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  • ‘Govt must avoid abuses in tackling insecurity, insurgency’

    ‘Govt must avoid abuses in tackling insecurity, insurgency’

    Kunle Rasheed Adegoke is the Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President’s Task Force on the Northeast. In this interview with Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU, he speaks on the judiciary, the committee’s activities, legal practice and his political ambition.

    The Judiciary has been described as the last hope of the common man. Do you agree?

    It is a correct saying that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man. However, it is indisputable that in certain respects, the judiciary in Nigeria has been found wanting, more so with respect to allegations of corruption in the hallowed chambers. It is unfortunate the recent arrest and detention of some judges of the apex and the lower courts do not speak well of our judicial officers.

    How does this affect the perception of the judiciary?

    That is not to say that our judiciary is not peopled by men of integrity. We know of judges who are incorruptible and have lived their lives ensuring that the stream of justice is not polluted. These are men who have made our judicial system is working satisfactorily.

    So, what is the way out?

    All we need to do is to ensure that the bad eggs in the judiciary are reported to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and no stone should be left unturned in ensuring justice is manifestly done in all cases. Nothing pains an upright man than to be painted with the same brush of guilt in a corrupt environment. Thus, allegation of corruption or other vices should be thoroughly investigated and the NJC should live up to its expectation by ensuring quick determination of accusations against judges  to sustain the confidence of the public in this indispensable arm of government.

    Law has been described as a catalyst for development. How do you think we can apply this to our own situation?

    Law is truly a catalyst for economic development. For almost all transactions, there are legal regimes and regulations by law. Every piece of legislation or judicial pronouncement must be for the advancement of the society. For instance, our legal system is conscious of this and that is why the Land Use Act has vested land in the governor of the state to be held in trust for the people. The essence is to make land available to those who need it but do not have it from the grasp of landholding families who have lands but could not use it. Unfortunately, most states in Nigeria have not utilised this revolutionary piece of legislation, no matter its imperfections, to ensure maximal production of food and develop their internally generated revenue (IGR).

    There have been calls for Ministries of Justice to take over the prosecution of politically exposed persons, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concentrates on financial crimes. Do you agree?

    I believe that the state Ministries of Justice ought to adequately take care of, not only high profile cases, but cases of persons who loot state treasuries. That would reduce the burden on the EFCC, which is a national institution and whose structures crack easily under the heavy burden of corruption perpetrated in both private and public sectors. EFCC is not able to cope with so many of such cases or effectively prosecute them and that is why it loses many of them or even look the other way when they are reported to it. In some cases, some unscrupulous elements in EFCC have seen such cases as money-making opportunities for themselves, too, and this has led to allegations of corruption against the body itself. For a national body like the EFCC to cover the 36 states of the federation in both private and public sectors is stretching the body too thin.

    How prepared are the states’ Ministries of Justice for this Herculean task?

    In most states, simple cases in our courts last for so many years due to the failure of the government Ministries of Justice to prosecute with seriousness. I have been involved in many cases in which states’ Ministries of Justice were involved. You discover that the lawyers in those ministries hardly respond to processes served on them on time. They do not file defences to cases for so many years with many judges indulging them with frivolous adjournments and pampering gloves. Simple advice by Directors of Public Prosecution in criminal matters takes years to prepare and issue and the resultant effect is perpetual detention of persons awaiting trial. One is scared to say that the states’ Ministries of Justice are not ready for this additional responsibility which is sine qua non to development, if we must progress as a nation.

    What should be the role of states in the fight against corruption?

    Furthermore, the fight against corruption is a national and international one for which each state of the Federation ought to have its own institution, such as the EFCC monitoring the finances of the state and ensuring accountability and probity. The Constitution has placed the fight against corruption on a high pedestal in which both the Federal and the state governments can legislate on it. But how prepared are our governors and the states’ Houses of Assembly to ensure that corruption is minimised in our public sector?

    You presented the report of the NBA Task Force on the Northeast at the last National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State as the Secretary. What’s in the report?

