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Tag: FG

  • FG donates N40m to victims of Kano bomb blast

    The Presidential Victims Support Fund on Friday donated N40 million to the victims of the bomb attack that occurred on Wednesday in Kano.

    The money was given to victims of the blast who are currently receiving treatment at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) and Murtala Muhammad specialists Hospital,Kano.

    The Executive Director of the Fund, Prof. Sunday Ochoche, announced the donation during a visit to the two hospitals.

    Ochoche, who led the team, said they were in Kano to commiserate with the government, the victims and people of the state over the unfortunate incident.

    “The Fund gave N20 million to each of the two hospitals we visited, making it a total of N40 million.

    “We are here to assist the victims and bring succor to the injured people,” he said.

    He expressed hope that the money would be judiciously used for the treatment of the injured persons to ensure their speedy recovery.

    According to him, the Fund would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the hospitals involved on how the donation would be expended.

    “The MoU will clearly state how the intervention should be distributed among the victims for their immediate medical needs and attention,” he said.

    The executive director disclosed that before coming to Kano, the team had visited 14 hospitals in the North-East.

    “We have so far given out N240 million for the affected victims, including the N40m million given to the Kano hospitals,” he said.

    Responding, the Acting Chief Medical Director of AKTH, Dr Sani Mijinyawa, commended the Federal Government for the gesture and assured that the money would be used for the purpose it was given.

  • FG expresses commitment to measles eradication

    FG expresses commitment to measles eradication

    The Federal Government on Friday said it was committed toward the eradication of measles in the country.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Isaac Adewole, gave the assurance at the launch of the 2015 national measles vaccination campaign organised by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with FCT Healthcare Agency in Abuja.

    The minister, who noted that the event was to improve the coverage of measles immunisation in the country, expressed concern at the estimated figure of 523,000 deaths in 2000 in Nigeria due to measles.

    He said “measles has inflicted untold injury on our children and killing many of them, in 2000, estimate indicated that about 523,000 of our children die of measles; it is unacceptable by any serious government or administration.

    “We join the World Health Organisation (WHO) to contribute to the elimination of measles by 2020 and we are signatory to this initiative, we have no order role to play than to be actively involved.

    “Since we started the follow up campaign in 2005/2006, we have conducted similar exercises in 2008, 2011, 2013 and this is the fifth national follow up campaign.’’

    Adewole, who explained that the national measles vaccination, billed for five days, would kick start in the Northern part of the country on Nov. 21, while that of the Southern part would commence in January.

    According to him, the immunisation, which is targeted at 39 million Nigerian children on completion, will avail the country to attain the goal of measles elimination by 2020.

    The minister said that the Federal Government was committed to raising the bar of coverage beyond 80 per cent and efforts at ensuring universal health coverage for every Nigerians both young and old.

    He further assured of reaching every Nigerian with available means of healthcare delivery particularly on preventive measures that guaranteed general wellbeing.

    He added that “we do not see health as just health but a vital instrument for promoting economic dividend and development of our country.

    “It will remain a pivotal programme of this administration and I want to assure you of the deep commitment of the President to this programme.

    “It has to be leadership by example; we must be the leaders of the foot soldiers that are doing the job and whatever assistance needed for the success of the programme will be granted.

    “We promise to be accountable, resourceful and accessible by all.’’

    Dr Ado Muhammad , the Executive Director of NPHCDA, urged parents to take their children to various government health centres numbering 610 in the FCT to access the immunisation.

    Muhammad described the vaccination as booster dose for children that took it earlier and targeted at children from ages nine months to five years.

    The FCT Minister, Muhammadu Bello, represented by Mrs Odey Achu, said that the immunisation was a wider opportunity to reach out to children that missed the earlier measles vaccination.

    According to him, the intervention is cost effective, high impact and result-oriented in respect of improving child health in the FCT and Nigeria as a whole.

    The minister added that “this event is to further strengthen actions that will increase healthcare service delivery to the good people of FCT, among others.

    “FCT has made necessary arrangements to ensure availability of vaccines to meet the demand of the programme and no eligible child should be left out of the intervention to meet the 2020 target of measles elimination in the country.’’

