Tag: tinubu

  • You are doing well, Labour Party’s senator Umeh tells Tinubu

    You are doing well, Labour Party’s senator Umeh tells Tinubu

    The Senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district, Victor Umeh, has hailed President Bola Tinubu on policies he has introduced, especially, the palliatives to the indigent homes in the country, but says the masses need more to survive.

    The former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), spoke at the week-end at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church Adazi Nnukwu, Anaocha local government area, while distributing over 124 metric tons of rice to his constituents in seven local government areas.

    The seven local government areas are Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia, Awka North, Awka South, Idemili North and Idemili South.

    The Labour Party’s senator said the idea of rice palliative by the president was a good one to alleviate the sufferings of the people, especially the less privileged, adding that it would be better to introduce other things like job creation.

    Addressing the representatives of the local government areas/wards, Umeh said the rice palliatives were the federal government/National Assembly palliatives programme; an emergency supply of food items during Christmas.

    He said the contract came late and therefore was not executed and the government did not give money to the contractors.

    He counselled that the palliatives were not only for LP members but for the poor in the constituency.

    He debunked speculations on social media that he was given cash of N200m or N450m for such palliatives.

    Umeh noted: “I was not given SHISHI by anybody for this and no Senator was given any such money by the federal government.”

    However, he thanked the federal government for the rice palliatives, while urging the government to go beyond such palliatives and invest the money available in restarting the economy of Nigeria.

    Umeh said: “I welcome the palliatives because I can feel the pulse of the people having been here (Anambra) for one month now with the people. They need food; they need succour. These palliatives are a very small temporary measure.

    “It goes no long way in solving the hardship in Nigeria. That’s why I’m saying the government should go beyond these palliatives and invest the money available in restarting the economy of Nigeria. Let the government tackle the distress in the economy.

    “So if you read these things you will know that the economy is in distress, so palliatives are good but they are very temporary measures.

    “The government should look for ways of engaging people, creating employment and giving people the opportunity to put their hands in productive ventures instead of giving someone rice which they will eat and continue to complain.

     “So government should go beyond the palliatives and restructure the economy of Nigeria; that is what I think should be done.

    “This is a federal government National Assembly palliatives programme; an emergency supply of palliative, food items during Christmas but the contract came late; it was not executed and the government did not give money to the contractors.

     “The condition is that if you (contractors) can supply you come and put your claim and the government will pay you so it is very difficult to execute but because the contractor that was given Anambra Central Senatorial District could source money and I discussed with him, I said come and buy this rice from Anambra State; don’t go and bring it from outside.

    He said: “The producers are in Anambra State so it took us about few weeks to get it ready and today it’s being distributed, that is why the representative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security that awarded the contract is on the ground today to see what we have done.

     “Like I said, it is 124 metric tons of rice, which is 124,000 kilogrammes of rice. What we have here on the ground is 129,000 kilogrammes of rice; so we surpass by 5000 kilogrammes according to the contract.

    Read Also: NFFG, NEGA commend Tinubu over Hussieni, Nuhu’s appointments

    “Despise that, last Christmas I shared 626 bags of 50kg rice and about 600 bags of 25kg rice and marched it with some cash support to the people of Anambra Central as my palliatives and as a Senator, I spent over N40m million in that exercise in addition to what government has done.

    “So, this program is good but it does not solve the problem to be sincere with you, the government has to go beyond this, and create employment and job opportunities for the citizens.”

    Meanwhile, Umeh promised his constituency that he would re-launch his education scheme to give scholarships to no fewer than 200 students in his constituency in March.

    Umeh who said 76 university students in his scholarship scheme recently had all graduated, stated that he had trained no fewer than 400 persons in similar circumstances while assuring that other empowerments, apart from the education sector, would take place soon.

  • President Tinubu renews appointment of NITT boss, Farah

    President Tinubu renews appointment of NITT boss, Farah

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the reappointment of Dr. Bayero Farah as Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, of Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria for a second term  of four years.

    This is contained in a statement by the spokesperson of the institute, Mr. John Kolawale, and made available to newsmen in Zaria on Friday.

    He said the appointment was with effect from Jan.13.

    ” The reappointment notice was contained in a letter  signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Sen. George Akume.

    According to him, the reappointment is in accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act, 1986  Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

    Read Also: NFFG, NEGA commend Tinubu over Hussieni, Nuhu’s appointments

    He said Farah possessed track record of sterling and exceptional performance which led to the massive and unprecedented transformation of NITT to its  unrivaled status  since  inception in 1986.

    Kolawale said the director-general joined the services of NITT in 1994 as a Senior Staff Development Officer, having earlier worked as a classroom teacher and later as a National Population Census Cartographic Officer.

