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Tag: Ike Ekweremadu

  • Senate to investigate death of 26 Nigerian girls on Mediterranean

    Senate to investigate death of 26 Nigerian girls on Mediterranean

    The Senate is to investigate  the death of 26 young Nigerian girls on the Mediterranean while travelling to Italy.

    The measure followed a resolution on a motion “On death of 26 Young Nigerian Girls en route Italy”, sponsored by Sen. Rose Oko (PDP-Cross-River) during Thursday’s plenary.

    The assembly also commended the Italian authorities for immediately stepping into the matter with the hope of resolving the murders.

    It called on the Federal Government to set up an inter-agency committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Immigration Service, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons  to immediately work out a strategy to check such development.

    The Senate also called on government to declare a state of emergency on unemployment and come out with more pro-active measures to engage the youth.

    “On Nov. 6 it was reported by national and international media the gruesome story of the dead bodies of 26 young Nigerian girls of ages 14 to 18 discovered in a Spanish warship.

    “The suspicion was that they were sexually abused and murdered,” Oko said.

    She noted that there was mass exodus of young Nigerian boys and girls illegally attempting to migrate to Europe, especially to Italy and Spain.

    “These journeys are through the perilous long and hazardous Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean sea.

    “They run into the hands of bandits, are abused and raped and the dangerous sea waves often in rickety rubber boats.

    “This has led to the death of several of them almost every week,”  the senator said.

    She said that as of May, it was reported that about 10,000 Nigerians had perished along the Sahara Desert-Libya- Mediterranean Sea route.

    She noted that Italian prosecutors who had begun investigation into the death of the girls had arrested an Egyptian and a Libyan as suspects.

    “This mass exodus of our children from the relative safety and security of home to the often cold hands of death have arisen and are increasing as a result of the economic hardships at home, including the unemployment situation in Nigeria.”

    She said it was time to go beyond the mere feeling of horror to taking pro-active, urgent and emergency measures to address the root causes of the exodus, including massive enlightenment on the dangers therein.

    Oko added that an inter-agency cooperation and collaboration was urgently needed by government to address this problem.

    Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna) described the incident  as a national tragedy.

    “It is unfortunate that year in year out thousands of Africans, including Nigerians, perish on their way to Europe in search of greener pastures,”  Sani said.

    He said that factors that led to the exodus included poverty, economic instability, unrealisable dreams and illusions as well as other components related to drug trafficking and terrorism.

    “It is unfortunate that we continue to ignore this tragedy that is before us; 26 lives lost is one tragedy too many,” Sani said.

    He called for actions that would stop young men and women moving into the hands of drug and human traffickers.

    “It is high time that the relevant agencies of government did everything possible to stem the tide.”

    Sen. Suleiman Adokwe (PDP-Nasarawa State) said: “since the Italian Government was investigating, it is expected of the Nigerian government to by now, make definite statements as to how they will expect the Italian government to investigate this thing thoroughly.

    “We must be proactive,” Adokwe said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said government owed citizens of Nigeria the responsibility to provide the basic needs of life.

    “We must not fail on this responsibility. It is important for us to think of how to provide social security for our people.

    “We should ensure that every Nigerian has food to eat.

    “There is no money on the streets outside the country.

    “The young men and women should know that it is better for us to stay back in Nigeria and be able to build a better country.”

    NAN

  • Senate approves $350m World Bank loan for Ogun Development Policy Operation

    Senate approves $350m World Bank loan for Ogun Development Policy Operation

    The Senate at plenary on Thursday approved 350 million dollars World Bank loan for Ogun State Development Policy Operation ( DPO ) as contained in the 2016-2018 Rolling Plan.

    The approval followed the presentation of a report on the loan by Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Sen. Shehu Sani.

    Presenting the report, Sani said that the committee observed that the Ogun State DPO budget for the loan had been approved by World Bank in 2016.

    He added that the loan was further captured in the 2016-2018 borrowing plan as approved by the National Assembly.

    Sani noted that the committee also observed that the credit facility had an attractive low financing rate of 125 per cent interest, moratorium of five years and a five-year maturity term.

    He said “the facility has already been captured in the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

    “It also has low and acceptable loan sustainability level, therefore it is eligible to borrow.