    The summary of the report is that the NBA Task Force on the Northeast was established by the NBA President, A.  B.  Mahmoud (SAN), in October 2016 and saddled with ensuring the protection of the interest of the NBA members affected by the insurgency and counter-insurgency of the Boko Haram members and the military in the Northeastern. To provide pro bono legal services to individuals and communities in the region who are victims of the conflict to aid the rehabilitation, resettlement and reconciliation. To provide expert services to federal and state governments in the region and the National Assembly on devising appropriate legal framework and other legal services for the reconstruction of the region

    What have you done to actualise this mandate?

    We have visited some of the states in the region and discovered the monumental loss of lives and property there has reduced it to a pitiable sight. Scores of lawyers lost their lives in the conflict while many are detained; a large number of our members were also unlawfully detained. We have made recommendations to the NBA on how to assist the victims financially and help to rebuild the legal practice businesses of our members affected.

    Is that all you recommended?

    We have also signed memoranda of understanding with some local and international bodies on how to redress the violation of human rights by the military and other para-military bodies in the region. To this end, we are providing pro bono legal services and also focusing on the rights and rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). We have good working relationship with the army and the police on how the government can ensure transitional justice with respect to victims in the region.

    What is the latest development in the Northeast on human rights abuses and how do we address them?

    Right now, steps are being taken to ensure that persons in detention under the allegation of being Boko Haram members receive justice quickly because many are in detention without trial. The latest resurgence of Boko Haram activities in the region has not really helped matters. We commend the members of the security agencies in Nigeria, especially the army, for being responsive and protecting lives and properties. At the same time, excesses in conducting the fight should be checked to ensure that the fight is conducted in line with civilised rules of engagement.

    It is speculated that you want to contest the governorship of Osun State. What is your reaction to this?

    No. It is beyond speculation. I am already out and showcasing my intention to the good people of Osun. Since March, 2017, I have been on a state-wide consultation with the people from one local government area to another and the reception has been fantastic. I have my billboards in several parts of the state announcing an ‘Assured Future’, which is my campaign slogan. My political movement, Tiwa N TiwaL’Osun, has members and cells across the various wards of the state. I am a leading aspirant as far as the contest for the All Progressives Congress’s ticket is concerned.

     What is your vision for Osun State?

    My vision is to develop the state into an enviable position both nationally and internationally. The most important problem confronting the state is economic in which the state is unable to meet its salary obligation to the workers and the populace grumble under the heavy weight of economic recession. The national downturn in the economy has affected Osun badly and we must build a strong economy for the state to be  capable of financing itself outside the federal allocations, which are no longer coming. We must be able to develop an IGR of not less than N10billion a month, if we are really serious as a people desirous of attaining economic progress. To attain this, we are looking at the low-hanging fruits of agriculture, tourism and industrialiation.

    How do you intend to achieve this?

    First, we want to, in the first 200 days in office, turn all arable lands to farms rather than forests that dominate our roadsides from Ikire to Ile-Ife to Ilesha, Owena, Igbajo, OkeIla, Ejigbo, and all over the state. In civilised societies, they tame their environment and do not leave land unutilised for any purpose as we do. Here we have arable lands but fail to effectively cultivate them. We want to, in alliance with the private sector, ensure farm settlements in each federal constituency of the state. With abundant production of food through mechanised farming and tapping into the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme and other international opportunities, we intend to engage in food preservation and processing as there is more money in processing than in supplies of raw materials.

    Is that all?

    We are looking at tapping into the expansive Lagos economy in which not less than N3 billion food is consumed daily utilising the poverty datum line of N200 per day for an average Lagosian. This, we believe, is possible, if we cultivate the spirit to succeed steeped in strong political will required of a responsive and responsible government. We intend to ensure that the huge reserve of liquidities locked up in tourism is accessed by us by ensuring development of existing tourist centres and creating new attractions that will encourage both local and foreign tourists to patronize our tourist sites. God only creates trees but does not give furniture. We shall turn the tourist sites, which we have more than any other State in Nigeria, from their natural state into attractive magnets that draw and glue tourists’ attention.

    What happens after this?

    Once we succeed economically within the first two years to effectively grow the economy capable of creating wealth, we are sure that we shall be able to transform the educational standard in the State to the best in Nigeria, if not in West Africa. We shall be able to address the perpetual civil servants’ welfare deficit, transform the health sector into excellent attraction to tourism and ensure unprecedented infrastructural development for the State.

