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Tag: Nigerians

  • CAN urges Nigerians to return to God, restore losses

    CAN urges Nigerians to return to God, restore losses

    Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) President Rev. Samson Ayokunle has urged Nigerians to return to God in repentance with a view to heal the Land and restore all losses in the past years.

    Rev. Ayokunle made the appeal in a statement signed by the CAN Head of Media, Pastor Bayo Oladeji yesterday in Abuja.

    “As we begin a New Year together, I congratulate every Nigerian, both the leaders and the led, on being among the living who entered this New Year.

    “As we enter into this New Year, it’s natural to reflect over the previous year and consider gains and losses.

    “In spite of the economic recession, our God did not allow depression to consume us all. We feel with those innocents who met their untimely death within the year as a result of Communities, farms, Churches and Mosques attacks.”

    The CAN president urged politicians to avoid hate and inciting speeches to maintain the unity, peace and tranquility enjoyed by citizens.

    He called on every eligible voter to register for the voters card, adding that it would empower them to elect the right people.

    “If you are involved, you get the leader you demand and if you failed to be involved, you get the leader you deserved.

    “My appeal to the security agencies is to be dedicated and loyal to the nation in their duties. Let there be rooms for gainful employment for our youths roaming the streets.

    “They have what it takes to stop the needless bloodletting in the country. Let there be peace and unity. The three tiers of government should strive hard to make the much-awaited dividends of democracy available to the people.”

    He noted that Nigeria would be a better country if only both the government and the governed upheld justice and the fear of God.

    Rev. Ayokunle prayed for God to direct the leaders to get it right in every facet of life and wished the country peace and unity in 2018.

  • Saraki advises Nigerians on fight against drug abuse

    Saraki advises Nigerians on fight against drug abuse

    President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has tasked Nigerians on the fight against drug abuse that is ravaging the youth population across the nation.

    Saraki’s reaction followed reports that the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), is set to inaugurate a ‘Codeine Control and Other Related Matters Working Group (CCRWG).

    In a statement on Monday by his media office, Saraki was quoted as saying that it was encouraging to see the PCN taking an active stance against the use and distribution of illegal substances.

    “It’s great to see the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) taking an active stance against the abuse of codeine and other drugs after the #SenateTacklesDrugAbuse Roundtable. This is a welcome development.

    “As the PCN constitutes this group to control the distribution of codeine and other drugs in Nigeria, my colleagues and I in the 8th Senate will continue working to provide the necessary legislative interventions to fight #DrugAbuse across the nation.

    “As we begin a new year, I call on other groups to join this fight to curb the widespread abuse of drugs in communities across the country. The more people that we have saying no to drugs, the more multifaceted Nigeria’s approach to fighting #DrugAbuse will be”, the statement added.

    The Senate President recalled that on December 18 and 19, 2017, the Senate convened a roundtable to discuss the rising drug manage in Nigeria.

    The roundtable, which was convened in Kano State, was aimed at finding solutions to the widespread use, abuse and distribution of drugs across the country.

  • Max Air to evacuate 3,184 Nigerians from Libya

    Max Air to evacuate 3,184 Nigerians from Libya

    Max Air Ltd. has sealed a deal with the Federal government to evacuate 3,184 of the 5,037 Nigerians expected to return from Libya.

    The airline’s spokesman Alhaji Ibrahim Dahiru said in Kano yesterday that the contract agreement was signed between the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the representative of the airline Malam Shehu Wada.

    “With this development, Max Air is expected to operate six flights to bring in 3,184 Nigerians from Libya, using its large fleet of Boeing 747-400 series aircraft,” he said adding that recently, Niger Republic engaged the Airline to evacuate over 5, 000 Nigeriens which it did successfully.

    He added: “Max Air Ltd. has also been the leading Airline in Hajj and Umrah Operations in the last 11 years in Nigeria.

    “The airline has also been involved in the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya and Egypt recently as well as the movement of many Nigerians, especially sports men and women and military personnel.”

