to the online publication requesting unemployed Nigerian youths to submit application for employment in the ministry.

    The statement noted that the online publication requested unemployed Nigerian youths to submit the CVs at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment Headquarters and its Zonal offices nationwide.

    “The general public is hereby advised to disregard this false directive as it did not emanate from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    “In view of the apprehension the above false information has generated, it is pertinent to point out that the present administration is committed to the creation of decent employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed Nigerians.

    “It has perfected plans for massive job creation through well thought out programmes such as Graduate Teachers Conversion Programme and Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), among others.”

    The statement said that the general public would be informed in due course when any of these programmes/scheme would be rolled out.

  • UN launches ‘17 – 17 SDGs’ campaign on Social Media

    UN launches ‘17 – 17 SDGs’ campaign on Social Media

    The United Nations (UN) has launched a social media educational campaign to increase public awareness of the 17 goals and the 169 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    The initiative tagged, ‘17 – 17 SDGs campaign’ seeks to disseminate the 17 goals of the SDGs over the first 17 days of every month, from January to December 2016.

    According to the National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Lagos, Mr Oluseyi Soremekun, “the first day of every month, for instance, is devoted to Sustainable Development Goal Number One which is ‘No Poverty’ while the second day is for Goal Number Two (Zero Hunger) till the seventeenth day which will address Goal Number Seventeen (Partnerships for the goals).”

    Having published some promotional messages on the campaign in the last three days of December 2015 on its Facebook page and through its Twitter handle, @UNICLagos like all UN social media platforms, the campaign was officially launched on January 1, 2016 and on the first day, it earned 2,000 impressions on twitter and reached about 600 people on Facebook and increasing by the day.

    The Goals are also being disseminated in four Nigerian languages: Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin English.

    Mr Soremekun explained that the rationale behind the campaign was to widely disseminate the 17 Goals and the 169 targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for better understanding and increased buy-in by stakeholders.

    He added that the ’17 – 17 SDGs campaign’ would run simultaneously with other outreach activities being organised on the SDGs by UNIC Lagos and partners in the course of 2016.

  • Indomie partners ‘One Lagos Fiesta’ with N10m

    Indomie partners ‘One Lagos Fiesta’ with N10m


    Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles has shown its zest to support the biggest end-of-the-year crossover event in Nigeria. The end-of-the-year crossover event tagged: “One Lagos Fiesta” is in partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture with a whooping sum of 10million Naira as support. The event replaces the annual Lagos Countdown event - a concept of the State’s Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA), to herald the New Year while celebrating the rich culture, music, language of the state and also promoting commerce especially for more small scale businesses in the State.  This year’s edition is the fourth of the series which usually witness over 200,000 individuals in attendance. Speaking on the partnership for the event, Head of Public Relations and Event Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju, said: “We are excited to be a part of this maiden edition of One Lagos Fiesta which is the biggest crossover event and concert in Lagos State and Nigeria by extension”. He also noted that Dufil is glad to support the event with the sum of N10 million naira, products and other promo materials. “The One Lagos Fiesta is a similitude of the crossover celebration held in other commercial cities like Hong Kong, New York, London, Dubai and this year’s edition in Lagos promises to be bigger and better because it will hold in five different locations in the State which includes: Agege Stadium (Ikeja), Badagry Stadium (Badagry), Ikorodu Town Hall (Ikorodu), Barbeach (Lagos) and Epe Youth Center (Epe),” Ashiwaju said. Shedding more light on other plans for the end of the year, Ashiwaju said, aside the partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the company has also concluded plans to roll out some other activities in an effort to spice up the holiday celebration for families and children in the country. Some of the end of the year activities will include: the donation of products to identified orphanage homes and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja and Edo State, Santa surprise visit to hospitals. Also, the company will be announcing the 12 winners for the Dubai Trip in the just concluded Tazomania promo, setting up of Indomitable merchandising stores across Lagos and the introduction of special celebration cartons for 70g and 120g of Indomie noodles. "December, especially Christmas is such a special time for families and we are proud to be able to bring smiles to the faces of children, families and most especially our consumers," he summed.