    He rose through the ranks to the position of Director in 2013 and substantive DG/CEO on Jan.13, 2020.(NAN)

  • Ohanaeze restates support for Tinubu’s fight against corruption

    Ohanaeze restates support for Tinubu’s fight against corruption

    • Flays youth wing’s comments on suspended minister

    Apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has restated its unalloyed support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to fight corruption, insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria.

    This is just as Ohanaeze has upbraided  the statement credited to the acting National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr. Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu to the effect that “Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation should be given the benefit of doubt until the series of investigations into her involvement in the alleged N583m financial wrongdoing proves her to be complicit.”

    The youth body had qualified the allegations against Edu as an “administrative infelicity and not a financial heist since the Accountant General had confirmed that she did not honour the payment.”

    But, Ohanaeze, which described the remark by the youth body as reckless, Okpalaezeukwu’s press statement failed woefully by all standards of logic, common sense, rhyme, reason, interests, and all the known norms and traditions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

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    In a statement issued o. Friday through the national publicity secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu further described the press release as extremely impetuous, imprudent, unreflective, despicable, harebrained, intolerable, and at variance with the philosophy of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

    The Igbo Leader explained that the Igbo credo is anchored on hard work, resourcefulness, transparency, equity, fairness, and an enabling environment for the Igbo ingenuity and entrepreneurship to find full expression in Nigeria.

    He therefore wondered why the leader of the youth body, Okpalaezeukwu would dabble in the activities of the anti-corruption agencies as it affects Edu.

    “Once more, emphasis is made that Ohanaeze Ndigbo represents the history, emotions, and consciousness of the Igbo; and that Ohanaeze serves as the Igbo sacred temple which should not, by any stretch of imagination, be desecrated upon by youthful rascality, imprudence, and perversions. It is, therefore, highly inconceivable that a young man would wake up and issue a press release in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo with neither clearance nor consultations with the leadership.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide lends unalloyed support to President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to fight corruption, insurgency, banditry, and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria; and vehemently dissociates itself from the Okpalaaezeukwu youthful exuberance,” Ohanaeze said.

  • Ohanaeze restates support for Tinubu’s fight against corruption

    Ohanaeze restates support for Tinubu’s fight against corruption

    Apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has restated its unalloyed support for President Bola Tinubu‘s commitment to fight corruption, insurgency, banditry and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria.

    Ohanaeze, however, criticized the statement made by the acting national youth leader, Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, who suggested giving Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, the benefit of doubt until investigations into her alleged N583m financial wrongdoing are completed.

    The youth body characterized the accusations against Edu as an “administrative infelicity” rather than a financial heist, citing confirmation from the Accountant General that she did not authorize the payment.

    Ohanaeze, which described the remark by the youth body a reckless, saying Okpalaezeukwu’s press statement failed woefully by all standards of logic, common sense, rhyme, reason, interests and all the known norms and traditions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

    Read Also; Meet new commander of IRT, DC Sanusi assigned to tackle Abuja kidnapping crisis 

    In a statement issued on Friday, January 19, through the national publicity secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu further described the press release as extremely impetuous, imprudent, unreflective, despicable, harebrained, intolerable and at variance with the philosophy of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

    The Igbo leader explained that the Igbo credo is anchored on hard work, resourcefulness, transparency, equity, fairness and an enabling environment for the Igbo ingenuity and entrepreneurship to find full expressions in Nigeria.

    He therefore wondered why leader of the youth body, Okpalaezeukwu would dabble into the activities of the anti-corruption agencies as it affects Edu.

    “Once more, emphasis is made that Ohanaeze Ndigbo represents the history, emotions and consciousness of the Igbo; and that Ohanaeze serves as the Igbo sacred temple which should not, by any stretch of imagination, be desecrated upon by youthful rascality, imprudence and perversions.

    “It is therefore, highly inconceivable that a young man would wake up and issue a press release in the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo with neither clearance nor consultations with the leadership.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide lends unalloyed support to President Bola Tinubu commitment to fight corruption, insurgency, banditry and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria; and vehemently dissociates itself from the Okpalaaezeukwu youthful exuberance”, Ohanaeze said.

  • What Blinken will discuss with Tinubu, by U.S.

    What Blinken will discuss with Tinubu, by U.S.

    United States Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Molly Phee has given an insight into what Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will discuss with President Bola Tinubu in Nigeria next week.

    Phee spoke at a teleconference.

    The Secretary is also visiting Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, and Angola.

    He said the internal security challenges in Nigeria will be a major talking point between Blinken and Tinubu.