  • FG advised to reverse National Automotive Policy

    The Spokesman of Seaport Terminal Operators Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Mr Bolaji Akinola on Thursday advised the Federal Government to reverse the National Automotive Policy.

    Akinola gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    According to him, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry Trade and Investment, should revisit the nation’s automotive policy and ensure a quick reversal.

    He explained that the automotive policy had increased import duty on vehicles from 20 to 70 per cent and was driving cargoes (vehicles) away from Nigerian ports.

    Also, president of the Shippers Association Lagos State, Mr Jonathan Nicol, had said the automotive policy specifying 35 per cent duty, 35 per cent levy and 5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) should be reversed.

    Akinola said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy restricting access to the official foreign exchange market by importers of 41 selected items had also compounded port operations.

    “Because of the foreign exchange restriction on importers of the 41 items, our ports have suffered significantly.

    “Very importantly, there would be the need for the Federal Ministry of Transport to look into the gridlock around both Lagos and Onne ports,” he said.

    He told NAN that the gridlock was caused by a combination of bad port access roads, lack of trailer parks and the proliferation of tank farms.

    Akinola explained that all of these should be looked into to make Nigerian ports user-friendly and to attract more cargoes that were being lost to ports in neighbouring countries.

    He also said the railways should be linked to all ports in the country to deliver more cargoes to their final destinations.

    Akinola said more workers at the terminals might be laid off as imports and exports at the ports had declined by more than 30 per cent.

    He said under the platform of STOAN, there were some workers who had been rendered redundant already, adding that more workers would suffer same fate.

    “Now that we have found ourselves in this kind of situation, the option left is to cut costs to stay afloat and remain in business, ‘’ he told NAN.

    The STOAN spokesman, however, said it would be difficult for now to be specific on the number of workers that would be affected.

  • Petrol price soars as scarcity persists nationwide

    Petrol price soars as scarcity persists nationwide

    Pump price of petrol has continued to increase in towns across the country as scarcity of the product persists on Wednesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    A survey by NAN in major cities across the country shows that long queues have characterised the few fuel stations that are selling the product, while others remained closed.

    Some residents in Osun expressed worry over the lingering scarcity of petrol, which according to them, has worsened the living conditions of the people.

    Mr Sulaimon Ayoola, a commercial driver at Orita-Sabo in Osogbo, said the scarcity of petrol was adversely affecting businesses in the area.

    He said that a litre of petrol was being sold for between N120 and N140 per litre at few fuel stations with long queues.

    Mrs Tejumola Oso, a trader in the Orisunbare Market in Osogbo, said the high transport fares, caused by the scarcity of petrol, had affected sales in the market.

    She urged the Federal Government to quickly intervene to ease the sufferings of the people.

    A Public Affairs Analyst, Mr Dotun Deinde, described the current situation as unfortunate and urged government to immediately arrest the situation.

    NAN reports that the situation was the same in Keffi in Nasarawa State as residents agreed that government should end to the lingering fuel scarcity.

    Mrs Cecilia Austin, a commuter, said she paid N700 from Keffi to Lafia against the usual N500.

    She said the scarcity of the petroleum products was causing untold hardship to her and many others in the area.

    She advised the Federal Government to take strong measures against petroleum dealers and marketers who were hoarding petroleum products.

    Austin advised government and marketers to address the problem immediately for social and economic development of the country.

    “It is unfortunate and uncalled for that some selfish fuel marketers are creating artificial scarcity of petroleum products in the country.

    Mr Emmanuel Anejuka, another commuter, urged government to quickly address the difficulties being experienced by Nigerians.

    Mr Haruna Abdullahi, a commercial driver, accused fuel stations of sharp practices, saying that many of them had adjusted their metres above the N87.00 per litre official pump price.

    Ayuba Danjuma, another motorist, said that petrol scarcity had forced him and other drivers in the area to resort to patronising the black market.

    NAN reports that only three fuel stations were dispensing fuel with long queues out of the 13 fuel stations in Keffi.

