Progress in the Anambra State sports sector, especially at the grassroots level, has attracted commendation of the state chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN.
Chairman of SWAN in the state, Chimezie Anaso, who gave the commendation at the 2023 SWAN Week Lecture/Award Night held in Awka, explained that from the rebirth of school sports, success at the National Youth Games, formation of a state-owned football club and just-concluded traders competition, the Anambra State Government had proven that it meant business with sports development.
He said the SWAN Week is an annual event that provides stakeholders the opportunity to evaluate activities in the sector during the outgoing year, and set the agenda for the coming year.
In his lecture, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, Tony Nezianya, said sports has so much benefit for the society, adding that grassroots sports development is a worthy path to toe; as it would activate the abundant talents of Anambra and Nigerian youths in general.
Nezianya, represented by a sports enthusiast and Lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Chris Abakare, suggested a redesign of the education system to incorporate mandatory physical education programmes that focus on skill development, knowledge of sports fundamentals and creation of opportunities for students to participate in competitive leagues.
He described grassroots sports as a means of identifying, nurturing, and supporting young athletes at the grassroots level; who have the passion and raw talents but lack the necessary resources, facilities, and opportunities to excel.
To develop the sports sector, Nezianya called for an increased investment and active collaboration between government and the private sector, adding that provision of sports infrastructure in sufficient quantity and quality will increase access for young athletes.
He said there should be a strong support system for athletes; which include access to quality coaching, sports medicine, and professional guidance.
Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, was given an award of recognition for his contributions to sports development in the state through creating a safe environment for sports to thrive.
Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu Depot, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, received an award for sponsoring the Odiofele Football competition in his community, Ekwulummiri for years.
The Anambra Cricket Association; under the chairmanship of Chuma Anosike was honoured with Most Grassroots Oriented Sports Association award for planting the game in many secondary schools in the state
Acting Registrar of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Obini Onuchukwu, was installed as patron of the association.
Being the Text of a Speech Presented by Governor Alex Otti, OFR, to the Abia State House of Assembly on the Occasion of the Presentation of the Draft of the 2024 State Budget on December 12, 2023 at the House of Assembly Complex, Umuahia.
Protocol,
1. I stand before you, Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, fellow Abians, friends and well-wishers with a great sense of responsibility, grateful for the sacred honour to present the 2024 budget proposal to this Honourable Assembly and offer our people at home and in the diaspora, an insight into our holistic plans and programmes for the rebuilding and restoration of our advantages as a state, in ways that stimulate the economy, create jobs for our teeming youth population and set us on a new development trajectory, in line with the promises that brought us to power.
2. Twelve months ago, we were in your communities and clans selling our ideas for a New Abia to the electorates, making a strong case that we must take a new direction in order to fulfil the inherent promise of this great land. Three months later, precisely on March 18, 2023, you elected us to lead the state. The message of our electoral victory was direct: the people wanted a clear break from the past. They want a New Abia, a state where government works in service of the common people, and not just the privileged few.
3. We took office on May 29 this year with a firm resolve to commit everything at our disposal to the service of our great state. I consider the opportunity to serve our people at this time the greatest honour of my life.
4. It would be proper at this point to commend the leadership and members of the State House of Assembly for the smooth and harmonious relationship that exists between the executive and legislative arms of government. The judiciary in the state has also been very outstanding in the very challenging work of setting the tone for the New Abia, a land where justice would be the first condition of humanity. The understanding and respect that underpin our relationship as different arms of government have been very central to the modest progress that has been recorded across critical sectors in the last 6 months.
5. While it is true that we hit the ground running from the very minute the oath of office was administered, setting out the appropriate institutional frameworks for immediate evacuation of the mountains of refuse that had taken over the streets of our major cities, amongst other key deliverables, we were also not unmindful of the fact that the budgetary foundation of the government for the 2023 fiscal year did not come from us. We were therefore constrained in so many ways, even when we tried as much as the law allowed us to redirect government expenditures to areas of utmost priorities to meet the immediate demands of responsible governance.
6. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members, we are fulfilled to announce that several roads that were previously impassable, including MCC by Old Express, Umuimo and Udeagbala roads in Aba have been completely reconstructed and opened for public use. To mark our first 100 days in office, we rehabilitated and commissioned Cemetery Phase 1, Shallom and Emelogu Roads, all in Aba.
7. In October, we made good our promise, shortly after our electoral victory, to contract a reputable civil engineering company for the rehabilitation of the long- abandoned Port Harcourt Road in Aba. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members and fellow Abians, it gives me great joy to report that for weeks now, Julius Berger, one of the biggest names in road construction and civil engineering projects have been at work on Port Harcourt Road, deploying the most sophisticated equipment and engineering professionals to the job because we made it clear that in the New Abia, we either get the best or nothing.
8. With a completion timeline of not more than 18 months, our expectation is that by the beginning of 2025, we shall see a boom in economic activities along that corridor, with many of the businesses that left years ago returning, in addition to several new ones.
9. In Umuahia, we are speedily completing the Ossah- Abia Tower/Okpara Square road reconstruction and expansion project for smooth flow of traffic into the capital city. It is our firm belief that the major entry points to the capital city should make a statement. It is in the light of this that work would soon start from the boundary in Onuimo to the Abia Tower. This is in addition to several palliative works going on in most parts of the city to improve intra-city transportation, as well as support business activities along important economic corridors.
10. Beyond our modest progress in the restoration of urban road infrastructure, we are also working in several communities across the state to enable the seamless movement of our people and transportation of agro-commodities from the rural to the urban centres and improve travel experience from one part of the state to another. With the coming of the new mayors, we hope to see even greater progress in the rehabilitation of rural roads.
11. We are very particular about road construction because of our understanding that roads are major economic enablers, aiding trade and commerce, supporting agriculture as well as boosting the appeal of our major cities to both residents and investors.
12. Our ambition has been constrained by the very limited resources at our disposal but we have been very innovative in our approach to dealing with the challenges that confront us. To make up for the shortfalls in resources, we returned the core engineering team of the State Ministry of Works to the field, under the Direct Labour Agency, creating an environment that encourages them to deploy their professional expertise more practically and I can tell you that the results have been fantastic.
13. In addition to expanding the network of motorable roads in the state, we have also taken special interest in healthcare delivery services and education. In health, we have successfully renovated the long-abandoned Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostics Centre, the Eye Clinic at the facility can now compete favourably with the best anywhere in the country and across the state, gradual renovation and rehabilitation works are taking place across the general hospitals.
14. Furthermore, access to healthcare in the state has improved especially with the free medical services initiative of the administration which will run until the end of the year in all public healthcare facilities. Thousands of Abians in rural and urban communities have benefited from this project which covers diagnostics and laboratory services, counselling and supply of drugs.
15. In the education sector, we are also making tremendous improvements in the teaching and learning environment with strategic investments in the renovation of schools across the 17 LGAs of the state. We are also working hard to return professionalism to the teaching profession through regular training and retraining programmes. We are determined to improve the competences of our teachers in tune with the demands of the modern world.
16. For our administration, the focus is to turn the schools into a fit-for-purpose environment for the training of world champions, young men and women with the skills to compete with their peers from all parts of the world.
17. We are working to phase out rote learning and over the next few years, we shall migrate to new learning platforms and methods that are designed to not just make learning more effective, but also prepare the pupils and students for the realities of the world they are living in.
18. In the education and health sectors, the morale of the personnel has been boosted with regular payment of salaries and other entitlements. Our teachers and health workers, like their counterparts in other sectors, now know when to expect their salaries and can plan accordingly. Not for once have they been disappointed in the last 6 months.
19. Umu nne m Ndi Abia, we have also made great strides in security through proper support to the security agencies including procurement of operational vehicles and other hardware necessary for effective security operations in all parts of the state, including prompt response in periods of emergencies.
