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  • How Tinubu can create jobs, by Okoya

    How Tinubu can create jobs, by Okoya

    Born on January 12, 1940, Chief Rasaq Akanni Okoya,  an industrialist with a Midas touch, is the Aare of Lagos, founder of Eleganza Group of Companies and RAO Investment Properties. With experience as an industrial magnate spanning over 60 decades, he rose from humble beginnings to becoming a big name in the industry through  unwavering vision, strategic insight,  relentless and  perseverance. 

    At 84, Okoya highlights what President Bola Tinubu can do to create jobs and generate wealth.

    Job creation:

    I have decided to use this opportunity to propose a recurring vision that has plagued me. My warmest regards and congratulations! to our President His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President His Excellency Kashim Shettima for their steady management of the economy. We pray for peaceful and successful terms ahead. 

    From working and monitoring the manufacturing industry for over 60 years. My hope is that the current administration makes the industrialisation of Nigeria a cardinal goal: utilising our youths and empowering increased incorporation of manufacturing through the establishment of many cottage industries and factories during their term.

     Did you know, a significant percentage of the country’s GDP is derived from MSMEs and it can be approximated that majority of these enterprises are youth-owned? 

     Youth productivity and industrialisation:

    Our youth have potential and can be stronger with greater empowerment. If you open the eyes of a blind man, he will never want to go back to the darkness. I think to myself regularly on how do we utilise our dominant working population. The picture in my mind places all 36 states and the federal capital territory as industrial hubs, varying in speciality where the average Nigerian citizen should be able to live, work, shop, have access to healthcare and other conveniences (e.g., recreational, worship facilities etc.); all without leaving their state of origin, within their industrial hubs.  Bringing this into realisation could be initiated through investment in incubation centres, in each state (dispersed based on the requirements and geographical advantages of the state). Preparing one-unit warehouses of approximately 5,000 sq m per cluster, having 10,000 of each unit/micro industry in each state including the federal capital territory, Abuja. Similarly, provision can be made to private estate developers to create infrastructural extensions in areas with existing low- income housing to include warehouses. This will enhance the appeal of opportunities in our rural states, transforming them into vibrant economic zones and serving as significant Industrial infrastructure for each state. 

    Leveraging on international connections:

    In addition to the above, Nigerian Government can invite specialists and international machine manufacturers (e.g. China/India etc.)to train our graduates in vocational skills and provide crucial technology transfer through the sale of machinery, and equipment for daily need products in exchange for local minerals via the use of a barter trading system. By opting to further facilitate local manufacturing of products, the government can consider onward sales of the above mentioned machines to the youth on a long-term basis.The government should protect our industries by imposing strict prohibitions of imports and policing the markets to enforce the ban on importation. With these, I believe we can conserve our precious foreign exchange, increase GDP, and strengthen our local markets/producers. 

    Electricity and economy:

    Power supply should be made available to our youths and other existing industries. If small-scale factories could work without generators, it would solve majority of the country’s crippling problems. Requiring each unit to adhere to contemporary demands of sustainability, preservation of natural capital and utilisation of renewable energy will ensure longevity and create backups to the national grid power supply. Incorporating training to pre-empt and prevent environmental degradation, learning from the case of China. This will provide practical experience that would give our youth a strong sense of belonging, and a promise of hope. It is our duty as Nigerian seniors, to help our youth the truth to know. 

    His thoughts on wealth creation and urban migration

    Ultimately, promoting urbanisation in the rural areas of the country, and stemming rural-to- urban migration by wealth creation in our rural communities will prevent overcrowding in urban areas; keeping our youths off the streets, by encouraging them to get a house and job opportunities.  We need to instil a sense of pride and dignity through respectable labour in our youth. The creation of varied and sustainable industrial cities will be pivotal in the national stimulation of progress. All this could be financed in the government budget with the aid of private sector investment schemes and the youth could be required to pay back within 10 to 25 years, and/or enjoy grants to support them. This will unleash and enable patient capital required to catalyse economic growth, jobs and entrepreneurship for our youths. Better to light the candle than curse the darkness. Give light and the darkness will disappear of itself.  This vision enacted would enable us to manufacture a better Nigeria. To ensure the success of this proposed economic remedy, Nigeria, the economic powerhouse of Africa should entirely and unitedly embrace a propensity of population utilisation, to supercharge the entire African continent.  I believe more technical details and possibilities have to be discussed on the above ideas. 