     How have you contributed to the development of Osun State?

    Yes, I have contributed in my own little way to the development of Osun. To ensure electoral justice and make democracy attainable, I have been in the trenches with the people of the state. All through the litigation days of Aregbesola v. Oyinlola, I was one of the prominent lawyers that led the battle for more than three and a half years in which I represented Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuf (the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives), Rt. Hon. Najeem Salam (the Speaker of the House of Assembly of Osun), Rt. Hon Akintunde Adegboye (Deputy Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly) and a host of numerous others. Aside from this, I have played my own little role by way of philanthropy to my people. God has used me to educationally bless some families as I have been responsible for sponsorship of many young ones. Among them are hundreds of lawyers, graduates from several disciplines of value, empowerment of many businessmen and women, assisting in guaranteeing life to those who were sick and at the point of death by paying their hospital bills. All these I have done to assist the state to reduce the devil’s workshop of idle hands without expectation of expression of gratitude from the beneficiaries but divine blessings from my creator.

    How would you rate the performance of the APC-led Federal Government rule of law?

    I often find it difficult to rate governments as that is an exercise that could be difficult to do as the yardsticks could be numerous. But with respect to the rule of law, I would say that the last conducted governorship election in Anambra is a testimony that it is possible to have an election in which a ruling party at the national level would not take it as a matter of do-or-die venture. That is an election in which the police and other security forces were not used as an agent of rigging, unlike what we used to have in the past. It is a prevalence of the rule of law. Furthermore, the Federal Government has tried in some areas with respect to rule of law as this is a great measure of how civilised we are. The battle against Boko Haram is an effort towards ensuring rule of law. It is commendable to see that the high and mighty have been touched in the campaign against corruption although there is still more to be done.

    In which areas?

    People expect this government to be more revolutionary based on the past record of President Muhammadu Buhari and I think the President is equally looking in that direction. It is important to tackle the intractable problems of herdsmen with strong resolve which I believe the President is considering. Too many lives have been lost to herdsmen invasion and to fail to curb this menace will not paint this government as one conscious of its role as the guardian of the rule of law.

  • Govt urged to review budget benchmark

    Experts have sought a review of the 2018 budget benchmark, following the rise in crude oil price in the international market.

    Last week, the product  hit $69 per barrel. The Federal Government’s $22 benchmark has been increased to $47 per barrel by the Senate.

    An economist, Mr. Yinka Ogunjimi, argued that the going rate of the commodity would remain so for a greater part of the year, hence, the need for government to jerk up its benchmark in the budget. Doing so, he argued, would take off a huge burden of deficit from the financing of the budget, and give some breather to the economy to service its debts.

    “It will also allow more funding opportunities for major projects in the fiscal year. Although the Federal Government was very con-servative with its bench-mark, jerking the benchmark up to $53 per barrel, I believe, is still within reason range. This is because from all variables, crude oil is not likely to sell below $60 per barrel for  most part of the year,” Ogunjimi further argued.

    A Professor of Financial Economics, Leo Ukpong, also agreed that the $45 per barrel was conservative.

    Ukpong, who is Dean, Faculty of Business Admi-nistration, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, said, was because the commodity is likely to sell at a higher price in  the year, considering the uncertainties in oil producing regions, which he noted include include the political quagmire in places, such as Venezuela and Qatar; economic sanctions on Iran; fightings in Iraq, Libya, and Turkey, which are likely to lead to a drop in global oil supply.

  • Govt at sixes and sevens over herdsmen

    Govt at sixes and sevens over herdsmen

    IF any Nigerian has tried to make sense of the federal government’s policies on herdsmen/farmers clash, he will by now be certain that no such policies exist, nor has one been really conceived. If the federal government itself thought it had a policy or policies in respect of the crisis and its resolution, its contradictory and nebulous statements on ranching and cattle colonies give the government away as extremely and deliberately dilatory. What seems to be at play is that the federal government has a soft spot for the herdsmen and has sought to find a policy mix that will favour them without offhandedly offending the rest of the country. It is safe to say that the government is clumsily walking a tightrope.