20. We launched Operation Crush in August this year to deal with the menace of violent crimes. I am glad to report that our determination to make the state safe for residents and investors has seen us diminish the capacity of the criminals to strike in any part of the state. Although we still have pockets of challenges in a few places, the verdict is that Abia is now one of the safest places to live and do business.
21. Our Light UP Abia has seen us invest extensively in the procurement and installation of solar-energy powered lights for major streets in our urban centres. We have since extended the project to LGA headquarters across the state and the logic is simple: in addition to extending business hours for our entrepreneurs, proper street lighting also aids security as no criminal likes to operate under the light.
22. I promised on my inauguration that our government shall work to expand the frontiers of opportunities for our youth population. I am glad to report that in the last 3 months, we have, through the ministries of digital economy and SMEs, budget and planning and several other organs of the executive arm of government pioneered initiatives that are structured to improve the skills of our youths, especially their ICT skills, to enable them profit from the boundless opportunities of the new global economic system.
23. Working in conjunction with major partners including global tech giants, the state has successfully trained thousands of youths in various ICT skills to support their readiness for the global job market.
24. We are desirous to see a boom in the ICT space in the state and this explains why we have created a robust system that exposes our young people to the abundance of opportunities in the sector for gainful employment and successful entrepreneurship. The target is to steer our young people away from the temptations of dishonest living and offer them a platform to apply themselves to dignifying ventures.
25. Across communities, we have expanded the structure of our partnership programmes with multilateral organisations to promote transparency and accommodate more vulnerable households in the light of the continuing shocks of the post-COVID-19 pandemic and the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government. We have committedly supported as many vulnerable households and individuals as our resources can carry in pursuance of the administration’s social support system aimed at reducing extreme poverty which continues to assault the dignity of our people in several communities.
26. Today’s budget presentation is therefore significant in many ways; first it is the first full year budget by our government. We have deliberately structured the key items in the budget to reflect the priorities of the administration on very important frontiers especially road infrastructure, human capital development, health and human services, social support initiatives, digitalisation of the service delivery mechanisms of the government for efficiency amongst other objectives which are strategically tailored towards opening up the economy to local and global investors.
27. Our goal is to consolidate on the modest gains made in the 2023 budget cycle, especially in the last six months where our strategic investments in public infrastructure and social services, in addition to consistently meeting our obligations to civil servants and pensioners have combined to enable us keep the economy afloat in what has been a very difficult season as a result of certain realities that are not of our making, especially the removal of fuel subsidy, massive depreciation of the Naira and the many other economic headwinds the country is grappling with.
28. As Mr Speaker and Honourable Members of this House are also aware, we have seen a steep rise in inflation which has distorted economic plans and projections made by businesses, governments and households at the beginning of the year. Adjusting to this sharp rise in prices of goods and services has been very demanding especially for a new government with immense responsibilities on its shoulders, working with a budget made by its predecessor on the basis of assumptions that no longer hold.
29. On the basis of facts available to my office, we have done quite well in the implementation of the 2023 budget of N160.5 billion and the projection is that we would go well past the 60% budget implementation mark achieved in 2022. We have remained transparent and open in the presentation of our budget performance report and this has helped in giving the citizens a good understanding of how public resources that belong to them are being used. The target is to do better in 2024 by making the most of the feedback we got from the public over the last two quarters.
30. The 2024 budget proposal which we christened the “Budget of New Beginning” targets the expansion of our public infrastructure in line with our new development targets, scaling up access and quality service delivery in the social sector, with special focus on education and health where we are proposing to commit more than 20% and 15% of the aggregate budget spending respectively.
31. The State is proposing a total expenditure of Five Hundred and Sixty-Seven Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Million, Ninety-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira (N567, 240, 095, 972. 00) in the 2024 fiscal year.