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Federal Government appointed the Med-View Airline also through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to participate in the evacuation of 5,037 Nigerians from Libya.

    The Airline’s Executive Director, Business Development and Commercial, Mr Isiaq Na’Allah, and Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the spokesman of NEMA, South-West Zone, confirmed the development in Lagos on Saturday.

    The agreement was signed between the parties on Friday in Abuja. It is expected to facilitate the smooth repatriation of Nigerians from the volatile North African country.

    The agreement was signed on behalf of the airline by Na’ Allah, while the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja and Mrs Fatima Bukar, a Senior Legal Officer of NEMA, signed on behalf of the agency.

  • ‘Nigerians should keep hope alive’

    ‘Nigerians should keep hope alive’

    Professor Chris Onalo, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Credit Administration (ICA) is convinced that despite the harrowing experiences of the past 12 months, Nigerians should look forward to a better deal in 2018. Excerpts:

    ‘What I know is that for the coming New Year, just as I have perceived for the outgoing year, Nigerians should remain hopeful. But it’s has not been cheery. I want to commend the resilience and dexterity of Nigerians in the past 12months and I wish that they continue their resilience and dexterity in the coming year. There is hope but the Nigerian government should also endeavour to look back and see the difficulties faced by Nigerians with a view to introducing policies that deliver sympathy. And that sympathy I’m referring to is the working of things that are critical for economic growth and infrastructure. We’re still talking about electricity and we have not really gone far in real terms. The supply and distribution system is still very weak and businesses are still run on alternative energy supply, generator, to be specific and this slows down business growth, it slows wealth creation, job creation and the business running cost is very high.

    The absence of stable electricity creates no room for start up to begin their own business life, which compounds ironically, the problem of insecurity, problem of employment generation. So government shouldn’t politicise it. Government at all level, should work in unity having one thing in mind, the progress of the Nigerian nation; it transcends individual ambition, it transcends individual desires because you can’t use state apparatus as though it is personal apparatus to fighting somebody else. That the public officers are in public positions is because they have been voted to manage our collective resources for wealth creation and so I think that the leadership is really the major problem. Look at also the roads. The roads constructions have not been quite clear to Nigerians and yet money seems to have put him there but you hardly could see the roads. So, if you deal with electricity question, deal with roads questions, these two areas in my mind is critical because people do not mind staying at their work place so long as electricity and good roads is there when they want to go back home either with personal car or public transport system they can easily move down to wherever they are going and they can move down to the buying places i.e., the market. If these two are there, it will also work together in fighting insecurity as well because everybody will be given to be doing one thing or the other. So the government, if they care, those who hears for them and should have a courage and most times  what public  commentators says hardly could get to the attention of the principal government officers like the President, Vice President, Ministers ,they are surrounded by their aides who are suppose to be their eyes and their ears and take certain things to them and not to be resolving conflicts in the high profile government meetings to the neglect of things that deliver the feelings and the sufferings that people go through.

    For instance, when electricity goes off in Government House, everybody knows that it is not well with our electricity supply, distribution and generation. Or when there is accident involving a high rank government official, the message is quickly communicated. But what businesses, especially small businesses or big businesses go through, and we talk about it on the pages of newspaper s or through widespread mass media are these messages collected and delivered to those who should take actions on them? So, it’s worrisome. But this is what is happening and how it affects all of us in the private sector.

    So, I wish Nigerians the best; let them continue to be hopeful; one day all these will be put behind us. Some great countries have had to past through what we are passing through and their citizens have to complain bitterly the way we are complaining. And there was a day that came and that became the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of such nation. So let’s be hopeful that one day will come and we shall have a better deal in our country.