    Last Monday’s security meeting in Abuja attended by about two ministers and some six governors is the clearest evidence of the federal government’s confusion and lack of sincerity. At the meeting designed to find strategies to end the crisis were the Interior minister, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, Agriculture minister, Audu Ogbeh, and the governors of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Taraba and Adamawa states. It is instructive that in one short six-hour meeting, the government managed to send contradictory signals to a distressed and agitated public.

    Before the meeting, the Agriculture minister, who should clearly know the mind of the government, disclosed to reporters that the federal government had decided to set up cattle colonies on 5,000 hectares of land where herdsmen would live and tend their livestock. He added that security and other infrastructure would be provided for the herdsmen. According to him, “We are planning a programme called cattle colonies not ranches, but colonies where at least 5, 000 hectares of land would be made available, adequate water, adequate pasture would be made available. We also want to stop herdsmen from roaming about; the culture of cattle roaming about will be stopped. The cattle will be provided with water and adequate security by the rangers, adequate pasture, milk collection, even security against rustlers to enable them to lead a normal life. This has been done elsewhere in India, Ethiopia and even Brazil.”

    Mr Ogbeh justified this investment on the grounds that for over 50 years, the government had similarly invested in farmers and brought them up to speed in modern farming culture and management. He argued that the government’s lack of investment in the cattle business probably triggered the violence the country was witnessing. It is unclear whether he felt the killings were a justifiable vent for the herdsmen’s pent-up frustrations, for he said nothing about the tragedy of the killings in his own home state. The Monday meeting was held at the instance of the Interior minister who has apparently embraced the red herring of linking crimes and violent conflicts with electoral violence, implying that the country could be witnessing nothing but indeterminate crimes. He did not expressly talk about the bitter struggle for farm lands and pastures.

    However, after the meeting, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, and Taraba State governor, Darius Ishaku, addressed the press on the communiqué and told a totally different story, almost as if two meetings actually held on the same day at the same venue, and at the same hour. Hear Mr Ortom: “The meeting noted that all animal farmers must ranch their cattle and livestock for better productivity. It also observed the existing synergy between the security agencies and between the states and the Federal Government.” Either they used the words ‘colonies and ranches’ interchangeably or, given what the country already knows about the situation in Benue and Taraba, not to talk of their anti-open grazing laws, the communiqué was clear in differentiating between the two terms.

    Some two days later, while addressing the press on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the Information minister, Lai Mohammed, gave his opinion on the herdsmen crisis. According to him, “What I can assure you is that the government is very, very concerned about the herdsmen and farmers clashes, and it is receiving attention at the highest level. And as to if troops will be sent, it will be a decision after thorough deliberation on the matter…I’m not an agricultural expert. I know that a colony is much bigger in nature than the ranch.” It was obvious that the FEC did not really discuss the Benue crisis and herdsmen attacks, nor did they attempt to formulate the difference between cattle colonies and ranching. In short, if Mr Ogbeh spoke of cattle colonies, he was speaking for himself or simply flying a kite. And if Mr Mohammed explained the difference between ranching and cattle colonies, he was simply being true to himself when he confessed he was not an expert in that field.

    Indeed, it was not until a few more days after the first meeting that Mr Lalong visited the Agriculture minister in Abuja to seek clarification over the cattle colonies matter. The minister happily obliged. Said Mr Ogbeh: “Ranching is more of an individual venture for those who want to invest, but cattle colony is bigger in scope and size. It is going to be done in partnership with states government who wish to be part of it. Already 16 states have volunteered land. Nobody is going to seize land from any community for the project…Cattle colony is not using Fulani herdsmen to colonize any state. It is going to be done in partnerships with state governments that would like to volunteer land for it. Federal government will fund the project and those wishing to benefit from it will pay some fees.”

    Perhaps sometime in the future, he will address why herdsmen either want the government to pave way for their private businesses or claim the right to make way for themselves by force, including seeking to violently abrogate states grazing laws.

    But what the country needs is for FEC to continue to discuss the herdsmen killings at its Wednesday meetings until the matter is resolved, and to also give the country a very clear and precise idea of what it intends to do, whether to ranch or set up colonies. They, however, seem undecided, as the divergence between the Agriculture minister’s view on the one hand suggests, and the communiqué read by Messrs Ortom and Ishaku on the other hand indicated. Surely, there are better and more precise ways to run a country.