32. The above figure, in nominal terms, represents more than N400 billion rise from the 2023 estimate of N160.5 billion although when adjusted for inflation and fall in the value of the naira, the reality becomes starkly different.
33. The key distinction in the 2024 budget estimate, however, is in the direction of spending. While the 2023 projection allocated 53% of the entire budget for capital expenditure, our target in the 2024 fiscal year is to spend 84% of the total expenditure on capital projects and commit 16% to recurrent expenditure, as against 47% in the 2023 estimates.
34. Of the proposed figure, government’s estimated total revenue is N166,077,717,058 including earnings from our IGR channels, Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), grants from multilateral organisations and income from other revenue sources that will be available to the state government over the course of the accounting year.
35. We plan to finance the deficit of N401, 162, 378, 914 partly by new borrowings estimated at N385, 271, 027, 214. 50% of this borrowing will be sourced externally, whilst the balance will be procured domestically.
36. It must at this point be stated that all borrowing in the 2024 fiscal year would be committed strictly to capital development projects with direct impact on the economy of the state, especially roads, schools and medical facilities. The projection is that the impact of these projects on the general economy in the medium to long term would generate the sufficient returns that would enable the state meet her obligation to the creditors smoothly and ultimately pay off the loans in due course.
37. The assurance I want to give Mr Speaker, Honourable members and to every Abian is that under my watch, not a dime shall be borrowed to finance recurrent expenditure. All borrowing will be negotiated on terms that are favourable to the state.
38. Rebuilding the state’s public infrastructure requires the sort of targeted financing we cannot immediately access within the state so there is the need to borrow to fund the projects that would kick-start the economy and make us competitive on a global scale.
39. More importantly, the citizens and other stakeholders would have the opportunity to monitor how the funds are being spent and the impact of the projects on their communities, from inception to completion. This is very important to guarantee transparency and as a listening government, your inputs would always be very important in our decision making process.
40. In the 2024 fiscal year, the state proposes to commit 44.76% of the budget on the economic sector with the larger chunk of the resources going into works, (16.97%), land and housing (9.9%), agriculture (5.12%), and finance, (5.23%).
41. We shall be committing major resources in the 2024 financial year to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of some of the most important roads along the major economic corridors of the state. The budget has provided for completion of some of the projects we started in 2023 including Port Harcourt Road Aba, Ossah Road, Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abariba-Ohafia Road, Ozuabam-Ndi Okereke- Arochukwu Road, the dualisation of Umuikaa-Umuene-Omoba Road, Dualisation of Owerrinta-Umuikaa Road, Nunya-Eluama-Isuikwuato Road, Onuimo-Abia Tower Road amongst others as well as the commencement of new road projects in parts of the state.
42. For housing, the state shall be partnering with reputable private developers to develop new mass housing projects in our major urban locations. We are not just looking to erect blocks of flats; our target is to develop sophisticated urban locations that answer to the housing needs of our upwardly mobile youth population, young families and diaspora population.
43. In agriculture, we are proposing to designate Bende, Ukwa and Umunneochi LGAs as Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ). Our SAPZs will be structured to serve as major hubs for the production, aggregation, processing and distribution of major agro-commodities produced in these areas for improved value in the local and international markets.
44. The government proposes to commission Site-dedicated infrastructure in each of the zones including gas-solar powered energy plants, quality road infrastructure, optic fibre, water treatment facilities and ancillary support structures to drive the activities along these agro corridors.
45. In the same vein, 40.07% of the total budget is proposed to be committed to the social sector with the bulk of the resources going into education (20%), healthcare (15.04%), youth and sport development, (3.17%).
46. Items proposed in the social sector include the renovation of 300 public primary and secondary schools across the 17 LGAs of the state, infrastructure upgrade at the State College of Education, the retooling of 3 technical schools across the 3 senatorial districts, the procurement and installation of world class modern health facilities at 3 general hospitals across the 3 senatorial districts of the state, the construction of a standard medical village to stem the tide of medical tourism, the construction of the Nsulu Sports and Entertainment Complex, construction of community sports hubs in all the 17 LGAs of the state, construction of digital skills and innovation centres across the 3 senatorial districts and many, many more.