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    Tinubu:

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a visionary leader who is passionate about Nigeria.  I am sure this administration will promote commerce and industry. I pray for the President and Vice President, with the aid of Allah SWT, to consider this and include it in their good programme as a blueprint for the rebirth of our great nation. 

    Why Eleganza is surviving;

    We believe in Nigeria and we have promoted Made in Nigeria Products over the years. The Eleganza Industrial City Limited is a testament to our vision as an established. It is place where you find various products under one roof.  Under the new industry, the company produces luggage/bag that can be branded for companies, pilgrimage, government parastatals and family trip.  It also manufactures over 68 different designs of standard chairs for churches, parties, eateries, hotels etc.   It also has sets of coolers and food warmers in different shapes and design.  This attests to the fact that consistency, not compromise on standard and quality have been the guiding principles that have kept the company going in the past four decades 

    Humanitarian gesture:

    Many of my activities revolve around religion and service to humanity through various philanthropy. This cut across the various sectors of the society. At various times, I have supported medical establishments and hospital homes by donating lifesaving equipment. With modesty, ELeganza is one of the biggest employers of labour by giving employment to thousands of Nigerians. I also  believe in quality education and the foundation under my name in recent years has thrown its weight in support of the Nigerian educational sector.  Several undergraduate students have benefited from his Alhaji Akanni Okoya Scholarship Awards.

    His advice for the youths:

    As said in my previous interviews, it took me 60 years to build the Eleganza conglomerate through dint of hard work. Nigerian youths are hard working and resilence  If they can embrace hard work more and more, they will be successful because they have what it takes with enabling environment.

    Life Lesson at 84 and secret of his success:

    Consistency, perseverance, hardwork commitment, passion and integrity are the only vehicles that can drive you to success and not by cutting corners. Also, it  is by being true to oneself in what one is doing.

     I am passionate about my business. I am committed to it and I have been consistent over the years by getting involved all the way by not playing the boss.  At Eleganza, we try to work within our means particularly by working with the local market.  It has helped the business to grow this far.

  • CNG Project: Why vested interests may jeopardise Tinubu’s good intentions

    CNG Project: Why vested interests may jeopardise Tinubu’s good intentions

    The idea of the compressed natural gas to replace PMS in vehicles is a brilliant one which President Bola Tinubu is well-committed to. But there is need to ensure vested interests do not ruing the laudable idea. Tajudeen Adebanjo writes.

    When he announced total removal of fuel subsidy few minutes after his inauguration as a democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was fully aware of the effect this would have on the economy, the purchasing power of Nigerians as well as the social equilibrium of the nation.  And that was why his administration rolled out quite a number of measures to cushion the effect of the removal of the fuel subsidy.

    Probably aware of how critical the transport sector was to the economy, one of the key measures put in place was the introduction of the compressed natural gas, CNG, vehicles to reduce dependence on vehicles that use premium motor spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, and diesel. Since this was also part of agreement reached with the organised labour after the fuel subsidy removal, the scheme was to start with buses for mass transportation.

    However, while President Tinubu seemed to have good intentions concerning the CNG project, it has become obvious that those tasked with the implementation of the laudable scheme either had a totally different idea or they saw it as an opportunity to build loyalties, enrich friends or promote crass economic cronyism.

    While it has been noted that the government itself was more interested in the political capital to be made out of the project than the intended result itself, it must be noted that those who were charged with seeing with the implementation of the scheme have not helped matters.

    It was gathered by THE NATION newspapers that local dealers who vehicles were used for the launch of the scheme in Lagos have been left in the cold with handlers of the scheme backing off from the initial agreement they had with the dealers to buy cars from them. Sources informed this newspaper that quite a number of these dealers had been given letters of contract awards to supply these buses and that was why they brought the buses which were used for the launch. It was after the launch that the busses were returned to them and, shockingly, a contract was awarded to a transport mogul from the eastern part of the country to supply busses that run on CNG. THE NATION learnt that the contract was in the excess of N30billion.