  • Govt urged to ratify Bamako Convention

    As preparations get higher for the second meeting of Conference of the Parties of the Bamako Convention (Bamako COP2) scheduled to take place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, from January 28 to 30 2018, the Federal Government has been urged to ratify and implement the treaty.

    Leslie Adogame, SRADev Nigeria’s Executive Director, who made the call in a release earlier in the week, lamented that it is worrisome that Nigeria, who should play a leading role in the continent, has lagged behind 29 other countries in Africa.

    The Bamako Convention on the ban on the import into Africa and the control of transboundary movement and management of hazardous wastes within Africa is a treaty of African nations prohibiting the import of any hazardous (including radioactive) waste. The Convention was negotiated by 12 nations of the Organisation of African Unity (now African Union) at Bamako, Mali in January 1991, and came into force in 1998.

    “Nigeria’s delay in ratifying the Bamako Convention after 20 years of its coming into force is a bad omen for a toxic-free country and continent; it is simply not enough to sign the Convention without ratification to implement it,” said Adogame.

    Bamako COP2 will be held under the theme: “The Bamako Convention: a platform for a pollution-free Africa”. To date, the Convention has 29 signatories and 25 parties. Nigeria is yet to ratify and implement the Convention since becoming a signatory in 1998.

    Faith Osa-Egharevba, Senior Programme Officer, at SRADev Nigeria, said: “Nigeria’s continued ‘observer status’ since COP1 in 2013 simply means no voice in the continent’s negotiation and on-going effort to implement the treaty.”

    Justifying the need for the ratification, Adogame stressed that in Africa, the impetus for the Bamako Convention arose from the realisation that several developed nations were exporting toxic wastes to Africa, such as the Koko case in Nigeria and Probo Koala case in Cote d’Ivoire. He added that the ratification and implementation of the Convention had become expedient since Nigeria recently signed a pact with Russia to build and operate a nuclear power plant despite concerns about poor quality control, safety and waste management.

    In “The Future We Want”, the outcome document of Rio+20 (2012), Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to achieve by 2020, the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle and of hazardous waste in ways that lead to minimisation of significant adverse effects to human health and the environment, as set out in the Johannesburg Plan Of Implementation (JPOI 2002).

    Similarly, Nigeria has consistently reiterated its diplomatic support for the United Nations in all its efforts, including the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

     

     

  • Govt to fight unemployment with certificated skill acquisition

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, says  Federal Government will use certificated skill acquisition to fight unemployment and idleness among Nigerian youths.

    Ngige said this at the palace of Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, Traditional Ruler of Ifitedunu Community of Anambra State.

    Ngige was in the palace to receive documents for 3,000 square metres land for building a Specialised Skill Acquisition  project in the community.

    He said the edifice to be built by the Federal Government would have hostels and offer skill courses with certification in levels one, two and three.He said the project would be a replica of the London City and Guild Academy.The minister noted that the project would be established in each state under the same model.

    Ngige said the first phase of the project, which included skill laboratories, auditorium, water and security facilities, would be delivered in three months.

    He also said the second phase of the programme would commence immediately, since the project had been captured in this year’s  appropriation bill.

    “The Federal Government is looking inward by encouraging specialisation on jobs such as carpentry, bricklaying, tiling, fashion designing, make-up and bead making and interior decoration among others.

    “This is to help redeem our youths from joblessness, occasioned by lack of white collar jobs.

    “There are no white collar jobs any longer. If you are waiting for one, you will wait for a long time.

    “People are now finding employment in the blue collar jobs, and it is even more profitable.

    “How many of you are aware that the daily pays for carpenters and other artisans have increased?

    “In Abuja they collect as high as N10, 000 per day’s job. If they get these per day jobs even if it is only five times in a month, do you know how much that is?

    “How many white collar jobs pay that much in a month,’’ Ngige asked.

    He also urged religious and traditional leaders as well as parents to strengthen the moral capacity of the young ones.

    According to him, such steps will ensure that the youths are not idle and bereft of positive ideas.

    The Deputy Governor of Anambra, Dr Nkem Okeke, expressed delight at the Federal Government’s decision to use the community as a pilot site for such a laudable programme.