47. Our intent is clear: we are prioritising the projects that have direct impact on the economic and social life of the citizenry in line with our commitment to using the levers of government to serve the needs of the common people.
48. Mr Speaker, I want to specially appreciate this Honourable House for the speedy passage of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Bill. I am also glad to announce that I have signed the bill into law and going forward, GADA will serve as the administrative vehicle to drive the social and economic development of Aba in line with my campaign promise to give priority attention to the rapid development of Aba and ultimately return it to its glory days. There has never been any doubt about what we intend to do in Aba and I am expectant that with the setting up of GADA as a legal administrative structure, developments in Aba will be better streamlined as we find in other major cities across the world.
49. As I promised at a media briefing earlier in the month, we shall be implementing a pay rise for our civil servants to reflect the present economic realities in the country. This shall be implemented in the New Year and provision for that has been made in the 2024 budget. The government will continue to prioritise the welfare of its employees even as we expect to see greater commitment from our civil servants who are major stakeholders in the implementation of our governance agenda.
50. We shall continue to support the conventional security establishments to improve the security of life and property in all parts of the state. Let me repeat my earlier warning that criminality in whatever guise shall have no place in the New Abia. We are open for business and any threat to this goal shall be met with the full weight of the law.
51. We understand the economic realities in the country and shall continue to do everything in our powers to support individuals seeking to make an honest living through hard work in legitimate endeavours. The government is already making arrangements to revive as many of our moribund industries as available resources and economic rational permit.
52. We are currently in discussions with those with stakes in these companies to see how we can restructure the existing agreements and have the establishments come back on stream because we are a pro-business government, committed to actively supporting the private sector to massively create jobs for our people.
53. Mr Speaker, Honourable Members and Ndi Abia, I invite us all to look to the future with great optimism. We are coming from a very difficult place but none of the difficulties of the past can diminish the potentials of this great land. A new beginning awaits us and I request everyone to come on board as we work to rebuild and restore the glory of our fatherland.
54. As I lay this bill before this Honourable House, may I reassure you, Mr Speaker, and the Honourable members, that you will get all the necessary cooperation from my team as Abians look to the speedy and diligent consideration of the 2024 budget proposal.
55. Mr. Speaker, Honourable members of the house, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, thank you for listening and may our good God continue to bless you all.
Following the political crisis over his continued absence from official duty, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has proceeded on a fresh medical leave outside the state.
Governor Akeredolu, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, also asked his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to take over power in an “acting capacity” while he was away on a medical trip.
In the statement, the ailing Ondo governor said a letter regarding his medical leave and a notice formally transferring power to Aiyedatiwa in line with the constitution would be transmitted to the State House of Assembly.
He revealed that the medical vacation would start by Wednesday (December 13, 2023) in continuation of his medical treatment.
“Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, will commence his medical leave on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his medical treatment.
“During his medical leave, Governor Akeredolu will prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties.
“A formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.
“In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in an acting capacity.
“Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State. He assures them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations. This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations,” the statement read.
The development came after President Bola Tinubu for the second time within a month summoned all the political actors in the state to a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has signed the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Bill, recently passed by the State House of Assembly, into law.
Governor Otti, speaking Monday after assenting to the bill, his first since assuming office May 29, 2023, said the establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority was to give Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, indeed South East Nigeria, a special focus in terms of development.
“Everyone who had followed the process of the campaigns and elections would have remembered that we had said that we needed a special focus on Aba which is a commercial nerve centre of the State,” Governor Otti said in a tone filled with reassurance.
According to the Governor, Aba, beyond being a trading zone, is also an industrial base, where all kinds of light and heavy manufacturing; micro small and medium scale businesses are conducted.