    The U.S., he said, has had a longstanding security partnership with Nigeria, which has been battered by ISIS-WA, Boko Haram, and bandits.

    Phee said: “We can never get away, though, from peace and security issues.  So, when we’re in Cote d’Ivoire, we’ll talk about the situation in the Sahel and coastal West Africa.  As many of you know, Nigeria is dealing with a lot of internal security challenges.  And Angola has played a really important role in trying to address and reduce the tensions in the eastern Congo.  So those will also be topics I expect we’ll discuss.”

    Read Also: Alalade lauds Tinubu for boosting Eagles’ AFCON campaign

    The talks in Nigeria, he said, will also include Artificial intelligence, an African seat on the Security Council, and Security Council reform. 

    Phee said: “So, there’s a lot to discuss, a lot of work we do together on the continent and globally, and that’s going to be the focus of the trip.”

    He added that the visit was a follow-up to last year’s U.S Africa Leaders Summit.

    Phee said: “It’s in part a follow-up to the very successful U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit that we held in December 2022.  The Secretary wants to go to the continent and demonstrate and assess the follow-up that the United States has undertaken to implement the commitments and topics we discussed during the summit.

    “So, we’ll be looking at issues like our economic partnership, how are we promoting the development of commercial ties?  We’ll be looking at our longstanding health partnership.  We’re looking at areas that really excite the Secretary particularly in food security.  We’ll be, of course, sort of furbishing our diplomatic constant engagement on so many issues, not only on the continent but in the global conversation.  So, there’s a lot to do to show where we are, what we’ve done, and where we’re going.

    “We think this trip will hopefully be very positive.  A lot of times the news out of Africa is negative.  I think it can highlight the great capacity of the African people, particularly the youth.  It can show really forward-looking types of engagements – for example, our partnership with Angola in outer space.  And I think it will demonstrate the advances that Africans have made that will contribute to the continued progress on the continent.”

    On the military bombing in Kaduna, Phee said: “I wouldn’t call it an attack.  The Nigerians have admitted it was an operational error that tragically killed people in Kaduna State.  I think the Secretary will definitely talk about that with the president.  The president and the leadership of Nigeria went to Kaduna State.  They acted with transparency, immediately acknowledged the horrific accident.  They set up a reparation process and a transparent investigation.  So, they have, I think, responded to that tragedy in a constructive way that will contribute to rebuilding the confidence of the Nigerian people and the security services.

    “And these issues of how to protect civilians when doing complex operations in a fraught security environment, which Nigeria is dealing with, the importance of promoting and protecting human rights, including religious freedom, and, again, sort of the best practices of accountability and transparency, are part of our ongoing dialogue with the government and with the security services.  We host – we are hosting this week a Nigerian delegation led by the national security adviser, and we hosted about four hours of discussions here at the State Department yesterday and that was a running theme throughout the day.  So, I’m certain the Secretary will talk about it when he sees the president and the foreign minister.”

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  • Group hails Tinubu on pipeline contract renewal

    Group hails Tinubu on pipeline contract renewal

    The National Probity and Value for Nation Building Organisation has  praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for   renewing  the pipeline surveillance contract  for TANTITA Security Company.

    The group through its spokesperson, Adewale Balogun, appraised the work done  in the fight against crude oil theft in the last year.

    Balogun  lauded the arrest of the vessel MT KALI and its crew by TANTITA Security Company owned by High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the Pennington Oil Field in Bayelsa State.

    The group noted that the vessel MT KALI had made Pennington Oil Field in Bayelsa State its choice destination for allegedly stealing crude oil.

    Read Also: Tinubu celebrates his ex-CPS Ayobolu at 60

    It gave kudos to Mr. President for what he described as his unwavering commitment to continue salvaging the country from the brink of economic and security collapse.

    It also acknowledged the work of former President Mohammadu Buhari in the fight against crude oil theft at a time when the nation’s hydrocarbon output had suffered immensely from criminal assaults.

    Balogun singled out TANTITA Security Company and the NNPCL  for the courageous, effective and reliable services it has offered to protect the nation’s hydrocarbon assets from the criminal menace of crude oil thieves and noted the successes recorded thus far.

    The group, however expressed dismay at the statements credited to the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri calling for the cancellation of the contracts of private security contractors in the oil and gas sector and at the same breath also called for decentralisation for the same contract to include others.

    The group  suggested  to the Federal Government to introduce security and theft metrics for oil and gas production in the producing states and that states caught wanting should be penalised and there should be deductions from the monthly FAAC( Federal Account Allocation Committee) funds to states.