    “The DPO loan will further help to enhance the capacity of the state government.

    “The state has met the various conditions laid by World Bank and as such qualified for the loan.

    “It has also put in place institutional framework for transparent and accountable budgetary and financial purpose.”

    He explained that the projects to be funded by the facility would engender economic growth, increase revenue generation and create employment opportunities.

    “The committee recommends that the Senate should go ahead and approve the loan as contained in the 2016-2018 external borrowing rolling plan of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ Sani added.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, put the report to  voice vote and was adopted by the lawmakers.

    NAN

  • 2019: PDP set to dislodge ruling party – Senate caucus

    2019: PDP set to dislodge ruling party – Senate caucus

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus on Wednesday, met with the party’s, minority leaders of State Assemblies, assuring that the party was stronger and set to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from power in 2019.

    Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio made this known while briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, which held behind a closed door at the National Assembly Complex.

    He said that a teeming number of stalwarts of other political parties “were on their way to the main opposition party in droves.

    “These are the Minority Leaders of the PDP in different State Houses of Assembly, who are in Abuja to interact with the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, and the Minority leader of the Senate.

    “We congratulated ourselves that we stood firm and at the end. God gave us victory at the Supreme Court and the party is now waxing stronger.

    “We have reviewed the state of the party and re-evaluated the situation, state by state, and we found out that the party is stronger than it was.

    “And as I speak, stalwarts and thousands of members of other political parties, starting from APC, all the way down to APGA, are on their way to the PDP.

    “We also want to urge the leadership of the party at the national level to open the door wide open between now and the next convention to receive them.”

    Akpabio said the caucus also discussed the guideline for the forthcoming national convention of the PDP in order to make meaningful contributions to the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

    Speaking on behalf of the PDP Forum of the State Assemblies, Minority Leader of the Imo House of Assembly, Hon. Ken Agbim, assured of total support and mobilisation at the grassroots to give the party victory in 2019.

  • Senate summons Fayemi over Zamfara lead poisoning

    Senate summons Fayemi over Zamfara lead poisoning

    The Senate on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to appear before it and brief on the ministry’s mining roadmap and implementation framework.

    The minister is also expected to brief the upper chamber on how the ministry intended to ensure protection of the residents of mining host communities against lead poisoning and other hazards.

    This followed the resolution of the Senate sequel to a motion by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) and four other senators.

    The motion is on the “Update on Lead Poisoning in Zamfara and the need to prevent further propagation of the resources theory”.

    She said that the senate received with great distress, updates on lead poisoning which occurred in 36 villages and communities in Zamfara.

    “It was observed that besides Zamfara, mining host communities in states like Kogi, Niger and others have also been affected by the negative effects of mining practices.

    While noting that Nigeria did not qualify as a mining state, she said that the 2016 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) breakdown showed the mining sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP as abysmal.

    “It revealed that the nation’s mining sector is almost redundant, that the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Fayemi, is working to resuscitate the sector, and that the ministry has approved a mining roadmap.”

    In his contribution, Sen. Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers) urged the senate to make use of the opportunity to address the situation before what happened in the Niger Delta repeated itself.

    “This is how the situation in the Niger Delta started and the communities paid for it, because there are no laws in the country governing mining of minerals.

    “The institutions are weak and ineffective and sometimes, we have the institutions running over themselves doing the same thing and the communities suffering for it.

    “We have to use this opportunity to set it right before it gets out of hand and before we have another Niger Delta situation in this country,” Abe said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at plenary, said that the senate must pursue its mandate by putting things right.

    “We are aware that a lot of illegal mining is going on and we must set things right,” he said.

    After the debate, the lawmakers mandated its Committee on Environment and Solid Minerals to visit the affected communities to ascertain the level of damage done and report back.

    The senate further directed committee to investigate the activities of the Ministry of Environment as it affected the mining sector.

    The upper chamber equally urged the minister to ensure adoption of safer mining methods by mining concerns.

    NAN

  • Ekweremadu lauds FG on rehabilitation of Enugu-Ebonyi road

    Ekweremadu lauds FG on rehabilitation of Enugu-Ebonyi road

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, has commended the effort of the Federal Government on the rehabilitation of the 41-kilometre Ozalla-Akpugo-Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Nkomoro federal road.