“Virtually every street in Aba is a market, eventhough we are working at organising them, but it is a strength that we recognise,” he said, adding, “when we invest heavily in infrastructural renewal in Aba, it is because we recognise the potentials that Aba has and we believe that if we improve on ease of doing business, we attract a lot of businesses.”
He congratulated the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa; Deputy Speaker, Hon Austin Okezie Meregini; the leadership of the House and other members; and Members of the State Executive Council on the passage of the executive bill.
He stated that with the law now in place, Aba rejuvenation has got a legal backing to bring about the needed development in the commercial capital.
Earlier, while presenting the Bill to the Governor for assent, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, noted that the executive bill was passed into law by the State House of Assembly on 8th December, 2023.
Uwanna said that the Greater Aba Development Authority is now the first bill Governor Otti was signing into law and congratulated the Governor on achieving that feat.
Giving insight on the newly signed law, the Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Mr. Uche Ukeje, described the law as a special vehicle that would drive the development of Aba to realise the Governor’s vision about the Enyimba City.
Ukeje, an architect of many years repute, described GADA as an integrator, that would coordinate all the efforts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a bid to bring the needed development in Aba.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Kenneth Kalu; Commissioner for Digital Economy and SME, Dr. Matthew Ekwuribe; Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr Ikechukwu Monday; and Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters, Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani, among other senior aides of the Governor witnessed the bill signing ceremony.
KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
December 11, 2023
All the war arsenals are steaming as Wike And his political son, SIM Fubara would lock horns in the grand arena of Rivers State.
You’d recall that 27 PDP House of Assembly Members Defected to APC in Rivers.
So funny how all these are happening not for the interest of the masses but for their own personal gain and sharing formula of the resources of the good people of Rivers state.
Meanwhile, SIM Fubara seems to look like a stubborn bone stuck in the throat of Wike and ready to pull an “Ngige vs Eselu Ubah” in Anambra stunt against Wike
Sim seems to be moving with his people… Alas, they would weep sentiments and start seeing it as Obiakpor vs Ijaws….
“Naso war they take start”…
Some wrote :
I understand that alot of people are bothered because the 27 House of Assembly Members that have decamped to APC might want to instigate a process of impeachment against Governor Sim Fubara, but why are we forgetting that these same guys were never doing the bidding of PDP in the first place?
They were just answering PDP by name. Their, hearts, minds and souls were never in PDP.
First, the State Party Chairman of PDP resigned & accepted an appointment with the APC, then we saw alot of other things following suit.
I understand that yes, Sim, as a first-time Governor, it is going to be very difficult for him, but there are a lot of instruments available to a Governor but it is not a banana republic either, as much as they will try to impeach him, I am aware and I am sure that Sim will not just fold his hands and allow them impeach him
So, the only regret here is that these guys are not ready for governance because all they want to do is to just instigate crisis in the State.
I am very certain that it is not easy to impeach a Governor.
A Governor has so much enormous powers . He can frustrate those House of Assembly Members. Taking Sim down as Governor will not be easy for the House of Assembly Members.
Democracy in Nigeria should be abolished as a matter of serious urgency….. These guys have successfully removed the citizens from the equation…… This can’t be a country or Democracy na…
Terrible things happen in Nigeria. We have lost the present and we want to lose the future.
I just left Transcorp Hotel Abuja after my news analysis at Arise News TV. As I stepped to the lobby of the hotel, I saw a bevy of pretty young girls in their early 20s crowded in a corner. There were all skimpily dressed as if there were commercial sex workers. The time was 10.30pm.
One of them rushed to greet me. “Good evening sir”. She was one of my students. I recognized her clearly because she had a slight disability and I paid attention to make sure she followed the coursework. I was shocked. I recognized three of those hotly dressed pretty young girls as fresh graduates of my department.