  • Tinubu celebrates his ex-CPS Ayobolu at 60

    Tinubu celebrates his ex-CPS Ayobolu at 60

    President Bola Tinubu has celebrated his erstwhile Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, on his 60th birthday.

     In a statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu praised Ayobolu for his loyal service to him while he was governor of Lagos State, the intensity of service he still continues to render.

    Read Also:Wike: no project will be abandoned under Tinubu

    Ayobolu was the Chief Press Secretary to Tinubu and later his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy when he was governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.

     The foremost journalist and erudite scholar was at different times the Political Editor of Daily Times and Editor, Sunday Times.

     President Tinubu lauded Ayobolu’s unflinching service to the nation and dedication to progressive ideals over the years.

     “I congratulate Segun Ayobolu on his 60th birthday. Segun has remained one of my steadfast associates and loyalists for many years. He served me with complete dedication and loyalty as my Chief Press Secretary when I was governor of Lagos State.

     “He has not failed to offer his service and intellect to us in many other areas since we left office. He remains a committed member of our progressive family,” the statement said.

  • Tinubu committed to uninterrupted academic calendar – Aide

    Tinubu committed to uninterrupted academic calendar – Aide

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Students’ Engagement, Mr Sunday Asefon, has expressed the president’s commitment to an uninterrupted academic calendar.

    Asefon, a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), was speaking at the official unveiling of the 15 points Nigerian Student’s Renewed Hope Programme Agenda in Abuja on Thursday.

    The former NANS leader said that the 15 points renewed hope agenda was to complement the efforts of President Tinubu to achieving an excellent educational sector in the country.

    He expressed hope that the Nigerian education sector would take a new face as president Tinubu was committed to reviving the sector.

    Asefon added that plans were underway to host the annual all Nigerian Tertiary Institutions Students Affairs Conference (ANTISAC), where the student union would engage with the institution’s students affairs and management to prevent any form of crisis in the institutions.

    Speaking on the need to revive the reading culture of students, Asefon said his office would hold the National Student Competition/Regional Symposium on reviving reading culture and use of library.

    ” These programmes re what we are going to do while in office to complement the efforts of President Bola Tinubu administration.

    “Majority of students say education is a scam and many have lost hope but we are committed in joining forces with our president in reshaping the face of education in Nigeria.

    “Every year, people talk about international days but this year, by August we are going to be having the international student day to bring President Tinubu to talk to Nigerian students.

    Read Also: Northern group commends Tinubu, makes case for autonomous NHFSS to fight forest crimes

    “We are committed to ensuring that we campaign against crime, indecent dressing on our campuses,” he said.

    While also speaking on the bottleneck around students loan, he said these bottleneck had been looked into as the loan would be accessed by indigent students.

    Asefon assured Nigerians of 100 per cent transparency and accountability in the students loan process.

    The Aide listed the students’ renewed hope agenda as Nigerian Students Leaders’ Regional Dialogue, Annual International Students Day Celebration and Annual all Nigerian Tertiary Institution Students Affairs Conference.

    In the list are Local and Foreign Engagement of Students bodies, Stakeholders Dialogue on Safe School Project, Nigerian Students in Agriculture Programme, Renewed Hope Academic Excellence Reward Scheme, among others. (NAN)

  • Shari’a Council lauds Tinubu’s economic policies

    Shari’a Council lauds Tinubu’s economic policies

    The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), on Thursday, January 18, met with President Bola Tinubu, commending his economic policies and advocating for the deployment of all resources to combat threats to national security. 

    Speaking to journalists at the State House after the meeting, the Vice President of the Council, Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, said besides coming to show solidarity, they also used the opportunity to appeal to President Tinubu to expedite actions to cushion the effect of the hard economic decisions.

    According to Dr Umar, the group paid the courtesy call to show solidarity with the President, commending him on the decisions he has been taking on behalf of the country.

    He said: “We are here today on a courtesy call to the President and to show our solidarity and commendation for the hard decisions he is making for the country.

    “And also to request that he expedite action to cushion the effect of the hard economic decisions that were taken and also to request that he brings out everything that is in the arsenal to face the problem of Insecurity and to also achieve food security.”

    Umar further disclosed that the Supreme Council for Sharia also submitted the communiqué of its just concluded conference, which post mortem the 2023 elections, to the President.

    He added that the Council reviewed the nation’s last general election to create a consensus and proffer a way forward to perceived contending issues in the last elections.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Tinubu meets Supreme Council for Shari’a in Villa

    He stated: “We also submitted to him the communique of our just concluded conference which brought about Islamic scholars and academics, intellectuals and civil society organizations to make a post mortem of 2023 elections to create a consensus and the way forward.”