    Let me also quickly add it that canvassing for division or seceding or advocating for regional nationalities doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it is more difficult to manage a smaller country than to manage a bigger one. There is strength in numbers. We should rather imbibe the idea of dialogue and lobby as opposed to threat to life and properties. It is very clear to everyone now  that the different parts of this country if they are left alone to govern themselves will be worse than when we were in a bigger country, it will not work out. But we should learn lessons from things around us. But it’s very clear that the option is not to split into smaller units. We should dialogue and remain disciplined because most times policies are good but the drivers of such policies are the major problem.”

  • Why Nigerians ‘ll re-elect Buhari, by ex-lawmaker

    Why Nigerians ‘ll re-elect Buhari, by ex-lawmaker

    Hon. Essien Okiemute, a former member of the Delta State House of Assembly, spoke with Polycarp Orosevwotu in Isoko on why President Muhammadu Buhari should be re-elected in 2019 poll.

    What is your assessment of the Buhari administration in the last two and half years?

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has performed credibly well, personally I will score him excellent, because within the two and half years of his government, the president has achieved a lot, particularly the reshaping of Nigeria’s image and integrity in the international community.

    Virtually, every Nigerians are very much aware that Buhari practically inherited a collapsed economy, a very rotten and corrupt system. Resources of the country were looted and mismanaged without considering the poor masses and the future of the country. It got to a point where few corrupt individuals were becoming richer than Nigeria as a country.

    Budgeted funds meant for projects and other purposes of national importance were diverted into the pockets of individuals. Buhari inherited a huge debt owed marketers who supplied petroleum products not paid by the immediate past administration, the President has paid these monies.

    What are other achievements?

    For the past two and half years, he has done everything humanly possible to restore the dignity of Nigeria as a country by initiating a clean spirit into the system, one area that the President has done well through the fight against corruption.

    When President Buhari promised to fight corruption, many never believed what he was saying, but from what we are seeing today, the various shocking revelations how government officials in the last administration looted the resources of this country, Nigerians have developed strong confidence in  President Buhari, and trust whatever the President is doing to transform the country.

    President Buhari is determined and genuinely fighting corruption as he promised, and that is why you can see that the President is getting the full supports of majority of Nigerians in the fight against corruption and it is on this note they want to re-elect him come 2019 because of the confidence Nigerians repose on him.

    Many people have described Buhari as a non-performing president. What is your take on this?

    It is not a surprise that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party PDP is always criticising President Buhari, what would you expect from PDP when their members were actually the main beneficiaries from the corrupt system of the last administration.

    Apart from the PDP, some other Nigerians still criticizing Buhari, it could be that the President may have blocked their source of milking the country; certainly, they must fight back and criticize the President.

    More so, the only Nigerians that I think would criticize Buhari should be those who were benefiting from the corrupt system of the last administration.  Nigerians who are doing legitimate businesses and earning legally from the last administration till now would not criticise Buahri. The only “Sin” Buahri has committed is blocking leakages and stopping the looting of Nigeria’s resources by those criticizing him now on pages of newspaper.

    You will agree with me that President Buhari has not done anything wrong to attract such unnecessary criticism. Evidently, President Buhari is enjoying the supports of Nigerians because of his good intentions toward the country. He is repositioning the country to greatness. Nobody can instigate Nigerians against the present government of Buhari, such attempts would definitely fail.

    Buhari has ensured that the country is gradually moving to the right direction, people are now doing things properly, even public office holders are more careful not to fall under the hammer of Buhari.

    The President’s objective is clear on why things must be done properly and funds judiciously used for assigned purposes. That is the only way this country can move forward.  Buhari is rebuilding a Nigeria where whatever you are asked to do as a public officer, or even as a Nigerian, you are expected to do it rightly, diligently which will eventually produce good results.

    I can assure you that by the end of 2018, when Buahri’s achievement must have been unveiled, most of the persons criticizing him now would turn around to praise him’

    There is protest against marginalisation by the people of Niger-Delta region. What is your view?