    Okeke assured the minister that the state was prepared to assist in any other way to ensure that the project was completed as planned.

    “Anambra S         tate government will give its maximum co-operation to this project in order for the residents of the state to reap its benefits,’’ he said.

  • Govt bans open grazing to stop killings by herdsmen

    Govt bans open grazing to stop killings by herdsmen

    Governors offer land for cattle colonies

    40,000 displaced in Benue

    Women protest

    Communique of meeting on killings

    •All animal farmers must ranch their cattle or livestock
    •Livestock farmers to be educated on benefit of ranching
    •Nigerians must avoid hate speeaches

    OPEN grazing of cattle was banned yesterday by the Federal Government – to stem the growing anger sparked by the killings in Benue and other states.

    All herdsmen must henceforth ranch their cattle.

    The decision was taken at the end of a six-hour meeting of a Federal Government delegation, security agencies and five governors.

    Presenting the communique after the meeting, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortorm, accompanied by his Taraba State counterpart, Darius Ishaku, said: “The meeting noted that all animal farmers must ranch their cattle and livestock for better productivity. It also observed the existing synergy between the security agencies and between the states and the Federal Government.”

    Livestock farmers are to be  enlightened on the benefits of keeping their animals in a location.

    The meeting also admonished Nigerians to live in peace, being the only way to resolve the perennial clashes between the herdsmen and farmers.

    It cautioned Nigerians against hate speeches, noting that anyone found engaging in it should be dealt with by the security agencies.

    The communique was agreed upon after a meeting of a Federal Government delegation, top security chiefs and five governors, some of whose states are mostly affected by the herders/farmers clashes met.

    Minister of Interior AbdulRahman Dambazau and Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbeh met with Governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Tanko Almakura (Nasarawa), Abubakar Bello (Niger)  and Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna).

    Also at the meeting were Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gana Muhammadu, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Mammam Daura, among among others.

    Dambazau said the meeting was to primarily share experiences among the stakeholders and agree on measures to tackle the menace.

    Dambazau said: “the current situation is very dangerous to Northern Nigeria in particular and the nation in general.”

    The minister said threats to peace and public safety in any form at any location in the country will not be tolerated.

    ”It is the responsibility of governments at all levels to provide, unconditionally, sustainable peace and public safety within their territorial boundaries. Against this background, the meeting is convened to primarily bring us together to share our experiences on the aforementioned security challenges. The meeting will then agree on necessary measures to be taken and apportion responsibilities.

    ”The immediate repercussion of this menace includes hunger due to acute shortage of food, diseases, criminal activities and deepening animosity between ethnic and religious groups. Knowing that general elections are fast approaching and considering the history of political and election violence in Nigeria, all necessary steps must be taken to ensure that the recently witnessed crimes and violent conflicts are curtailed with utmost dispatch.”

    Ogbeh said the inability of government to pay attention to herdsmen and cow farming, unlike other developed countries, contributed to the killings.

    The government, however, expressed concern that the trend of clashes between herdsmen and famers is dangerous for the development of the country.

    Ogbeh said: “Over the years, we have not done much to look seriously into the issue of livestock development in the country. People ask the question; why should government get involved, why shouldn’t the herdsmen manage their own livestock? I am sad to tell you that in the last 50 years, until recently, we may have done enough for the rice farmer, the cassava farmer, the maize farmer, the cocoa farmer, but we haven’t done much for herdsmen and that inability and omission on our part is resulting in the crises we are witnessing today.

    ”In Europe, every cow that is farmed gets a subsidy of six Euros per day, we have done next to nothing for the cattle rearer and, as a result, his operation has become a threat to the existence of our farmers. That is what this communiqué will seek to resolve.”

    The minister added  that the Federal Government was “planning a programme called cattle colonists, not ranches but colonists where at least 5000 hectares of land would be made available, adequate water, adequate pasture would be made available.

    ”We also want to stop cattle rearers  from roaming about. The culture of cattle roaming about will be stopped. The cattle will be provided with water and adequate security by the rangers, adequate pasture milk collection even security for rustlers to enable them live a normal life. This has been done elsewhere in India, Ethiopia and even Brazil.”