    The road, earlier awarded in 2010, stopped due to poor funding, but was re-awarded by the present federal administration following the intervention of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Ekweremadu, and other federal legislators from Enugu State.

    A statement by Ekweremadu’s Special Adviser (Media), Uche Anichukwu on Sunday in Abuja, quoted Ekweremadu as thanking President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for making funds available for the project.

    He explained that the road had been awarded as a full project under the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing.

    Ekweremadu commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his cooperation with the members of the National Assembly toward ensuring the reactivation of the project.

    He added that the governor mandated them to ensure that no federal road in the State was abandoned.

    “I would, therefore, like to express our special gratitude to the Federal Government for making funds available to continue this project and also call on them to step up efforts on roads in the South East”.

    On his part, Ugwuanyi appreciated the synergy among the federal lawmakers from the State, which he said, contributed highly to the commencement of work on the road.

    “What we are witnessing here is the effect of synergy among the National Assembly Members from Enugu State led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

    “On behalf of Ndi Enugu, we appreciate the Federal Government for acceding to the request by the State for the road rehabilitation, which will bring about socio-economic transformation to the people”, he said.

    Earlier, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Tobi Okechukwu, and Member representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ujam, said the project would help to boost economic activities in the communities.

    NAN

  • Makarfi cautions intending PDP returnees against delay

    Makarfi cautions intending PDP returnees against delay

    The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Ahmed Makarfi, has cautioned defectors from the party but who are willing to return, to do so without further delay.

    Asking the would be returnees and intending joiners to make up their minds in good time, the chairman said the PDP would not wait for anybody, as jostling for prime positions would soon commence.

    He revealed that Accord Party, led by a former Oyo State Governor, Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja; the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Mr. Seyi Makinde; and the Labour Party have already joined the PDP

    Makarfi said the Accord Party presently has six lawmakers in the Oyo State House of Assembly and that a 40-man committee has been set up to look into see to the registration of the new entrants.

    The chairman, who spoke on Wednesday at the meeting of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) said, “While we reconcile and accommodate, we are not waiting for any individual to make up their mind”.

    Many of the prominent chieftains that dumped the PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 elections are being rumoured to be working their way beach to the PDP.

    Makarfi added that the party’s success in the 2019 elections would largely depend on timely preparations and getting its forthcoming national convention right.

    “We have to get it right because this is what will determine whether we succeed in 2019 or not. We are working on the time table for the convention. We will consult and brief the BoT”, he said.

    He cautioned members against the antics of sycophants, saying that such could boomerang on the party because it would be difficult to carry everybody along.

    According to him, the leadership of the party was ready to wield the big stick, stressing that henceforth members would be made to face disciplinary actions if they worked against the interests of the party.

    Also speaking at the meeting, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu urged the party’s leadership to be cautious in handling issues surrounding the emergence of a substantive chairman.

    Describing the issue of chairmanship as very sensitive, the lawmaker warned that poor handling of the matter could affect the party’s chances in the 2019 elections.

    Ekweremadu said, “We have gone through trial, through the wilderness, but we are now out of it and heading to the Promised Land. It is expected that the BOT will play a prominent role in guiding the party; otherwise, we may never get to the Promised Land.

    “2019 is almost here, so let us not sit back and say we are watching what will happen. We can’t afford to remain in the opposition after 2019 (God forbid).

    “So, I want to appeal that going forward, we should have more meetings and more consultations to ensure that we make minimal mistakes and avoid the mistakes we made in the past.

    “As we approach the convention to elect our national officers, I want to appeal that the BOT must show more than passing interest in who becomes what.

    “Because the issue of who becomes the chairman is so critical that if we don’t get it right, nothing will happen in the aspect of the President. We should have the type of National Working Committee we would be proud of, to direct our party very well”

    The meeting however failed not elect a new Secretary for the BoT to fill the vacancy created by the death of Chief Ojo Maduekwe who died late 2016.

    Some sources at the meeting cited disagreement arising from insistence by some stakeholders from the South East zone to have one of the own occupy the position as reason the meeting failed to elect a new Secretary. The late Maduekwe hailed from the South East.