    Dr Umar also disclosed that President Tinubu gave assurances and encouraging remarks that called for more prayers for peace and security as well as the development of the country.

    He said: “We got very good assurances from the President and very encouraging remarks that call for us to continue to pray intensely for the success of the administration and for peace and security and development of the country which we have been doing and we are intensifying our prayers for the leadership of the country.”

  • Northern group commends Tinubu, makes case for autonomous NHFSS to fight forest crimes

    Northern group commends Tinubu, makes case for autonomous NHFSS to fight forest crimes

    A group, North Central Youth Security Forum (NCYSF) has called on President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Bill which has been passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    The group, which has Comrade Yashim Luka Doherty as its national coordinator, made the call at a briefing on banditry and other forms of insecurities in Nigeria and the Federal capital Territory which took place at Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Utako, Abuja.

    NCYSF, which harped on the need to make the NHFSS an autonomous agency under the Federal Ministry of Interior, condemned the recent kidnap and killing of many Nigerians in the Northern region, especially the FCT, Plateau and Kaduna and urged security agencies to go after the killers in order to bring them to book.

    It commended the President for some tactical measures recently put in place as well as his marching order to security agencies to ensure that such barbaric acts do not repeat themselves.

    The group said: “Although insecurity in Nigeria has been with us for a long time and affects all parts of the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the North Central, especially Plateau, Benue and others, as well as some states in the North West like Kaduna and Zamfara, have become hotbeds of the nefarious activities of bandits and kidnappers, thereby making life unbearable for residents of affected communities.

    “On January 15, that is three days ago, Nationwide Reports, an online newspaper reported that bandits who abducted 10 persons from an estate, Sagwari Layout, Dutse, Abuja, on January 7, killed three of their victims. The killers also increased their demand from the initial N60 million per person to N100 million, totaling N700 million. Among those killed was a 13-year-old high school student, identified as Folorunsho Ariyo and Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar. The question is, if the nation’s capital territory is not safe, where else can be safe in the country?

    “In spite of these ugly occurrences, we wish to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who is barely eight months in office but has taken very strong measures to address insecurity and other criminal activities across the country. The recent marching order given by the President, to security agencies, to bring an end to the heinous crimes perpetrated these enemies of Nigeria as well as the proactive measures being adopted by the security agencies, are reassuring of the country’s capacity to stamp out the negative trend in no distant time.

    “We also believe that more hands are needed to effectively fight and bring to an end, banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other crimes and criminalities in the country, especially as these aforementioned dangerous activities are planned by hoodlums who use forests and bushes as hideouts.

    “It is therefore pertinent to state that in order to effectively fight and defeat banditry, kidnapping and such other crimes, the federal government, as part of its general security architecture and strategy, should take deliberate and permanent measures, to ensure that forests are made uncomfortable for criminals to operate from.

    “The above can be achieved through empowerment and deployment of well-trained and equipped professionals, who are specially trained to combat criminalities planned and executed within and around forests.

    “It is on that note that we, the youths, especially from the North Central, North West and other parts of Nigeria hereby urge our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sign the Nigerian Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFSS) Bil into law.

    “From available records, the NHFSS has been in existence for over ten years, with well-structured command and control mechanism. The over 20,000 officers and men of the Service operating across the 36 states and the FCT have been at the mercy of individuals and groups who believe and appreciate their exploits and contributions to national security, especially on intelligence gathering and tactical operations within and around the forests.

    “Gladly, many state governors, including those of Kebbi, Imo, Plateau and others, are already working with operatives of NHFSS by providing them with operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to carry out their patriotic duties to fatherland.

    Read Also: NHFSS boss hails Mutfwang over Supreme Court victory, urges Gov to work with hunters to fight bandits, others

    “By giving assent to the NHFSS Bill and thereby making it an autonomous government agency under the Ministry of Interior, the government would have succeeded in empowering the organization to carry out their statutory responsibility with new vigour, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

    “There is no doubt that making the NHFSS a government agency would attract added financial burden on the Federal Government, but the added cost cannot be compared with the huge losses incurred by the nation from banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities, including killing of hundreds of Nigerian citizens and other nationals, denting Nigeria’s image at home and across the world which in turn affects the government’s drive to attract investors for the hundreds of solid mineral deposits and other opportunities in the country.

    “Aside from the above, the NHFSS is a potential source of massive employment of the teaming army of unemployed young people in the country. With the President’s assurances that opportunities would be opened to employ millions of youths by his administration, the NHFSS provides the government the wide window to achieve that, also knowing that employment of young people is one of the surest ways to tackle insecurity by keeping them positively engaged and therefore off ‘the streets.”