    Findings revealed that the local dealers’ buses that were used at FEMADEC, one of the Conversion Centres in Lagos, were only for show as these busses were “returned to the dealers after the launch.” The local dealers were persuaded to bring their buses to FEMADEC specifically for the launch by the Steering Committee. And according to sources who spoke to THE NATION, the CNG Steering Committee actually used buses made available by local vendors for the launch, but only for the optics.

    Sources within the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated also indicated that the CNG Steering Committee was solely responsible for this as the MOFI was only responsible for issuance of latters of contract awards to the local dealers. Whatever happened after, according to a source from the Ministry, was with the Steering Committee and perhaps, their personal interests.

    President Tinubu was said to be very passionate about the project and that was why he appointed the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, as the chairman of the steering committee. Unfortunately, information available to THE NATION indicated that Adedeji was not part of the decision to return the vehicles to the local dealers.

    Read Also: Tinubu emphasises need to revitalize steel sector for economic growth

    “Adedeji is a man of impeccable integrity,” one of the affected dealers told this newspaper. “We knew that and that was why the President appointed him in the first place. First, as the boss of the FIRS, and then as the chair of the steering committee of the CNG project. But some people want to frustrate the good intentions of the President. How could they issue letters to these local dealers and then turn around to return their vehicles to them and then award contract to someone to bring in converted buses from China?”

    He added that the sole aim of taking those busses to FEMADEC in the first place was to convert them and then make them available to the public for use for mass transportation thereby realising the President’s aim of reducing the effect of fuel subsidy removal on the people and their economic activities.

    There are insinuations that a network of connections and cronyism may have influenced the diversion of these contracts away from local dealers, sparking criticism that such actions contradict the principles of promoting indigenous industries. Critics argue that this move could potentially hinder job creation and economic growth within the country.

    It is not with the local dealers alone that activities around the take-off of the CNG are having issues. In October last year, concerned liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, dealers petitioned the Senate over alleged award of N150bn contract

    Concerned group of LPG gas dealers has petitioned the Senate Committee on Gas resources over alleged secret award of N150 billion contract “for the Supply of Type-3 LPG CYLINDERS under the Federal Government Palliative Scheme.

    The group in the petition signed by its national chairman, Comrade Sule Mohammed, said the award of the multi billion naira contract did not follow due process , as enshrined in the public Procurement Act of 2007 as amended and asked Federal government to quickly terminate the process in the interest of the public.

    The group noted “as a company that benefits from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Rungas (the company the was awarded the contract) failed to carry out the Project of Building a Composite Cylinder Manufacturing Plant as mandated by the Federal government in 2016. The project itself was not presented to the National Assembly for approval,” the petition stated.

    While local dealers fear that the hopes of getting legitimate patronage from the CNG project are about being dashed, perhaps it is high time President Tinubu himself paid personal attention to the scheme. This is an idea, if well implemented, can solve Nigeria’s dependence on PMS importation once and for all. And it will be to eternal credit of his administration. And that is why the idea must not be allowed to fail. And the first step is seeing to the positive value chain which patronising local dealers for the supply of vehicles for conversion would have guaranteed.

  • Tinubu mourns pioneer Nigerian diplomat, Ogunsulire

    Tinubu mourns pioneer Nigerian diplomat, Ogunsulire

    President Bola Tinubu has sympathized with the Ogunsulire family over the death of Ambassador Omotayo Ogunsulire.

    Ambassador Ogunsulire, who passed away at the age of 93, was one of the first 12 young men recruited into the Ministry of External Affairs in 1957. 

    He was a diplomat with specialization on Francophone affairs. 

    Ambassador Ogunsulire served in Paris and several Francophone African countries. 

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    The late ambassador also served several Nigerian heads of state, from Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed to Olusegun Obasanjo before retiring in 1976 to join the United Bank for Africa.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu mourned the illustrious son of Nigeria and founding member of the nation’s diplomatic establishment. 

    The President Tinubu extolled the professionalism and dedication to service of the late diplomat, describing him as one of the finest envoys of Nigeria.