    Others sources attributed it to lack of quorum at the meeting, saying that matter had been shifted to the next meeting for a larger house to decide.

  • Ekweremadu condoles with Sen. Nnaji on wife’s death

    Ekweremadu condoles with Sen. Nnaji on wife’s death

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed sadness over the death of Mrs Ann Nnaji, the wife of Sen. Gilbert Nnaji.

    Ekweremadu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu, described the late Mrs Nnaji as “a gentlewoman, who led a pious life of service to God and humanity’’.

    “I received with deep sense of grief the passing on of this Amazon.

    “She was a virtuous woman, an organiser and a dependable wife, who stood by her husband in thick and thin.
    “She was kindness personified and served God and humanity till her last breath. She will be sorely missed.

    “I, therefore, send my heartfelt condolences to my brother and friend, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

    “My condolences also go to the good people of Enugu East Senatorial District in particular, and Enugu State in general on this sad loss,’’ Ekweremadu said.

    He prayed God to grant the deceased a peaceful repose and her family and the people of Enugu State the strength to bear the irreparable loss.

  • Eid-El-Kabir: Saraki, Ekweremadu, Mark seek rededication to nation building

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former Senate President, David Mark, have expressed felicitation to Muslim faithful on the occasion of celebration of Eid-El-Kabir.

    While Saraki, called on all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the dreams and aspirations of building a strong, united, economically sound and politically stable country, Ekweremadu called for sacrifice and unity.

    Senator Mark on his part, sought for peace and justice in the country.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, felicitated with Muslim faithful on the occasion of this year’s Eid- El-Kabir, while urging all Nigerians irrespective of religion to use the occasion to pray for the greater glory of the country.

    He stated that the Muslim festival which falls on Jummat day (Friday) is unique as it carries a dual promise that all prayers offered during the Eid and Jummat have a double assurance of bringing Allah’s blessing to Muslim faithful and their country.

    “It is significant that the Eid-El-Kabir and Jummat will be celebrated in one day,” Saraki said. “This tells us that all prayers offered during this solemn day will no doubt command double mercies of Allah towards us all.”

    He called on all Muslims to seek Allah’s grace for the peace, unity, security and economic development of the country.

    He equally enjoined Nigerians to pray for the good health of President Muhammadu Buhari and God’s guidance for all persons in positions of authority – from the Presidency to the wards – as well as all those directing affairs in the private sector of the economy.

    “This is a time we must be our brothers’ keeper by sharing our worldly goods with them. This is a time we must pray for our leaders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari and all those saddled with the responsibilities of leadership at all levels in our country.

    “With prayers, I have no doubt that God will inspire and guide our leaders to initiate and sustain policies and programmes that would guarantee peace, security, economic growth, political stability and social cohesion in our nation,” the President of the Senate stated.

    Saraki said he has no doubt that this year would witness the strong rebound of the nation’s economy and that the positive effects will trickle down to individual homes and help citizens to realize their goals and aspirations.

    “Therefore, I call on all our brothers and sisters, fellow Nigerians, to be law abiding and support the present administration in its bid to tackle the problems of insecurity, unemployment, corruption and underperforming economy. I wish all our Muslim brothers and sisters a peaceful, rewarding and blessed Eid-El-Kabir. May Allah accept our supplications”, he stated.

    Ekweremadu enjoined Nigerians to eschew all forms of recrimination and imbibe self-sacrifice, forgiveness and other higher virtues that promote national unity and development.

    Ekweremadu said: “I congratulate our Muslim brethren on this occasion of Eid el-Kabir. This season of conviviality presents another opportunity to reflect on our national challenges and the way forward.

    “No nation realises its full potentials without equity, justice, unity, and peaceful co-existence. I enjoin the Muslim Umah and indeed all of us to imbibe the virtues of sacrifice, forgiveness, and love that the season represents in order to move the nation forward”.

    While also enjoining the Muslim Umah to cease the opportunity of the Sallah to recommit the nation into God’s hand, the Deputy President of the Senate wished the Muslim Umah a merry and hitch-free Eid el-Kabir celebration.

    Mark once again canvassed for justice, righteousness and peaceful coexistence between and among Nigerians.