    Residents in Owerri and other communities in Imo also urged the Federal Government to urgently address the scarcity to ease the sufferings of Nigerians.

    Correspondents of NAN, who monitored petrol sales in Owerri and other towns across Imo, report that petrol was being sold between N140 and N200 per litre.

    Many fuel stations on Port Harcourt Road, Orji Road, and Egbu Road in Owerri sold a litre of the product for between N150 and N165 per litre.

    NAN also reports that the petrol stations in other parts of the town sold the product for between N170 and N200 per litre.

    Mr Ndubuisi Emenike, a motorist, appealed to the President to find solution to the lingering petrol scarcity to restore the confidence of Nigerians on the APC-led government.

    “During the 2015 general elections, Nigerians massively supported the ‘’Change’’ mantra of the APC on the grounds that things will get better,’’.

    Another motorist, Mrs Ngozi Duru, said she went out as early as 6.45 a.m. with her children in school uniforms in the hope of getting petrol, but could not find the product to buy.

    NAN reports that intra-city and inter-city transport fares across Imo have gone up by more than 100 per cent due to the hike in the pump price of petrol.

    In Port Harcourt, most filling stations in the city were yet to commence sale of the product to motorists.

    Residents lamented the scarcity in spite of claims by the NNPC on Nov. 16 that it had deployed 38.277 million litres of petrol to depots across the country.

    Many fuel stations in the area visited by NAN sold the product for between N200 to N215 per litre.

    NAN reports that some petrol vendors are taking advantage of the situation as a 10-litre jerry-can of petrol now goes for N3, 000, while 20-litre can cost N6, 000.

    One NNPC filling station in the city sold the product at the official pump price of N87 per litre, but with long queues of motorists and other users.

    Prices of other petroleum products such as kerosene and diesel have remained unchanged at government approved prices of N50 and N125 per litre, respectively.

    A manager of a major filling station in the city told NAN, on condition of anonymity, that petroleum depots and tank farms were hoarding products over subsidy arrears owed by the Federal Government.

    The source said that depot owners now sold the petrol at high prices at night.

    “We load petrol at a very high rate at depots and as such we have to also sell at a higher price so as to make profit,’’ he said.

    According to him, if government does not intervene quickly, the product will be sold as high as N300 to N500 per litre in the next one to two weeks.

    On the reasons most stations’ metres still read N87 per litre whereas they sell above the official price, the source said the concealment was for fear of being sanctioned by the authorities.

     

  • Dasuki: FG seeks court’s understanding

    Dasuki: FG seeks court’s understanding

    The Federal Government Monday sought the understanding of the Federal High Court, Abuja in its handling of the case involving former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Dasuki.

    The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Solicitor General of the Federation, Taiwo Abidogun asked the court for more time to familiarise themselves with the case.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, last Friday, invited the AGF to appear before his court Monday in relation to the controversy surrounding the Dasuki case.

    The judge’s invitation to the AGF was informed by complaint by Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) that, despite the order made by the court on November 3, allowing Dasuki to travel abroad, he was being prevented from embarking on the trip by security agents, who have allegedly laid siege on his Abuja home.

    Abidogun, who was accompanied to the court by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Muhammad Diri, told the court that he and the AGF were just appointed and were yet to be fully briefed about the activities of the Federal Ministry of Justice, particularly in relation to the Dasuki case.

    Abidogun sought for time to enable him and the AGF study the case and decide on what necessary steps to take.

    “I have sought the understanding of the other party, who have given its consent to my overture. We have tremendous respect for this court and your lordship. We are seeking an adjournment to enable us to be briefed properly,” the Solicitor General said.

    He sought an adjournment for Monday next week on the ground that the AGF will formally resume duties in the ministry on Wednesday.

    Daudu did not object to Abidogun’s application for adjournment.

    He only reminded that court that its November 3 order was yet to be executed owing, purportedly to the activities of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

  • PENCOM: Retired police officers petition FG

    PENCOM: Retired police officers petition FG

    The Association of Retired Police Officers in Kogi State has appealed to the Federal Government and police authorities to discontinue them from the contributory pension scheme, saying it is retrogressive.