  • Why 66 convicted soldiers deserve freedom

    Why 66 convicted soldiers deserve freedom

    The Chairman/ National Coordinator of All Progressives Congress (APC) Scandinavia, Ayoola Lawal has commended the Nigerian Army for listening to the outcry of Nigerians and walked the path of honor by reviewing the death sentences passed on the soldiers that were accused of insurrection and mutiny.
    The National Coordinator quoted a statement credited to the Nigerian Army spokesman, Col. Usman Sanni, as saying ‘the death sentences by firing squad passed on 66 soldiers in January and March 2015 by separate General Court Martials have been commuted to 10 years imprisonment each.’
    “The sentence review was a confirmation of the attentive leadership of the new C-in-C of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
    However, it is a known fact that the majority of Nigerians are not in the professional position to pass comment on what were purely military judgments.
    “Meanwhile, in the light of the emerging facts on the Dasukigate and others, it will be more honourable and human if the Nigerian Army can delve further into the review 0f the 10 year sentence by relating it to the unfolding developments of the $2.1 billion meant for the procurement of the weapons to prosecute the insurgency in North Eastern, Nigeria, but intentionally diverted for personal and political purposes by the office of the National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd.),” he said.
    According to Lawal, it is sad and unfortunate that the senior officers that were supposed to investigate the matter could not trace the investigations to the reality of non-availability of weapons as claimed by the convicted soldiers before the sentence.
    “Special thanks to concerned Nigerians for their outcry and as well, the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, the convicted brave men in uniform would have been killed by firing squad.
    “As much as Nigeria or her citizens would neither allow nor encourage any act of gross misconduct in the force, it will amount to the act of wickedness and injustice if the leaders that were supposed to provide leadership, cater for the well- being and also arm the followers with the appropriate tools refused but later turned to blame the followers for bad followership.
    “As a matter of fairness, justice and patriotism, the convicted 66 soldiers should not be made the casualties of bad leadership of the past administration.
    “I call on all well-meaning and concerned Nigerians home and diaspora to join hands further in imploring the C-in-C and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari to please, order the review of the 10 year sentence and possibly grant the convicted brave men a presidential pardon,” Lawal pleaded.
    He further warned that if the conviction is not handled with care, dismissing the 66 soldiers or sentencing them may further harden their hearts thereby making them a threat to the society upon release.
    “These brave men have acquired survival skills so we should be careful how we force them to use the skills acquired from the Army. Nobody is even asking what will happen after the 10 year jail term. Will they be re-absorbed into the system or dismissed.

    “Similarly, prominent Nigerians were pleading for amnesty for the terrorist group, Boko Haram, even as some of the arrested members of the sect were released, I therefore suggest Federal Government come in to give the brave men pardon,” Lawal pleaded.

    He also noted that it is understandable that the military has set rules and guidelines, but advised that it be laid aside to save the innocent soldiers who displayed readiness to prosecute the battle against terror but were held back by lack of ammunition, which they protested.

  • Buhari to Nigerians: I feel your pains

    Buhari to Nigerians: I feel your pains

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration is fully aware of the current hardship experienced in the country due to economy challenges.

    The President said this on Tuesday while presenting the 2016 budget at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    In his speech, President Buhari said: “I know the state of our economy is a source of concern for many. This has been further worsened by the unbridled corruption and security challenges we have faced in the last few years.

    “From those who have lost their jobs, to those young people who have never had a job, to the people in the North East whose families and businesses were destroyed by insurgents, this has been a difficult period in our nation’s history, lessons that we must not forget or ignore, as we plan for the future.

    “Fellow Nigerians, the confidence of many might be shaken. However, I stand before you today promising that we will secure our country, rebuild our economy, and make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger than it has ever been.”

    He further noted that the answers to Nigeria’s problems are not beyond us, saying: “They exist on our farmlands; our corporations; in the universities in the hearts and minds of our entrepreneurs; through the gallantry of our Armed Forces; and the resolute spirit of Nigerians, especially the youth, who have refused to give up despite all the obstacles confronting them.

    “This Budget proposal, the first by our Government, seeks to stimulate the economy, making it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth; and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

    “We believe that this budget, while helping industry, commerce and investment to pick up, will as a matter of urgency, address the immediate problems of youth unemployment and the terrible living conditions of the extremely poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

    “In the medium to longer term, we remain committed to economic diversification through import substitution and export promotion. This will build resilience in our economy.

    “It will guarantee that the problems we have today, will not confront our children and their children. This shall be our legacy for generations to come.

    “We have, and will continue to implement strategies that will maintain macroeconomic stability and manage the oil price shocks we are experiencing.

    “On the economy, we injected new leadership at the helm of our revenue generating agencies including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). We implemented the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which, so far, has provided greater visibility of Government revenues and cash flows.

    “We intervened to support States to navigate their fiscal challenges by restructuring their commercial bank loans and by providing facilities to enable them to pay salary arrears.

    “We have demonstrated a strong will to fight corruption. I am sure you will agree that the sheer scale of corruption and impunity of the past explains in part, the economic challenges we now face.

    “On these initiatives, and the many more to come, we shall not be deterred. We will pursue the recovery of everything that belongs to the people of Nigeria. No matter where it is hidden. No matter how long it will take.”

    The projected revenue was N3.45 trillion, with an outlay of N4.49 trillion, implying a deficit of N1.04 trillion, due largely to under-provisioning by the previous administration for fuel subsidy and the costs required, to support the military operations in the North East.

    Tthe Government had to obtain National Assembly’s approval for a supplementary budget of N575.5 billion.

    “I take this opportunity to thank all members of the National Assembly for the prompt passage of that Bill,” Buhari summed.