    While condoling with the family of the late ambassador, the President prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.

  • Onjeh commends Tinubu’s anti-corruption stance, seeks probe of distribution of FG palliatives

    Onjeh commends Tinubu’s anti-corruption stance, seeks probe of distribution of FG palliatives

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate of Benue South in the 2023 general elections, Comrade Daniel Onjeh, has applauded President Bola Tinubu for promptly suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, over alleged corruption allegations.

    He hailed him for also directing the chairman of the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission(EFCC) to conduct a thorough probe of all aspects of the financial transactions involving the ministry and its affected agencies.

    In a statement on Thursday, Onjeh stated that President Tinubu had clearly demonstrated his government will not harbour any sacred cow in prosecuting the war against corruption.

     He further stated that the expeditious investigation and prosecution of Edu case will go a long way in shoring-up public confidence in the current administration.

    “It is truly very unfortunate that such humongous scandals are emanating from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, which is pivotal to providing short-term succour to the most impoverished members of the society, hence enabling the government to quickly win public trust, confidence, and support.

    “Even Dr. Edu’s predecessor, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, is currently being investigated by the EFCC over alleged laundering of N37billion under the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari. These show that indeed, the ministry is a huge cesspool of corruption, which needs to be thoroughly sanitized,” Onjeh stated.

    Onjeh further urged President Tinubu to remain resolute in ensuring that if found guilty, Edu and her predecessor, Hajiya Farouq, along with all their accomplices, are made to face the full wrath of the law.

    “Betta Edu is the youngest member of President Tinubu’s cabinet. She’s just 37 years old. I think the scandal involving her and her ministry is not just an embarrassment, but a poor testimony of the younger generation, which has long been demanding fairer representation in Nigeria’s political space.

    “Even the immediate past EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, was another very young man who grossly mismanaged a huge opportunity to project the Nigerian youths positively on the national and global stages. He was also removed from office for corruption,” Onjeh stated.

    The former Chairman of the Governing Board of PRODA, Enugu also called on President Tinubu to direct a thorough investigation into the distribution of the palliatives released by the Federal Government to the states and National Assembly members during the last yuletide season.

    “In line with the need to build public trust, I’m passionately appealing to President Tinubu to direct a comprehensive probe of the distribution of the palliatives released by the Federal Government to the various state governments, and especially the federal legislators, during the last festive season, to cushion the effects of the policy on fuel subsidy removal,” Onjeh stated.

    Onjeh stated that his request was against the backdrop of a recent video that went viral online, wherein the House of Reps member representing Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State, Hon. Dekeri Anamero, revealed that the Federal Government released four trailers load of rice to each House of Reps member, containing a total of 2,400 bags of rice to distribute to their constituents during the yuletide season, and the fact that in most federal constituencies across the country, the palliatives were nowhere to be found.

    “It is obvious that the Federal Government had put good measures in place to mitigate the hardship imposed on poor Nigerians by the policy on fuel subsidy removal, but the handlers of these measures are sabotaging the government. If each House of Reps member got four trailers load of rice as palliatives, then it’s most likely that the senators got more. Unfortunately, no senator has come out clearly to tell us what the federal government gave to them. It is very important for the federal legislators to explain in detail, how they distributed these palliatives,” stated Onjeh 

    The former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), expressed the view that some state governors may have embarked on misplaced priorities with the financial support they received from the federal government to mitigate the effects of the policy on fuel subsidy removal.

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    “Upon investigation, we may stumble across some of these palliatives in warehouses. I have strong cause to believe that some state governors and federal legislators may be hoarding the palliatives, with intent to use them to sway votes in the next election. Others may have even diverted and sold theirs.

    “In my Senatorial District of Benue South for instance, I wish to particularly charge the citizens to demand what is truly theirs by holding their federal legislators to account on how they distributed the palliatives they received from the federal government during the last festive season. I suspect that our federal legislators have done a lot of disservice to my people,” Onjeh stated.

    Onjeh argued that if all the palliatives released by the Federal Government to the State Government and federal legislators had been fairly and equitably distributed to the poor and needy in the society, it would have gone a long way in mitigating the economic hardship in the country occasioned by the policy on fuel subsidy removal.