    Mr. Alex Yusuf, Kogi chairman of the association made known their position yesterday at a press conference in Lokoja.

    He said that rather than improving the status of the pensioners the scheme had further impoverished them.

    He said that the decision to opt out of the contributory pension scheme of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) was reached at the August 28 meeting of the association and reinforced in subsequent ones.

    He stated: “It is highly pathetic to note that after 35 years of meritorious service to fatherland, the officers who retired under the scheme who also co-paid their own retirement benefits are all
    languishing in abject poverty.

    “Before this category of retirees who are now chained to PENCOM, the Nigeria Police retirees were normally paid by the Federal Government in line with section 173(2)(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.”

    According to him, the periodic salary and pension reviews of federal public officers ought to benefit all, including serving and retired police officers.

    He expressed regret that PENCOM retirees who started disengaging from July 1, 2007 were being denied.

    He said, “It seems that we are unjustly and of course totally cut off from such benefits that are supposed to be accruing to us. It is as if transferring to the PFA vendors and their agents via PENCOM was meant
    to sever us on punishment ground from the main body of the Nigeria Police Force.

    “A situation where an officer who while serving earned between N130,000 and N140,000 end up receiving between N20,000 and N30,000 as monthly pension negate the provisions of the constitution.

    “For added example, an officer who retired in 2011 on a contributory scheme received a little above N5 million as lump sum and was only given little above N1 million from the so-called lump as gratuity and
    monthly pension of between N20, 000 to N30, 000”.

    He said that while pension to retired officers was for life, pre-PENCOM retirees had theirs tied to 15 years.

    He appealed to the federal government to pay the 53.37 per cent pension increase which took effect from 1st June 2010, as well as the
    pension increase of 15 and 33 per cent of 2007and 2014 respectively.

    He urged the government to revert to the old pension system and bring police retirees back to the main body of Nigeria Police, for
    uniformity.

     

  • Dasuki: Court invites AGF 

    Dasuki: Court invites AGF 

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday invited the Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), over the inability of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), to travel abroad on health ground.

    The court’s invitation to the AGF followed complaint by Dasuki’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), that despite the order made by the court on November 3, allowing Dasuki to travel abroad, he was being prevented from embarking on the trip by security agents, who allegedly laid siege on his Abuja home.

    A lawyer from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Labaran Magaji, denied Daudu’s claim that the state had prevented his client from travelling abroad as ordered by the court.

    Ruling, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who expressed concern about Daudu’s complaint that officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) have frustrated the execution of the November 4 order, said since the AGF is new in office  it is necessary to invite him for briefing on issues surrounding the case.

    “Having perused the processes filed by the applicant, particularly the motion on notice dated 9th November 2015 and the respondent’s counter processes, it is important that the Attorney General of the Federation, being the chief law officer of the country, comes to court for briefing about the issue,” the judge said.

    Justice Ademola noted that from the fresh motion on notice and counter affidavit filed by parties in the case, he was not happy about the scenario playing out.

    The judge said he was uncomfortable that the court’s subsisting order was reportedly not obeyed.

    He adjourned to November 16 for hearing of the new motion and counter-motions filed by parties.

     

     

  • NUPENG tasks FG on prompt payment of subsidy

    NUPENG tasks FG on prompt payment of subsidy

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have told the Federal Government to ensure prompt payment of fuel subsidy to avoid persistent scarcity of petroleum products.

    The South-West Chairman of the union, Mr. Tokunbo Korodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday that the current scarcity was due to late payment of subsidy claims to petroleum marketers.

    He said that non-payment of the claims had led to non- importation by marketers and loss of jobs by many workers.

    The chairman, however, said that activities had resumed at various loading depots in Lagos and other cities because government had released N413b to marketers.

    “Presently, loading of petroleum has commenced in different loading depots in Lagos and the states and I can assure you this has greatly increased distribution of products in the country.

    “As far as I’m concerned, there is little or no queue of motorists at filling stations in Lagos presently because the product is available in almost all stations.

    “The marketers are also aware of the sanctions that would be given to any filling station that sells above the pump price or refuses to sell when the product is available,’’ he said.