What are they all coming to do at this kind of Hotel at this hour and dressed in this manner? Of course, I think I know what it is. A Nigerian politician or man of means have arranged them for his pleasure and those of his friends and acquaintances. Everyday, our girls are disoriented by these politicians who have neither shame nor conscience because they have access to power and money.
We pride ourselves that we have a large youth population and that is a huge asset. But the truth is that we have a large hardware. The software is highly corrupted. Why do we intend to organize these adolescents into the life of immorality?
This reminds me of the experience I had as a special adviser to senate president. Once we went to open a new government house built by a Governor in one of the southeast states. The Governor arranged a special reception for us. When we got to the venue of the so-called reception, I was shocked. Tens of very young girls sourced from the nearby university – between 17-22 years- were already dancing with top government officials.
I screamed and accosted the majority leader of the State House of Assembly. He boldly answered “Man Sammy, these adolescents are our counterparts”. Wow. What? I requested to be taken back to the hotel. That was the end of the reception for me. I couldn’t believe that someone will arrange first year students for an entourage that has the Senate President and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education. We are finished.
These politicians have done more harms than you can imagine. They have destroyed the economy. They have destroyed infrastructure. They have also destroyed the morality and the viability of our human capital. How can such young girls who are debased that early rise up to be moral champions of tomorrow? How? Pretty difficult.’
The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned Nigerians to be wary of counterfeit naira notes in circulation amid reports of currency shortage in the country.
In a statement released on Friday titled ‘Beware of Counterfeit Naira Banknotes in Circulation,’ the apex bank advised Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses, Bureau de Change, and the public to be vigilant and implement necessary precautions.
The Central Bank assures the public that it is working with law enforcement operatives to apprehend those responsible for circulating counterfeit currency.
The statement, in part, said, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to the circulation of counterfeit banknotes, significantly higher denominations, by some individuals for transactions in food markets and other commercial centers across major cities in the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 20(4) of the CBN Act (2007) as amended, states that: “It shall be an offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years for any person to falsify, make or counterfeit any bank note or coin issued by the Bank which is legal tender in Nigeria.”
“The CBN is constantly collaborating with relevant security and financial agencies to confiscate fake Naira banknotes and arrest and prosecute counterfeiters. Members of the public are also encouraged to report anyone suspected of having counterfeit naira notes to the nearest police station or branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“Meanwhile, all Deposit Money Banks, Financial Houses and Bureau de Change and the general public are enjoined to be more vigilant and take all necessary precautionary measures to curtail the acceptance and distribution of counterfeit notes,” the statement reads.
The Canadian Government has increased its “cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants,” for international students from $10,000 to $20,000 starting from January 1, 2024.
The country’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller made this known in a statement on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
In the statement, Miller said from 2024, every applicant will need to show they have $20,635, in addition to their first year of tuition and travel costs.
The statement reads in part, “This change will apply to new study permit applications received on or after January 1, 2024.”
“Starting January 1, 2024, the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants will be raised so that international students are financially prepared for life in Canada.
“For close to two decades, study permit applicants for international students have remained at $10,000. This review, which takes effect from January 1, ‘will help prevent student vulnerability and exploitation.”
This is coming days after the government of the United Kingdom introduced tougher rules aimed at curbing regular migration.
The new rule is designed to make visa application more difficult for Nigerians and other applicants.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has faulted the claims of the Defense Headquarters (DHQ), attributing the reason for the air strike in the Tudun Birni community to terrorists embedding themselves with civilians.
The incident, which happened on Sunday, resulted in the deaths of over 120 people and injuries to several others in the Igabi Local Government Area.
But the Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, stated on Tuesday that the reason for the air raid was terrorists embedding themselves with the locals in the area.
However, Governor Sani, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, described the statement as “careless,” insisting that such claims need to be verified before taking such decisions.
“What happened in Tundi Buri is something that is unfortunate. But the fact that the chief of staff took responsibility is the reason why the community is calm.
“But to say that the terrorists are in the community is something that needs verification. I think that is a very careless statement when I heard it yesterday.
