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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Firm celebrates Udiroko festival

    La Casera has joined the people of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, to celebrate the 2019 Udiroko festival.

    The Udiroko festival is celebrated every August as a climax of the New Yam celebration. The 709 edition held between August 10 and 25.

    The La Casera team earlier visited the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, to felicitate with him and the people. Kolanuts were broken and prayers said for the peace and prosperity of the community. The next stop for the train was the brand sponsored Ewi Cup Football Final, followed by the Udiroko Street Activation and Sampling Day, which held before the grand finale of the festival.

    The La Casera train also toured the beautiful city of Ado-Ekiti, leaving behind a trail of merriment, dance and invigorating apple goodness.

    Senior Brand Manager Ruth Ode said the brand will remain at the forefront of promoting culture and tradition in Nigeria, hence its continued participation in the Udiroko Festival and other cultural festivals in the country.

    Oba Aladesanmi in his address noted that the festival is devoid of the fetish practices associated with many traditional ceremonies.

    He said: “It is a fiesta organised to showcase the historical, cultural and traditional potentials of the people of Ado-Ekiti.”

    At the La Casera pavilion, the brand excited consumers and treated them to games such as Ayo, Ludo and drafts. Participants energised with refreshingly cold La Casera Apple, jostled to hold on their winning streaks for as long as possible, as they won various branded gift items and free cases of La Casera.

  • Governor restates commitment to accessible education

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has restated his administration’s commitment to make quality education accessible.

    Wike spoke on Monday while inaugurating the reconstructed and remodelled Sea-Bed Model Primary School in Port Harcourt.

    The school is one of the 253 upgraded and expanded in the last four years. The opening is part of activities to mark Wike’s 100 days in office.

    Wike promised to uplift the standard of education through critical interventions.

    He said: “We shall continue to engage in human capital development; and the best way to do that is to fund educational development.

    Read Also: Wike won election, says APC witness

    “We are awarding contracts for the construction of 69 primary and basic education schools. These projects will be handled by the people who will be empowered while executing the projects.

    “The government will continue to develop education to securing the state’s future.”

    The governor reiterated that fees and levies for primary and secondary schools remain abolished saying: “We shall sanction any school administrator or principal who collects … fee. We have provided funding for all schools…”

  • Rivers APC congresses on hold

    Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Committee in Rivers State Isaac Ogbobula has said the planned ward, local government and state congresses have been put on hold.

    Ogbobula, however, said other activities would go on.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) last week scheduled  fresh congresses for September 17 to 28. It also inaugurated the Ogbobula-led five-member caretaker committee.

    Read Also: ‘Abe must be expelled from APC’

    A governorship aspirant, Senator Magnus Abe, last week obtained a court order stopping the congresses and declared the caretaker committee illegal. Ogbobula said the congresses were put on hold as directed by the NWC following the development in the judiciary. He hinted that NWC members were responsible for the reconciliation process.

    He assured party faithful that other party activities would continue unhindered.

  • Delta 2023: power rotation agreement sacrosanct, says Ibori 

    Former Delta State Governor James Ibori has said power rotation among the north, south and central senatorial districts remains ‘sacrosanct’ for future polls.

    Ibori spoke during a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government, at the weekend.

    According to him, complying with the established pattern of power rotation, which started in 1999, would ensure fairness to every ethnic nationality in the state.

    He was confident that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would hand over to an elected Delta Central indigene in 2023, as promised during his campaign.

    Ibori, who noted that time was still far away, wondered why some PDP politicians outside the district were agitating for the ticket.

    Read Also: Delta spends N377m on water reticulation

    He said: “Governor Okowa, during his campaign, promised to hand over to Delta Central; and as a gentleman and promise keeper, we have no doubt he will do everything within his God-given powers to keep his promise.

    “We expect all genuine members of our great party, PDP, to comply with the power rotation agreement. It is for the good of all; majority and minority, the weak and the strong, for a balanced society.

    “Equity, justice and good conscience are some of the major pillars of constitutional democracy, hence, PDP in Delta State encourages power rotation to enable the majority and minority groups, and or ethnic nationalities, via senatorial districts and power arrangements, to produce governor; and the agreement remains sacrosanct.

    “Let me also state clearly that 2023 is still far ahead, and it’s not time yet for political campaigns, but we shall begin primary arrangements and wide consultations in the near future. We must remain united and avoid unnecessary division and attacks on personalities within and outside Delta Central as we make steady progress towards the historic inauguration of the next Urhobo governor in 2023…”

  • National identity management registers 37m Nigerians

    THE Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, on Monday said the National Identity Card Management Commission (NIMC) has registered 37 million Nigerians.

    The SGF spoke in Abuja at the maiden National Identity Day with the theme: Assured Digital Identity for All.

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF (OSGF), Gabriel Tenimu Aduda, the SGF recalled that in 2015, the commission registered seven million Nigerians, while in 2018, the figure moved up to 37 million.

    He described the number as “highly commendable”.