    Korodo urged motorists to exercise patience, adding that the product would soon be distributed to all filling stations in the country.

    A NAN correspondent who monitored depots and filing stations along Ikorodu Road, Ojuelegba, Iyana-Ipaja and Agege areas of Lagos, reports that filling stations were dispensing fuel.

    Some attendants at the filling stations that were shut said that they were waiting for product.

    It was also observed that there was no queue in most of the stations visited and they were selling at the official pump price of N87.

     

  • Biafra: PDP wants FG to dialogue with Southeast leaders

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday told  the Federal Government to seek dialogue with political leaders in the Southeast with a view to resolving  the renewed agitation for an independent  Biafra.

    The party expressed concern over the growing activities of ethnic militias in the Southeast and the South-south geopolitical zones.

    The National Youth Leader of the PDP, Mr. Abdullahi Maibasira, said in a statement that the party has reservations about the methods adopted by the Federal Government in addressing the agitations.

    It urged the President to personally intervene as the matter affects the territorial integrity of the country.

    The Federal Government and its agencies, it said, have failed to approach the situation with the inclusiveness and seriousness it deserved.

    The PDP said President Buhari and the ruling APC  should be held to account for the escalation of the agitation, which is threatening the country’s unity and national security interests.

    It also urged the ruling party to ensure and guarantee an inclusive administration that will promote harmony among all sections of the country.

    The party further noted the seemingly lack of any clear-cut policy direction that concerned the development, mainstreaming and inclusion of young people in the country by the Federal Government.

    It cited what it described as a worrisome issue, which it said has brought to question the APC’s campaign promise to generate and give three million jobs annually to Nigerian youths.

    “The fact that none of the President’s ministerial appointees confirmed by the Senate is below 40 years also puts to question APC’s belief in the next generation of leaders, mentorship and transfer of responsibility.

    “So far, the resultant effect of this lack of clear-cut policy is the stagnation of the economy and laying-off of thousands of people from their jobs.

    “Rather than the use of force as an option which usually fails as a solution in this type of self inflicted socio political problem, President Buhari should as a matter of national interest and practical necessity, make haste to call representatives and leaders of the South East for discussions before the situation deteriorates”, the statement added.

    The PDP said President Buhari and his party should know that sidelining any section of the country is bound to generate unhealthy relations among the integral parts of the Nigerian people.

     

  • ‘How FG can stop Biafran agitation’

    ‘How FG can stop Biafran agitation’

    Federal Government’s recent  stance against the activities of the Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has brought the activities of the group to public inquiry once again. In this brief chat with Sam Egburonu, the Deputy Secretary of Professor Ben Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) and Founder/Leader of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Evangelist Elliot Uko, explains what must be done to stop the agitation

    Why is the Biafran breeze blowing across the South-East many years after the civil war?

    It has always been there. Young people all over the world, all through history have always been adventurous and daring. The idea of re-enacting Biafran Republic has always been in the hearts and minds of young people, especially those who seem not to believe that Ndigbo will ever get justice in Nigeria. Igbo youths find Biafra a very attractive option. It is not new, it has always been there. I grew up in Enugu in the 70s; I went to boarding school in Enugu at Nike Grammar School. I know the usual discussions in the dormitory amongst students. They believe Nigeria is pulling Ndigbo backwards, they believe Ndigbo are better off in a separate state. I have been organising seminars and workshops for Igbo youths for decades, I know their mindset. I know that the Biafran option is very attractive to them. It is not new. Nigerians know there is great need to restructure the polity urgently and give all sections a sense of belonging. Nigeria does not want to do that. The feeling of alienation encourages thought of secession. Those opposing restructuring Nigeria are the ones fueling the Biafran agitation.

    The anger and bitterness of the Igbo condition in Nigeria politics fuels a discontent which Uwazurike, Kanu and co, chose to exploit. Whereas the older Igbo tread cautiously, the younger ones, like young people all over the world, want action, now, now; it could only get worse because the Federal Government chooses to pretend it is not a serious issue. It could also get out of hand because there are Nigerians who are determined never to give Ndigbo justice. So, the Biafran breeze is blowing simply because Nigeria has chosen to pretend that it does not know that the structure of Nigeria is not working.