     

  • Govt protests harassment of Nigerians in Libya

    Govt protests harassment of Nigerians in Libya

    Nigeria at the weekend protested the harassment of her citizens by Libyans in illegal migrants’ camps.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyeama expressed the Federal Government’s displeasure when he met with his Libyan counterpart in Tripoli at the weekend.

    The minister led a government delegation to the country to facilitate the release and evacuation of more than 5,000 Nigerian illegal migrants trapped in the North African country.

    On the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians, Onyeama said: “We have made our feelings known to the relevant Ministers and we asked the Libyan government to stop it.”

    A member of the delegation, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa said: “We got reports of extortion, beating, outright killing in anger, violation of rights and all forms  of inhuman treatment. The delegation protested to Libyan

    “The leader of delegation, Mr. Onyeama, had a session with Libyan Ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs where he lodged our protest. Some heads of various detention centres were also there. Although they denied maltreating Nigerians, they were  warned by Libyan senior government officials to desist from such act  if they had been doing it.

    “We extracted a commitment from them that the illegal conduct will stop. We will however be documenting reports relating to misconduct by Libyan officials at the detention centres.”

    Many of the returnees were however crying and begging President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue others in some parts of Libya apart from Tripoli.

    After about 72 hours of talks, a Fact-Finding Committee Federal Government team evacuated 481 out of the estimated first batch of 5,000 Nigerians from Libya. They were flown to Port Harcourt last night.

    The delegation reached a deal with the Libyan Government on how to locate all Nigerians trapped in the Arab country.

    The Libyan Government allowed Nigerian fact-finding team to have access to four detention camps in Tripoli to meet with the trapped Nigerians.

    The camps are Jejura Detention Centre, Sikka Detention Centre, Zanzu Detention Centre and Terie Matar..

    There were indications however that the number of the stranded Nigerians was more than the 5,000 because more of them were sending distress messages to a member of the delegation, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who is the Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora affairs.

    Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Maihaja said: “We have started the evacuation of over 5,000 Nigerians from Libya to the Reception Centre in Port Harcourt.

    “Those in the inaugural flight with Max Air were 481. We hope that in the next 19 days, we will be able to complete the evacuation. We are also using Medview Airline.

    “Already, we have many officers on standby in Port Harcourt for profiling, medical examination and other relevant data. There is understanding with affected state governments to receive these returnees at the Reception Centre for rehabilitation and reintegration into the society.”

    Speaking with our correspondent in Tripoli, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Onyeama said: “We have had useful discussions with the Libyan authorities on how to ensure smooth evacuation of Nigerians trapped in Libya.

    “I think the number of those affected could be more than the initial figure of 5,000. This is why we have the technical team here.”

    The returnees were accompanied back home by the minister, Senior Special Assistant to the President on The Diaspora and Foreign Affairs Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Director general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Maihaja and a Director in the office of the National Security Adviser Mr Abba Ibrahim.

  • Govt to rehabilitate returnees from Libya, says Buhari

    Govt to rehabilitate returnees from Libya, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised to rehabilitate Nigerian citizens who were evacuated from Libya.

    About 493 of the returnees arrived at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omugwa at 4: 55 pm yesterday aboard Max Airline.

    They are the first batch of the 5,027 Nigerians to be evacuated by the Federal Government from Libya were they were reportedly being enslaved.

    President Buhari, who spoke through Minister of Foreign Affairs Geofrey Onyeama while addressing the returnees at the Port Harcourt Airport Hajj Camp, where they are being housed, said plans had been concluded to rehabilitate and empower the returnees. He urged them to be law abiding.

    Onyeama said:  “We are very happy at home. As you know, Mr.  President and the people of Nigeria are very worried and concerned about your well-being, and the President sent a delegation which I led to Libya where many of you are being held in very difficult inhuman condition.

    “With all the necessary resources at our disposal, he said we should go to Libya and do everything possible to bring you back as quickly as possible.

    “We with the Director General of Nigerian Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),  the Senior Special Adviser to the President in Diaspora,  The Director General of The Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in persons(NAPTIP).

    “Also with me was the Federal Commissioner for Refugees as well as a representative from the office of the National Security Adviser, and the comptroller general of Immigration.

    “We went to Libya, we discussed with the government, we saw all of you young children, young boys and young girls, and we negotiated to ensure you came back.  There were a lot of challenges that we faced, but we were ready to overcome them and bring you here and you are the first batch that has arrived.