    He further stated that Tinubu had done what was best for the country by courageously implementing the policy of fuel subsidy removal, which was long overdue, and further putting adequate measures in place to cushion the adverse effects of the policy.

    “It is now up to us, the citizens, to ensure that the palliatives released by government are distributed fairly and equitably in the society, so that the hardship which attended the fuel subsidy removal can be minimized, and the government can be focused. Otherwise, some disgruntled politicians will continue to latch onto the economic hardship in the country to incite the public against the government. Government needs the cooperation of every citizen, and the citizens must be patriotic enough to contribute enthusiastically to national development. But if they are being misinformed and misled about the federal government, it could stifle our national growth,” Onjeh observed.

    Onjeh maintained that the war against corruption was not about targeting or shielding members of any political party but about fostering the unity, growth and development of the country.

    He said found guilty of corruption should be dealt with in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrence to others.

  • BREAKING: Tinubu approves committee on Ajaokuta mill’s revival, others

    BREAKING: Tinubu approves committee on Ajaokuta mill’s revival, others

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the setting up of an inter-ministerial committee on the execution of three steel development projects, including the revival of the Ajaokuta Steel Mill.

    Minister of Steel Development, Shauibu Audu, disclosed this to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after he and the Minister of Defense, Abubakar Badaru, met with President Tinubu at the State House on Thursday.

    Members of the committee include the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, the Minister of Defence, Muhammadu Badaru and the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu.

    According to Audu, besides the task of sourcing funding for the revitalisation of the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, the committee will also work to actualise the setting up a steel company y a Chinese company, Lu’an Steel Holding Group, as well as finding a location for a proposed steel plant for the India firm, Jindal Steel.

    Audu stated that if the committee can complete all the projects, that have been committed to its hands which include the revival of the Ajaokuta steel mill, President Tinubu’s administration will be able to create not less than 500,000 jobs.

    Speaking on the agendas before the Committee, the Minister disclosed that two members of the committee, the Minister of Defence and himself met with the Lu’an Steel Company, one of the top 20 steel companies in China that produces about 20 million metric tons of steel per annum, has agreed to set up a new steel plant in Nigeria.

    As a follow-up to the agreement, the steel company has given its commitment to deploy an advanced team to Nigeria after the Chinese New Year by the end of February 2024. 

    “We were in China on the 1st of January 2024. We were there till the 8th of January. And met with the Lu’an Steel Company, which is one of the largest steel companies in China, and the top 20 steel companies in China. They produce about 20 million metric tons of steel per annum.

    “We had very meaningful discussions with them, the Minister of Defense and I, and they agreed and made a commitment to set up a new steel plant in Nigeria, where thousands of jobs would be created, and they would invest billions of dollars in foreign direct investments into Nigeria.

    “In that same regard as well, basically, in our discussions with Lu’an Steel Group, they mentioned that they would send an advanced team to Nigeria after the Chinese New Year. Sometime at the end of February 2024. We briefed Mr. President that when the team is on the ground, we would like to also give them an audience with Mr. President, which he approved. Mr President was very happy with the development.”

    The Minister also revealed that reviving the entire Ajaokua Steel plant will cost Nigeria between the sum of $2 to $ 5 million while restarting the living steel section of the mill will cost the nation about N35 billion.

    Audu said that President Tinubu had approval in late 2023 to raise funds locally to restart and rebuild the light steel mill of the Ajaokuta Steel plant to be able to produce iron rods, he said the iron rods would be used by the Ministry of Works to drive the plans to construct 30,000 kilometres of roads across Nigeria.

    He further disclosed that the light steel mill will produce about 400,000 tons out of the 7 million iron rods needed by the Federal Ministry of Works if the committee can restart the steel plant.

    “The second agenda for discussion with Mr President was that Mr President gave me approval towards the end of last year to raise some money to restart and rebuild the light steel mill of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant to be able to produce iron rods, which iron rods would be taken by the Ministry of works.