    Senator Mark in a goodwill message to Nigerians on the celebration of this year’s Sallah said only a harmonious and peaceful coexistence could guarantee meaningful development.

    Apparently concerned about recent out burst from different regions agitating for self-independence within the existing geopolitical entity, Sen. Mark cautioned against any action or utterances capable of threatening the indivisibility of Nigeria.

    He said Nigeria as a nation has over the years weathered the storm of socio-economic and political challenges pointing out that it will be unnecessary and ridiculous to ignite another storm.

    Sen. Mark however admitted that the current political and constitutional arrangement may not be perfect but “with collective will and understanding of all stakeholders, we can gradually address the perceived imbalances without spilling the beans”

    He therefore tasked authorities at all levels to begin forthwith a peace building mechanism between and among various groups so that the present misconceptions in some quarters would not snow ball into a bigger crises.

    He reminded aggrieved persons that there are existing legitimate channels including the judiciary and the national assembly where groups or individuals could leverage on to seek redress of perceived wrong doings instead of resort to self-help.

    For Sen. Mark, Nigeria is a big brother in Africa and a respectable player in the world affairs and cannot be seen to be doing things in the opposite direction.

    The former Senate president craved for a just and egalitarian society where every citizen is free to pursue his or her legitimate ambition in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation.

     

  • Anambra Massacre: Bring perpetrators to justice, Saraki, Ekweremadu urge police

    Anambra Massacre: Bring perpetrators to justice, Saraki, Ekweremadu urge police

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has expressed sadness over the killing of some worshipers at St. Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, Anambra, on Sunday.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, also condemned the tragedy and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

    Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the killing of worshippers was evil.

    He called on security operatives to bring perpetrators of the crime to justice.

    “Today, my heart goes out to Nigeria’s Christian community, Gov. Willy Obiano, the people of Anambra and the families of the victims and the survivors of this terrible massacre.

    “This brutal act of attacking innocent and unsuspecting worshippers represents the purest kind of evil.

    “Our security forces must not stop until everyone involved in the orchestration and execution of today’s massacre in St. Philip’s Catholic Church is brought to book by the strong arm of justice.

    “The Senate will continue to offer assistance in this endeavour because today, all of us as Nigerians have been attacked by this senseless act committed by evil people,” he said.

    Saraki further urged security agencies in the country to step up their intelligence activities to prevent activities of criminals.

    He also called on security agencies to unravel any crime committed against Nigerians by undesirable elements in the society.

  • FG to shed powers – Ekweremadu

    FG to shed powers – Ekweremadu

    The National Assembly resolved on Monday that the 1999 Constitution needs some reforms that would enhance the development of the country.

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who addressed journalists at a retreat for the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution held in Lagos, said some of the contentious issues would be reviewed to meet the yearning of the people.

    He said the country would be restructured, noting that railways would no longer be in the exclusive list.

    He said: “We have broken all the issues into specific bills. Between yesterday and today (Monday) we have looked at about 23 separate bills with separate issues. The idea is to ensure that by the time we vote, each of them succeed or fail on its own.  When we conclude the work and send it to the House to approve.

    “We will collate and ensure that the provisions of the constitution have been fulfilled regarding the alteration and we will send it to the President for his assent. And the President will decide which one to assent or not to assent.

    “The implication therefore is that if he assent some, then those ones become an alternative part of the constitution. And the ones he refused to assent, then we might decide whether to override the veto. So, we want each of them to have a separate life on its own. And this is based on our own experience in the last exercise where everything was in one single bill and when the President withheld his assent, all of them collapsed.

    “This is just an improvement on what we did last time. It is something we innovated based on our experience in the last exercise. Now, we have gone through some specific issues like the timeframe within which a governor or President will be able to assent to a bill. If you look at our constitution, I think Section 58, if you pass a bill, you need to send it to the President for his assent and he has to assent it within 30 days. ”

    Ekweremadu said it was imperative to for the Federal Government to shed some of its powers.

    He added: “We also tried to withdraw some powers from the executive list to the concurrent list. You know we have been talking about the restructuring of Nigeria, one of the components of restructuring is to reduce the federal government’s powers.  There are claims that the federal government has too much power and we need to strip some of them.”