    “We saw the very difficult conditions in which you were held, we felt for you for the very traumatic experience you went through and our hearts really went out to you and I must say that each an every one of us at that delegation really felt so proud of you.

    “As young children,  notwithstanding everything that you went through,  you maintained your dignity,  your composure, your respect and you stood up when we came and sang the national Anthem,  the national pledge with pride, we are extremely proud of you; extremely proud of the way you comported yourself notwithstanding the condition, the most inhuman condition that you were found yourself during this stay.

    “We hope that one thing you have learnt is that your lives matter to Nigerians, your lives matter to Mr president.

    “There is no other place in this world that can be there than to be with your brothers, your sister and your parents here in Nigeria.

    “We know that many if you were trafficked many of you taken against your better judgement, you have come home and you will not be abandoned.  There are provisions in place to provide for an extensive rehabilitation for you to enable you to get education, skills and development to equip you to get jobs.” He stated.

    He thanked the Rivers state government on the behalf of the returnees for accepting to accommodate them.

    He urged the youths to become advocates of discouraging intending illegal migrants outside the country.

    “After all you have been through in Libya, we want you to go out there as advocate to tell other young boys and girls in the country your experiences in Libya  so that they will not make the same mistakes, so that they will not be in the same condition to be exploited and be deceived into embarking on this hazardous journey.”

    Director General of Immigration, Muhammad Babandede advised Nigerians against illegal traveling, stressing that other Nigerians who travelled to Libya are being treated well.

    The returnees who were clothed in tick track suits came in with no luggage save nylon bags and worn out sack bags. They are mainly youths aged between 19 and 42 years, majority of the returnees are from Edo and Delta states.

    On arrival they were screened by a medical team from the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

    Secretary to the State Government Kenneth Konami who represented Governor Nyesom Wike, pledged to partner with the Federal Government to see to the welfare of the returnees.

  • Expert advises govt on early passage of 2018 budget

    The Federal Government has been advised to push for early passage of 2018 budget to facilitate rapid infrastructure development.

    The former President, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, gave this advice in Ota, Ogun State.

    He urged the National Assembly to pass the budget on time to allow the government undertake massive infrastructure development in power, roads and rail sector in 2018.

    Nzekwe said: “There is the need for the Federal Government to work according to the budget so that it could achieve most of its goals in 2018.”

    He noted that the late passage of the 2017 budget led to the non payment of local contractors and imposition of hardship on the people.

    Infrastructure deficit, the former ANAN president said,  was the major problem facing the nation. “Stable power supply and other amenities are the backbone of any nation because no economy can thrive and move forward positively without infrastructure development,” he said.

    Nzekwe also said power supply was imperative for the nation’s industries to thrive and provide employment opportunities for youths in order to eradicate poverty in the country.

    He, however, implored the government to formulate people’s-oriented policies that would benefit all in 2018.

  • Invest in waste-to-wealth in 2018, govt urged

    Invest in waste-to-wealth in 2018, govt urged

    A waste management expert, Prof. Oladele Osibanjo, has advised all tiers of government to invest in the waste-to-wealth programme in 2018.

    Osibanjo, who is President, Waste Management Society of Nigeria (WAMSON), gave the advice in Lagos, urging them to provide the enabling environment for investors to turn all types of waste to valuable raw materials.

    Osibanjo said: ‘‘For now, the Federal, state and local governments are treating waste with levity and things cannot continue like this.

    “There should be a positive change. So, I am looking forward to the three tiers of governments being committed to taking waste to the next level in 2018.

    “I expect them to embrace waste-to-wealth, waste-to-energy, and know that global warming is real and that waste also contribute to global warming.”

    He pleaded with the government to ensure the passage of waste bill in the National Assembly and its signing it into law to kick-start the integrated management of waste in the country.

    The waste management expert said with a law in place, companies and individuals would use different methodologies to develop the nation’s waste to create jobs for the citizens.

    He expressed hope that this will reduce the numerous complaints by citizens and environment lovers on refuse littering their areas, including water bodies and drainage channels.

    The WAMSON president also appealed to people to develop waste materials and unlock the potential in them.