    “The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has already written a letter to me through his ministry, guaranteeing that they will be off-takers in the iron rods that are being produced. The President under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which the Minister of Works is driving plans to construct about 30,000 kilometres of roads across Nigeria, where they will need about 7 million metric tons of iron road. We can produce about 400,000 tons of those iron rods in Ajaokuta if we’re able to restart the steel plant”, he said.

    “Mr President approved for us to raise money locally. The first phase of the project. For Ajaokuta Steel Plant, to revive the entire steel plant will cost somewhere between $2 to $5 million however to restart the living steel section of the mill is going to cost us about N35 billion. So we’re going to the market to show proof of consent to raise this money from local financial institutions to be able to restart that.”

    The Minister further made known that the Jindal steel company which pledged $5b on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in India, had made a further commitment with the Nigerian government to secure an ideal location to begin operations in Nigeria.  

    He said that Jindal Steel would either set up a greenfield or acquire an existing plant such as the Delta steel plant.

    “The last item on the agenda was feedback to Mr. President on Jindal Steel. If you recollect on the sidelines of the G 20. Meeting in India, Jindal Steel committed to invest $5 billion. So I briefed Mr. President and I’ve met with representatives of Jindal Steel, and they’re very serious about their commitment and we’re currently looking for a land that is close to a gas station that has a port and is close to the natural or mineral resources such as, you know, iron ore and the likes to be able to get them the ideal location. Either they set up a greenfield or they acquire an existing plant, such as, you know, the Delta steel plant.

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    Further speaking on the establishment of military hardware in Nigeria, the Minister of Steel hinted that the Chinese team has agreed to help Nigeria build the military hardware capabilities in one of the production units of the Ajaokuta steel plant.

     “The reason the minister of defence and I jointly met with Mr President was that we’re setting up a military hardware capacity and capability in Ajaokuta steel plant and based on that the Chinese team would help us to build that military hardware capabilities in Ajaokuta, in one of the production units. And so that’s the first agenda on the table for the joint meeting”, he said.

    Meanwhile, the Minister has revealed plans to investigate why the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited accumulated N33 billion in electricity debt which caused the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to disconnect the company from the national grid.

    The TCN announced the decision this week to disconnect the steel company over the debt owed to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC (NBET) and service providers.

    The debt is made up of N33,071,002,129.49, comprising N30,849,749,981.01 for energy and capacity delivered by NBET and N2,221,252,148.48 owed to service providers.

    Reacting to the development in a chat with correspondents, the minister affirmed that the issue will be clearly looked at to get to the bottom of it.

    He wondered why the company will accumulate such debt in electricity consumption when it had not been in operating in full capacity.

    “I mean these are some of the things that there needs to be clearly looked into. Like you mentioned. One of the things I spoke to the MD of Ajaokuta today, and this was one of the questions I asked and we’re going to get to the bottom of it, why consumption of so much electricity in a place that is not operating at full capacity.

    “Part of what we also need to do is that we’re trying to revive Ajaokuta in a collegiate system, in piecemeal, and so we may not have the capacity to be able to pay all those outstanding amounts immediately.

    “Part of what the MD of Ajaokuta told me is that most of them money is in interest payments. And NBET, the electricity company that has disconnected it is also a government agency.”

    Noting the role of NBET in the disconnection, Shuaibu hinted that government will that not allow its agency to hinder the effort to revive the steel company, which has not been in operation for about 45 years.

    “So, if we as a government ministry, government agency are trying to revive Ajaokuta working hard to do that, we should not have another hand within the same government making things very difficult for us.

    “And so, part of what we plan to do is to sit down on the table in the next few days as quickly as possible to be able to come up with a plan so that they can put it back on the grid and put things back in order.

    “Is a gradual process Ajaokuta cannot be revived overnight. This is an institution, this is a plant that has not been working for 45 years, it is a difficult task to try and get it back on track.

    “So, we need the support of the entire government apparatus, we need support of stakeholders, we need support of everyone to be able to do this difficult job.

    “This job is not a job that myself and Mr. President can do alone. We need the support of everyone including the electricity company to be able to help us to get this project back on track so that we can create the hundreds of thousands of jobs I want to create for Nigerians”, he said.