    It will shock you to know that Isoko South local government is the only local government won by President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC  in the entire Delta State, South South and  South East geo-political zone in 2015 presidential election. In my local government, Isoko South, Buhari and APC won with 10,000  votes, but despite my efforts I have not been given appointment.

    I am a founding member of APC in Delta state including  late Senator Okpozo, Akamukali and Senator Ewherido. Also,  Olorogun Ortega Emerhor,  Hon. Rufus Akpodiete and  Hon. Okpoko.

    Remember, the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was from the Niger Delta region, he was President of Nigeria for six years, if we the people of Niger Delta are sincere and fair to ourselves, we should invite Jonathan to a Niger Delta conference to tell the people what he did for the region, when he was in office as President, but I doubt if there is anything he can lay claim to as his achievement in the region.

  • Atiku felicitates with Nigerians

    Atiku felicitates with Nigerians

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has felicitated with Nigerians, particularly Christian faithful on the occasion of the Christmas celebrations.

    In a statement yesterday by his media office, Atiku described Christmas as a time of love and called on all Nigerians to emulate the essence of the season and unite for the greater good of the country.

    The statement said: “Let us also remember our fellow citizens, the men and women of our Armed Forces, many of whom lost their lives this year fighting to protect us from terrorists and other threats to our national security. We ought to also spare a thought for our brothers and sisters who faced and are facing perils in Libya and the Mediterranean Sea.

    “Nabi Isa (Jesus Christ) taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. So this Christmas, spare a thought for what you can give back to Nigeria.

  • Fuel scarcity: We empathize with Nigerians, says APC

    Fuel scarcity: We empathize with Nigerians, says APC

    •Accuses   PDP of making political gain out of citizens’ hardship

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the federal government as it addresses the biting fuel scarcity in the country.

    The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi in Abuja, acknowledged the “difficulties Nigerians are currently experiencing as a result of the unfortunate fuel scarcity across the country; especially at this Yuletide period.”

    It said it was also aware of government’s efforts to “improve the situation and bring succour to the people as soon as possible,” and fully understood “the unhappiness of Nigerians at this situation, which is happening for the first time in the Christmas period since the APC administration came to power.”

    Noting the choice of the PDP to “make political gains out of the difficulties that Nigerians are experiencing as a result of this fuel scarcity,” the APC however condemned what it called the opposition party’s “desperation to make the government and our party look bad by maliciously fabricating and circulating fictitious statements in the names of our government and party officials and then attack us on the basis of those same statements that they fabricated in the first place. This is bad politics.”

    Abdullahi said the  problem of fuel scarcity “has bedevilled every administration in our country, including the PDP administration under whose government, Nigerians would recall, the oil cabal enjoyed unprecedented prosperity.”

  • Obaseki tasks Nigerians on love at Xmas Carol Concert 

    Obaseki tasks Nigerians on love at Xmas Carol Concert 

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on Nigerians to uphold virtues of peace, share good tidings and express love among themselves during the Christmas celebration.

    The governor said this at the maiden edition of the Governor’s Carol Concert held at Government House, in Benin City, on Wednesday night.

    Obaseki said the concert would be held annually in the life of his administration, adding that there was so much to be thankful to God for in 2017 and expressed optimism that 2018 would be a fruitful year.

    Present at the concert were the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Rev. Felix Omobude, the Edo State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Oyonnude Kure; Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, (UNIBEN), Prof. Friday Orumwense and other government functionaries.

    Earlier in the day, the wife of the governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, organised a Christmas party for less-privileged children in the state.

    Mrs Obaseki said the society can only be a better place when people learn to show love to one another, especially to the less-privileged.

    The First Lady said she was inspired to organise the party because she plans to bring the less- privileged children to the same social pedestal with their privileged counterparts.

    She said, though this is coming during the Christmas period, showing love and kindness especially, to the less privileged should not be restricted to a particular season of the year.

    The kids, numbering over 350, were randomly selected from schools in three local government areas within Benin City metropolis.

    The party featured dance competition, gift presentation and many more.