    Mustapha said the issue of identity cannot be taken lightly, especially when everything is going digital, including activities in the commission.

    Read Also: NIMC begins registration of Nigerians in UK

    The SGF explained that the participation of the Office of the SGF showed unwavering commitment to developing a robust identity management system that would quicken the pace of e-government across the country.

    He said: “It is also a measure of confidence that the OSGF has approved for the commission to operate and regulate matters of National Identity in Nigeria with service covering but not limited to national identity number (NIN) enrolment, national e-ID card issuance, identity verification as well as data harmonisation and integration.”

     

  • ‘Abe must be expelled from APC’

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Chukwuemeka Eze, has called for the suspension of Senator Magnus Abe to ensure peace and unity.

    Eze said: “Abe’s personal attacks on the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, are aimed at destroying the party at the national level, after dismantling the APC’s structure in Rivers State.

    “Abe decided to turn the heat on the NWC, even while continuing to make moves to ensure the party in Rivers State never gets out of the incapacitation he foisted on it. Abe is on a mission to destroy APC in Rivers State and to dismantle the party at the national level. The continued presence of the former senator and his followers in the party is dangerous. It is left to the national leadership to do the needful by expelling Abe so as not to weaken APC ahead of 2023.”

    Read Also: ‘Abe must be expelled from APC to end Rivers crisis’

    The party chieftain said he was glad that chairman of Abe’s faction, Peter Odike, has returned to the mainstream APC…

    He congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the tribunal, and called on Nigerians to support the administration.

    Eze urged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to ignore the enemies of democracy “…urging him to challenge the tribunal’s judgment at the Supreme Court”.

    Abe could not be reached for comments on Monday.

  • Minister’s aide Onigbinde resigns amid social media backlash

    TECHNICAL Adviser to the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Oluseun Onigbinde, has resigned his appointment.

    This followed public outcry against his appointment.

    Onigbinde, a Co-founder of BudgIT, announced his resignation on Monday.

    Prior to the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, he had tweeted that whoever planned to vote for the President in 2019 did not love Nigeria.

    He wrote: “I will say this for the last time, if you plan to vote for Buhari or you encourage him for another term, you really don’t love Nigeria. You are either a closet ethnic jingoist or someone who worships mediocrity.”

    His acceptance to work under the same administration he had vehemently criticised backfired.

    Many users of the social media blasted him for taking up the job and described him as a man “without integrity”.

    He announced his resignation on his Medium page, a link he shared on his official Twitter handle.

    Onigbinde said recent reports about his appointment had created a complex narrative, “which I believe would engender an atmosphere of mistrust, as I planned to proceed”.

    Read Also: BudgIT seeks end to fuel subsidy

    He added: “Upon further reflections on the furore that has been generated by my new role as the Technical Adviser to the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, I humbly resign the appointment.”

    “I am very grateful to the Minister, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, for believing in my expertise and I also thank everyone who sent his or her congratulations to me in the short period. I have also been humbled by the faith and belief that numerous persons have expressed in me,” he wrote.

    Onigbinde said his sincere interest is to see a Nigeria that grows and optimises resources for the benefits of all Nigerians, adding: “My loyalty to the good cause of our nation, Nigeria compelled me to accept the call to provide technical skills and this experience has more than strengthened it.

    “I also want to wish the Nigerian Government, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, well. I will always be of help to the federal government in my capacity as the Director of BudgIT, a critical fiscal transparency group, as I have been to several agencies. I would also work to ensure that BudgIT continues to build civic awareness on the right of every Nigerian to know how public resources are managed. Thank you all.”

     

  • Fed Govt to fund firm’s mass housing projects

    TO meet the mass housing target set by the Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Federal Government has agreed to provide enough funding for the execution of the Family Homes Funds for the next five years.

    The government has authorised the board and management of the fund to source for more funds from third party institutions, such as development finance institutions and the capital market.

    This is to ensure that the provision of mass housing does not lack funding.

    Finance Minister Mrs Zainab Ahmed broke the news on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of the board of the Family Homes Funds.

    But she did not say how much the government will release for the mass housing project.

    She said: “The present administration is committed to the implementation of this housing policy through the provision of enough funds for its sustainability in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for the next five years.”

    The minister said the Federal Government “established the Family Homes Funds for the provision of affordable homes for 500,000 low income Nigerians and the creation of 1.5 million jobs”.

    This, she said, “is in realisation of the President Buhari administration’s goal of bridging the housing needs gap with the aim of promptly addressing the numerous demands for government interventions in the housing sector”.

    Read Also: Zainab Ahmed resumes at the Ministry of Finance

    Given the huge amount of money the Family Homes Funds is expected to raise from the Federal Government and other financial institutions, the Finance Minister told the board members of the company that government “will require unusual commitment, uncommon focus, experience and determination to succeed. Without doubt, the Federal Government expects results, measurable ones at that”.

    Mrs Ahmed advised the board and management “to establish top corporate governance culture and a carefully designed internal control mechanisms”.