    But why are Igbo leaders silent?     

    Igbo leaders have been shouting themselves hoarse on the need to create a level playing field for all in Nigeria. Nobody seems to listen. Four out of six zones, wants Nigeria restructured urgently. Some people remain adamant. Nigeria, as presently constituted is not working. States cannot pay salaries; 40 million young men remain jobless, mutual suspicion and hatred fill the land. The people, who want Biafra, do not have faith in Nigeria any more. Instead of Nigeria, reaching out to allay their fears and frustration, like legendary Stevie Wonder captures almost 40 years ago in his ever green song, “we are all busy spending our lives, living in past time paradise. It is a pity.

    What’s your advice?

    Some people believe Nigeria is their property. They designed the country. They created states and local governments according to their whims. It does not matter to them that the Nigeria they shaped is not working. They want it to remain that way till thy kingdom comes, whether it is working or not. Over two dozen studies by reputable scholars across the world in the last two decades point to the possibility of Nigeria failing. We only abused them without trying to find out why they all predict doom. We are sitting on a keg of gun powder.

    Leaders, who know the truth, should stop trying to deceive the world. One of them called the pro-Biafran boys fraudsters. He knows he was being hypocritical. Another said Biafra is finished. Probably finished in his own mind, not in the minds of millions of Igbo youths who believe they have no future in Nigeria. An article by one Mathew Page in the Washington post last week advised President Buhari on how to move Nigeria forward. Regrettably, the writer carefully and deliberately avoided the crux of the matter, which is the unresolved national question. The tragedy of the situation is that those who want Nigeria to remain the way they created it have sold a lie to the international community that corruption and Boko Haram are our main problems. That Nigerian leaders chose to shy away from the truth by going round in circle while dodging the real issue, does not in any way mean that solution could be found by cutting corners. There is no other way to move Nigeria forward in peace and unity without addressing the national question. Our political structure, the 1999 militarily inspired constitution are some of the reasons why millions of our country men do not believe in Nigeria. That is the most urgent task facing any government. When we revert to true federalism, all our problems will be reduced including corruption, unemployment, secession, etc.

    Most of Nigeria’s problem flows from the refusal to address the national question. We are only deceiving ourselves.

    Do Igbo leaders sanction secession then?

    No, but these angry boys are exploiting the vacuum created by lack of firm respectable leadership in Igbo land. Apart from the Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT) led by Prof. Ben Nwabueze, no group commands respect in Igboland. The Ohanaeze that should have been the apex and umbrella association of Ndigbo is enmeshed and embroiled in a lot of sordid and not so honourable scandals that makes it difficult for Ndigbo to listen to them anymore. The present leaders are seen as sit tight businessmen who trade with Ndigbo for their personal gain and are better known for endorsing presidential candidates than for anything else. I have not seen or spoken to any of their leaders in three years. They lost credibility in the eyes of the people. The youth do not see in them, leaders they could trust. In fact, the youths believe that those people are the problem we have in Igbo land. Pecuniary pursuits have eroded their legitimacy in the eyes of the people. It has been long since the youths chose to take their destiny into their hands which makes the situation a time bomb.

     The Igbo Youth Movement, which you lead, honoured some select leaders a fortnight ago. What is the idea behind it?

    The event was the 16th Annual Convention of the IYM, an annual ritual; the Lord has consistently given us the grace to mark each year since 1999. This year, we tried to enlighten our people on the need not to let the Igbo language die. We also honoured the best in Igboland: Prof. Ben Nwabueze for his commitment to the good of the people and visionary leadership; Dr. Alex Ekwueme for his dedication to truth and the good of the land; Prof. Vincent Ike, as a great role model, one of the national leaders of the APC, and Minister designate, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu for decency in politics and being honourable in perseverance. We also honoured veteran actor, John Okafor (Mr. Ibu) for his dedication to the arts and contributions to the industry. We thank God for the grace upon the IYM and pledge to remain steadfast. It is important to highlight to our people who the real heroes are. We are very proud of them.