  • Tinubu to launch two books on Buhari next week

    Tinubu to launch two books on Buhari next week

    President Bola Tinubu is expected to launch two books on former President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, January 16.

    The launch which has former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon as the chairman of the occasion would also have in attendance Buhari.

    The books are: Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023) by Femi Adesina and Muhammadu Buhari: The Nigerian Legacy (2015-2023) edited by Udu Yakubu.

    Speaking about the books, Adesina and Yakubu said they are not PR but chronicles of Buhari’s administration put together for posterity.

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    The duo stressed that the books are not biography of Buhari but about governance and Nigeria

    Adesina, who described himself as a longtime admirer of former President Buhari far back when he was the Military Head of State, said everything that needed to be known about the Buhari eight years, including his medical tourism is included in the book.

    The duo therefore urged those who want to have an insight into the eight years should grab the books.

    The books, they argued, would guide the thinking and logic of the people in their understanding of the Buhari legacies. 

  • Edugate: Don’t spare anybody involved, Obi tells Tinubu

    Edugate: Don’t spare anybody involved, Obi tells Tinubu

    The 2023  presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi says President Bola Tinubu must ensure that those culpable in the alleged scandal involving the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu are brought to book.

    Obi said in a write-up in his X-handle platform on Thursday that the government should go beyond the suspension of the minister, which he described as  a welcomed development, and carry out a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

    According to him, the government must give the problem of public sector corruption the severe urgency it deserves.

    Obi expressed disappointment that a ministry created in good faith to attend to the plight of the suffering masses was being turned into a conduit pipe to steal from the poor as seen in the current and previous ministers of the ministry.

    “I like to add my voice with most Nigerians concerned about accountability in government and judicious use of public funds, to welcome the suspension of Edu, and subsequent directives for her investigation.

    “The investigation must be comprehensive so that all those culpable are brought to book,” Obi, a former two-term Anambra governor said.

    Cautioning against taking the issue lightly, Obi added that  the suspension of the minister should not be a window-dressing action but should be a peg to get at all those who are deserving of blame, punished just like the minister.

    “By a sad coincidence, the alleged fraudulent diversion of N585 million of public money by Edu broke almost at the same moment that the minister who held the same portfolio in the last administration is being investigated for a whopping N37 billion misappropriation.

    “The ministry may have been created by the system as a conduit pipe to siphon public funds while using the poor as a face.

    “Equally worrisome and disgusting is the fact that the missing funds are meant for poverty alleviation in a time of severe suffering among the people.

    “Unfortunately, the ruling elites can shamelessly convert, divert, or misappropriate such huge sums meant for the poor  and cannot  be trusted to address the severe poverty ravaging the people.

    “It is not only immoral but also insensitive for those entrusted with funds for public welfare to steal from the poor,” the Labour Party  leader said.

    Obi called on the Tinubu administration to use these cases to initiate a thorough system-wide and systematic investigation of all reported cases of fraud and corruption among high government officials in the country.

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

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that  President Tinubu on Monday,  suspended  Edu, following controversies about financial transactions she authorised in her ministry.

    The suspension according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale was  with immediate effect.

    The scandal included  the approval of payment of hundreds of millions of naira into private accounts of civil servants.

    Edu had come under criticism from Nigerians for ordering the transfer of N585.2 million into the private bank account of a civil servant, who is the accountant in charge of grants for Vulnerable Nigerians.

    The minister had issued a memo to the Accountant General of the Federation in December 2023,  ordering the said amount to be paid into the civil servant’s private bank account.

    (NAN) 

  • Egbe lauds Tinubu for boosting Eagles’ AFCON campaign

    Egbe lauds Tinubu for boosting Eagles’ AFCON campaign

    Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria’s foremost sports facilities construction company, Monimichelle Group, Ebi Egbe has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh for timely approval of funds towards Super Eagles’ participation at the Africa Cup of Nations Cup which holds in Cote d’ Ivoire between January 13 and February 11.

    Egbe whose company has constructed many stadia in the country including the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba and Mobolaji Johnson Sports Arena (Onikan Stadium) Lagos described the gesture as evidence of the President’s love for sports and youth development.