    Also present at the event were wives of the Deputy Governor, Maryam Shuaibu and other top government functionaries.

  • Minister challenges CSOs, media on treasury looters

    Minister challenges CSOs, media on treasury looters

    The Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have been challenged on the need to ensure that Nigerians does not forget the evil deeds of the people who looted the country treasury.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, threw the challenge at the launch of the Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR), which includes civil society organizations, media groups, government agencies and other stakeholders, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The minister challenged the civil society to work with the media and other stakeholders to ensure that Nigerians never forget, for one moment, the damage done to the country by treasury looters.

    He said ”Those who turned our treasury to their piggy bank are once again presenting themselves as the saviours of the nation. They say the best time for Nigeria was when the proceeds of their corruption subsidised many and gave the illusion of economic boom. They are so emboldened as to say Nigerians are earnestly yearning for them. No contrition. No apologies. No shame. Just sheer bravado.  Unbridled arrogance.  Revisionism.

    ”The Civil Society, the media and indeed all stakeholders owe it a duty not to allow Nigerians to forget, to say ‘Never Again’ to those who view Nigeria as nothing but a cash cow to be milked to death.”

    Alhaji Mohammed said the formation of the ACSR could not have come at a better time, as the Buhari Administration’s fight against corruption is gaining momentum, ”and the government is winning the war”.

    ”But there is a challenge: There seems to be a feeling of numbness among the citizens about the conduct of those whose actions brought us here, those who looted the national treasury dry. Suddenly, these same people are engaging in revisionist history and blaming everyone but themselves for the mess their actions put the country into,” he said.

    Reeling out the cost of corruption to the nation, the Minister listed the conversion to a slush fund of the 2.1 billion dollars meant to buy weapons for the Nigerian military to fight Boko Haram; the fact that country could only generate 2,690 megawatts as at 29 May 2015 despite spending billions of dollars on power and the failure of past governments to save for the rainy day, even when oil was selling above 100 dollars a barrel for many years.

    He listed some of the gains of the anti-corruption fight as raising the country’s foreign reserves from 23 billion dollars to 38 billion dollars; stoppage of the payment of phantom subsidy of between 800
    billion and 1.3 trillion Naira; and the recovery of at least 43 million dollars and 56 houses from just one official of the immediate past Administration.

    Other gains of the fight against corruption, according to Alhaji Mohammed, include the recovery of 2.9 billion dollars from looters so far; the Whistle-blower policy which has led to the recovery of 151 million dollars and N8 billion in looted funds from just three sources; the elimination of thousands of ghost workers, which has saved the nation 120 billion Naira and the elimination of the 108 billion Naira in maintenance fees payable to banks, pre-TSA.

    He commended those behind the formation of the ACSR, a platform to build synergy among anti-corruption CSOs, the labour movement, the law enforcement agencies, the Parliament and the Judiciary, as well as to ensure that Nigerians take ownership of the fight against corruption.

  • APC youths to enlighten Nigerians on Buhari’s achievements

    APC youths to enlighten Nigerians on Buhari’s achievements

    A coalition of youths in the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the auspices of National Youths Leadership Congress (NYLC), has unfolded plans to embark on a nationwide sensitisation rally on the achievements of the APC-led administration in January next year.

    Addressing reporters in Abuja, NYLC National President Emmanuel Orgwu said through the programme, Nigerians will become conversant with the giant strides of the administration.

    Orgwu said the group was interested in setting the pace for a robust APC campaigns, ahead of 2019 through effective grassroots mobilization, sensitisation and opinion sampling.

    He said: “We have resolutely resolved to organise and embark on a nationwide sensitization rally on the achievements of the APC-led administration across the states of the federation from January 7th to April 7th, 2018.

    “NYLC aims among others to stimulate and sustain accelerated programmes that will librate all youths from ignorance and illiteracy and to complement the efforts of our leaders in promoting and sustaining true democracy at all levels of government.