    She added: “The Family Homes Fund will receive significant amounts of public money, in addition to other capital from development finance institutions and the capital market. It must, therefore, be a reliable steward of resource on your part.”

     

  • Air Force to battle banditry in Niger

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will work with other security agencies to tackle insecurity in Niger State.

    Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar gave the assurance yesterday when Governor Abubakar Bello visited him in Abuja.

    He said: “We are interested in adding value to your governance. We are also monitoring what is happening there.

    “I assure you that the Nigerian Air Force will take steps.

    “We already have our quick response unit there in Minna with some of our special forces there.

    “I believe it is something that can be done and will be done very soon. We are gathering the necessary intelligence and information that is required.

    “We will not require anything from the state government in terms of logistics or resources. We have resources given to us by the Federal Government. All that we require from you is intelligence.

    “Give us intelligence and we will use that intelligence with the resources available to us to ensure that we address these problems.”

    Read Also: Air Force strikes Boko Haram Facilities, neutralises occupants

    Bello had told the air chief that the northern part of Niger had been faced with security challenges.

    He said his visit was to solicit further support of the NAF to address the menace of the bandits.

    “We are faced with security challenges in the northern part of Niger State in the last two, three months.

    “These ongoing challenges have been on for a while, but somehow with the support of security agencies, we have maintained calm and peace in those areas.

    “But somehow, in the last months, we have major influx of armed bandits we suspect are coming from Zamfara State due to the amnesty in Zamfara. They see Niger State even because of the vast forest.

    “You may be aware that Niger State on its own covers about 10 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass, it is very difficult to police and to even patrol.

    “More so that we have a lot of rivers and streams, it is difficult for our patrol vehicles or even motorcycles at times to reach some areas in the state.

    “My visit today is to come and see the Chief of Air Staff to request additional support and assistance toward ensuring security within those restricted areas in the forest that our ground troops do not have access to,” the governor said.

    He said based on his interaction with the joint security agencies, “they are of the opinion that the easiest and safest mode of operation to address these challenges will be through air raid.”

    Bello said many communities had been displaced by bandits.

    “The victims have become Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in nearby town of Kagara where I think, if my calculation is correct, we have not fewer than 1,000 IDPs.

    “We are concerned that if we do not make effort for them to go back to their villages, we will start having health hazards in the IDPs camp.

    “We believe that the earlier they go back home, the better. But for them to go back home, we must guarantee security in those areas,” he said.

  • OYSIEC members sue Makinde over dissolution

    The chairman and members of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) have dragged Governor Seyi Makinde to court over the dissolution of the commission.

    Joined in the multiple suits filed at the National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan are the Attorney-General of the state, House of Assembly and Head of Service.

    In seven separate suits individually filed by the chairman and members of OYSIEC, the claimants are challenging the premature dissolution and termination of their tenure of office as chairman and members of the commission.

    In the originating summons filed by the claimants, they are seeking 10 reliefs including among others: A declaration that the purported dissolution of the OYSIEC and termination of the appointment of the claimants by the governor is illegal, null and void; declaration that the resolution of the House of Assembly purporting to ratify such dissolution of the commission is illegal, null and void; a declaration that the Oyo State Government letter terminating their appointment as chairman and members of OYSIEC and dissolving the commission, dated July 1, 2019 and issued by the Head of Service is illegal, unconstitutional and void; an order setting aside the said letter of dissolution terminating their appointment as chairman and members of OYSIEC; an order of reinstatement of the claimants back on OYSIEC board and restoring all entitlements and rights; injunction restraining the Oyo State Government and its agencies from reconstituting or appointing any persons on the commission until the expiration of the claimants constitutional five-year tenure.

    Read Also: Sacked LG bosses: Makinde to constitute OYSIEC in few days

    The claimants have also filed before the court an application seeking interlocutory injunction against the Oyo State Governor, House  of Assembly and others, to restrain them and their agents or servants from nominating, appointing, screening any person or reconstituting the commission (OYSIEC ) until the determination of their case.

    Governor Makinde had by a letter of  July 1, 2019 issued by the Head of Service dissolved the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, admitting that their tenure had not expired, but offering the members money to pay them off for their unexpired tenure.

    The claimants’ counsel in a letter accompanying the service of the court processes filed, and addressed to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, which was copied to other defendants and the National Industrial Court, warned the government not to take any step to over reach or disregard the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court, but respect the rule of law by ensuring nothing is done to appoint anyone into OYSIEC while the cases are pending.

    This, the counsel said, is in line with the Supreme Court decision in Ojukwu V Gov, Lagos State which held decisively that where a party is served with a notice of a suit before a court especially when accompanied with a motion for injunction seeking to restrain the performance of any act or enjoining the doing of certain activities, the hands of the said party are effectively tied from proceeding with the threatened action, even if no preliminary injunction has been issued.

    Recently, a flurry of cases and applications have been filed in the state against Governor Makinde’s administration and officials by the Chairmen of local government councils in the state challenging the dissolution of local government councils.