    Read Also; ‘I will take sports to the next level’

    “I’m highly excited with approval of funds by the presidency to clear all outstanding allowances of the Super Eagles as well as their participation in the AFCON finals which kicks off this weekend in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire,” Egbe said in a signed statement. “This kind and humane gesture by the President shows that he’s a football lover and has the interest of the development of the youths at heart and I want to say a very big thank you to President Tinubu and the Minister of Sports.”

    Egbe also charged the Super Eagles to put in their best and ensure they lift the trophy for the fourth time.

    ” It’s important that I charge the Super Eagles to put in their best in Cote d’Ivoire especially now that there will not be any form of distraction because of non-availability of funds,” he continued.

    “They should also realize that all Nigerians are behind them to lift the trophy a record fourth time and the President releasing such a huge amount of money in this time of economic meltdown should be enough inspiration for them to deliver and present the trophy to the President as a sign of appreciation for his kind gesture,” he concluded.

  • AA lauds President’s cutting down of entourage

    AA lauds President’s cutting down of entourage

    The Action Alliance (AA) has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s cutting down of entourage for local and international trips, thereby slashing the cost of governance.

    The party’s National Secretary, Mr. James Vernimbe, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.

    Vernimbe noted that the action was long overdue and laudable.

    Read Also; Strengthening the National Safe Schools Initiative

    “This is a good step in the right direction of cutting the cost of governance, especially in the face of economic hardship being faced by the Nigerian masses.

    “The reduction by 60 per cent is laudable and there is still room for more reduction to be made, but we must commend him for taking this bold step.

    “We believe that this will save the country some funds that can be utilized for better purposes,” he said.

    The AA spokesman said the government also needed to review the budgetary allocations to certain government offices to further cut down government’s spending.

  • Atiku’s aide Bwala praises Tinubu after Villa visit

    Atiku’s aide Bwala praises Tinubu after Villa visit

    Lawyer and spokesman to Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation in last year’s presidential election Daniel Bwala yesterday said that he has no apology supporting the Tinubu administration.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, who spoke with reporters at the State House, Abuja, after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, said if supporting the President would warrant his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), he would do so.

    Bwala lauded President Tinubu’s style of governance, saying that the recent suspension of a minister and reduction of cost of governance are commendable.

    Last week, the controversial politician was rooting for Atiku, hinting that he will contest for President again in 2027 because he has the capacity and private sector experience.

    Read Also; Strengthening the National Safe Schools Initiative

    As a staunch member of the Atiku camp, who increased his criticisms of the President and APC during the presidential litigation, APC members may with justification view him as a mole if he returns to the fold.

    Hailing President Tinubu, Bwala highlighted why he may shift to the ruling party.

    He said: “Some of his ministers that were allegedly reported to have committed infractions, instead of protecting them, he asked that the law should have its own course and suspended somebody without wasting time. That, to me, is impressive because it’s about the people.

    “Secondly, there has been this outcry that the government is bloated and the rest. Yesterday, he introduced a policy that reduced the cost of governance and today, he told me it is just the beginning. There are many more decisions of government that will reduce the cost of governance.

    “What have we been talking about as citizens? I  don’t have personal grudge against someone, if it is a policy issue, when policies are going correctly. You all need to visit my Twitter page. In the last few days, I have been expressing my surprise and appreciation to the President for the decisions he is taking.

    “So, this is not about political party and you need to know that like I said, I was with him before I left and I was doggedly committed to him. I told him today, I am committed to playing my part to support your administration, and I have no apology to anybody.”

    Asked if he was back to the ruling APC, Bwala said: “APC is a party. President Bola Tinubu is my motivation. If supporting him will take me to APC, so be it.”

    Two weeks ago, Bwala had said on television that opposition political parties should form a strong coalition to  wrest power from the APC in the 2027 general election.

    He said without a coalition of opposition parties, President Tinubu would spend eight years in office.

    Bwala stressed: “Without a coalition of political parties, Tinubu is going to spend the next eight years. That one is for sure. The truth of the matter is that there will be a coalition of political parties that will be very strong. This is a fact that I know. The coalition that is coming will swallow some of the elements that are creating the problems in the various political parties.”