“If you visit the hospital and see what is happening, you would condemn statements like this.”
Governor Sani’s comments follow a condolence visit by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday to the affected community, where he stated that a probe would be initiated to forestall any future repetition .
“It is already directed by Mr. President; an investigation is being conducted to prevent a re-occurrence of the incident and we expect a report to be submitted in the shortest possible time,” Shettima said.
He also pledged that the victims of the incident would be supported by the federal government.
… we are focused on building group wealth – GGMCS President, Anaenugwu
It was a moment of tale of success stories as members of Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, GGMCS, held 2023 end-of-the-year meeting in Awka, the Anambra State capital, during which they were given account of transactions for the year ending, and paid dividends from investments.
GGMCS is a group of like minds committed to reducing poverty through cooperative production.
Sharing testimonies of how GGMCS has positively affected their lives as members, Mr. Anthony Uchedike; a ‘wood worker’ from Imo State, and Mr. Chris Okonkwo; from Nenwe in Enugu State but resident in Awka, and who is into printing, said with 3% interest rate loans for members, GGMCS is worthy of emulation; as it has affected their lives positively.
They called on people who need to change their financial conditions to join the group in order to achieve their dreams.
Contributing, a staff of Federal College of Education, Technical, Umunze, Barrister Dr Augusta Asimonye; from Enugwu-Ukwu in Anambra State, called on more people to join GGMCS because it has a leadership that makes people think investment, and is prudent in management of resources, as well as timely in paying members dividends accruing from investments.
On his part his part, Engr Jude Ezechukwu; from Awgu in Enugu State, said he has enjoyed so much benefits from his investments in the group, urging others to join in order to better their financial conditions.
Earlier in her remark, a resource person and Divisional Cooperative Officer, DCO, in charge of Dunukofia Local Government, Mrs Pauline Uzoigwe, said much still needs to be done by the government to make cooperative societies more attractive and responsive to people’s needs in the state.
While observing that members of GGMCS are doing well as a group in terms of building wealth, and have great ideas for the future, Mrs Uzoigwe noted that character matters in accepting new members, adding that defaulting on loans remains a major challenge cooperative societies usually have, even as she encouraged people to join such groups to get financial assistance.
A founding member of GGMCS, Comrade Obi Emekekwue; from Oba in Anambra State, who recalled that the need for practical self-help motivated few members to come together for economic prosperity of more people, urged government to invest in the group in order to encourage industrialization; thereby affecting more lives positively
Addressing the gathering, the President of Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Mr. Ndubuisi Anaenugwu, said GGMCS remains the last bus stop when one thinks or talks about cooperative society, adding that the vision of the group is to be the biggest and most efficiently managed cooperative society in Anambra State.
He described GGMCS as one focused on assisting members in building group wealth by bringing people together and giving them sense of direction in terms of financial training, and encouraged members to remain on the vision of GGMCS, assuring that their expectations will continue to be met; in line with government mandate.
Speaking further on success stories, Mr. Anaenugwu said many members have benefited from financial assistance, are doing well in their businesses, and have not defaulted in loan payment, thereby living up to the name – Good Governance Multipurpose Cooperative Society.
He noted that governments all over the world support cooperative societies, saying that Anambra State Government can help by giving GGMCS grant or loan at single digit interest to enable the group get land for agriculture and other industrial purposes.
Contributing, the Vice President of GGMCS, and Leader of Good Governance Ministry(GGM) Comrade Chinedu Asuzu, said the group is transforming good governance advocacy into action by helping to empower people through soft loans at 3% interest rate, thereby nurturing businesses and helping people realize economic ideas.
He assured that as they have met established target for the ending year 2023, they will do more in 2024, calling for the support of government, well-meaning groups and individuals in order to sustain investments in agriculture, housing estate and medical outreach programmes.
Free medical services, as well as sale of food and other items at cheaper rates featured at the event to showcase the products of Good Governance Cooperative.
