Economic Hardship: Benue workers protest high cost of living

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February 27, 2024

Scores of workers under the aegis of the Nigeria Labor Congress in Benue State trooped out on Tuesday to protest the economic hardship in the country.

The protesting union members who started from the NLC state secretariat located along Otukpo road marched towards major streets in the capital city of Makurdi and terminated the protest match at the government house. Security operatives were also deployed at strategic locations to avert any breakdown of law and order.

The State Chairman, NLC, Comrade Terungwa Igbe lamented that Nigerians are passing through untold hardships following the bad economic policies of the Federal Government.

Igbe said prices of goods have skyrocketed to the extent that within a day and in the same market, the same items are sold at different rates depending on the time of the day. He said the high cost of living has affected the workers seriously and urged President Tinubu to urgently initiate and implement policies that would alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

Also, the Zonal Coordinator, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nsukka Zone, Mr Rapheal Amokaha, said their current salaries could no longer feed two persons for a month due to the high cost of living in the country.

Addressing the workers, the State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia stated that the government was aware of the sufferings of workers and other Nigerians in the country.

Alia who was represented by his Chief of Staff Mr Paul Biam assured the protesting workers that their grievances would be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu.

He said it was very clear that Nigerians were passing through tough times and said the government was not relenting in its efforts to ensure that Nigerians have an improved standard of living.

He said, “As a government, we are completely in agreement with the facts that workers and indeed Nigerians are going through tough times. We have to accept these realities in our faces. It is only when we accept and try to bring up policies that can cushion this that we can live better.

“We are in complete support of whatever legitimate ways you are doing to ensure that the government is on her toes to bring in policies that will alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

“We are aware of your sufferings. We understand your predicaments. Please be assured of the Governor’s concern and worry. We understand your predicaments and we will continue to engage your leadership to ensure that together we build a better Benue.” he said .

Source : Punch Newspaper

NSCDC Parades 51 Suspected Illegal Miners, 3 Telecommunications Mast Vandals

By

Adamma Ikeogu

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February 27, 2024

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) has arrested 51 suspected illegal miners and three suspected telecommunication mast vandals in the federal capital territory (FCT).

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu made the disclosure on Monday while briefing journalists.

He said that the three suspected vandals were apprehended by the men of Critical National Assets and infrastructure unit of his command, following a tip-off of the dismantling activity at Giri area by the FCT Command intelligence and undercover operatives He told the public that before the decommissioning of any mast, an approval of such act must be obtained from the NSCDC being the lead agency in the protection of critical national asset and infrastructure in the country..

Odumosu disclosed that the suspects during interrogation by the command’s Anti-vandal Unit, were unable to show an approval from the Corps.

He said: “Neither do they have any proper means of identification showing who they are and the company they are working for.

“Upon further questioning, they revealed that a a certain business man had already been paid the sum of N4 million ahead for the dismantling which raised suspicion of a premeditated act of vandalism.

“Ongoing investigation is being carried out to determine his level of culpability and ownership claim after which necessary action will be taken.”

The Commandant disclosed that in a similar operation, 51 suspects were arrested in Gwagwalada area of the FCT for engaging in illegal mining activities. Odumosu explained that the suspects, all male, had been profiled and had no evidence of a registered company they were operating under as well as no exploration and mining licence.

“All acts of illegal mining encroaches on the soil and causes environmental degradation and erosion and that is why most of these areas are no longer useful for agricultural and human activities.”

He said that after thoroughly investigating both cases, the suspects would be charged to court for further disciplinary action that will serve as deterrence to others.

Exhibits recovered from the 54 suspects were dismantled metal mast parts, five pumping machines.

“Un-quantified amount of substance alleged to be gold dust, pumping hoses, ten litres of fuel, shovels, diggers and head- pan.

According to Odumosu, henceforth, we will not relent to arrest any form of sabotage on the economy; the Federal Government is trying so hard to provide infrastructure to make life easy.

“And some miscreants in the name of vandalism and illegal mining are trying to destroy what has been provided.

“People are quick in condemning government but people like these are the ones destroying the efforts of the Federal Government,” the Commandant added.

The Command Head warned vandals and criminals in the FCT to relocate, stressing that, the NSCDC was out for them as there is no hiding place left for them in the territory.

Source: Arise News

Tinubu Move To Save Nigeria :Highlights of Federal Executive Council decisions on Monday 26 February

By

bvichannel1

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February 27, 2024

Here are some of the highlights of the far reaching decisions taken today at the Federal Executive Council meeting, chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

1. FEC approved construction of Lagos-Port Harcourt-Calabar Coastal Superhighway to Messrs Hitech Construction Africa. The First phase made up of 47 kms will begin in Lagos.

2. Social security payments to the vulnerable households to begin immediately. Recipients will be those with NIN and BVN.

3. Social security payments to be extended to graduates from NCE and upwards

4. Consumer Credit to be established very urgently. Chief of Staff to lead a committee that includes Budget Minister, Attorney-General, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance, to make the scheme a reality.

5. The Council in order to enhance efficiency in the Federal service, and reduce the cost of governance, decided to implement the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye panel on the restructuring and rationalisation of Federal agencies, parastatals and commissions.

The implementation involves merging, subsuming and scrapping agencies with similar functions.

The Oronsaye report was submitted in 2012 to the Jonathan administration. In 2014, the Jonathan government released a white paper on the report. The Buhari administration after re-examining the white paper also released a second white paper in August 2022, but did not implement the report.

However, the Tinubu administration has decided to confront the monster of high governance cost by implementing elements of the report.

An eight-man committee has a 12-week deadline to ensure that the necessary legislative amendments and administrative restructuring needed to implement the reforms are effected in an efficient manner.

The committee comprises Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of the Civil Service, Attorney General and Justice Minister, Budget and Planning Minister, DG Bureau of Public Service Reform, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Special assistant to the president on National Assembly. The Cabinet Affairs Office will serve as the secretariat.

Key recommendations for implementation:

National Salaries, Income and wages Commission to be subsumed under Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission. The National Assembly will need to amend the constitution as RMAFC was established by the constitution.

Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission to be merged with Bureau of Public Enterprise and be rechristened as `Public Enterprises and Infrastructural Concession Commission

National Human Rights Commission to swallow Public Complaints Commission

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate(PTAD) to be scrapped and functions to be taken over by Federal Ministry of Finance

NEMA and National Commission for Refugees to be fused to become National Emergency and Refugee Management Commission

Border Communities Development Agency to become a department under National Boundary Commission

NACA and NCDC to be merged

SERVICOM to become a department under the Bureau for Public Service Reform(BPSR)

NALDA to return to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

Federal Ministry of Science to supervise a new agency that combines NCAM, NASENI and PRODA

National Commission for Museums and Monuments and National Gallery of Arts to become one entity that will be known as National Commission for Museums, Monuments and Gallery of Arts.

National Theatre to be merged with National Troupe.
13. Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa and Directorate of Technical Aid Corp to be merged under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission to become an agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Federal Radio Corporation and Voice of Nigeria to be one entity to be known as Federal Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria

National Biotechnology Development Agency(NABDA) and National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology to be emerged into an agency to be known as National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency(NBRDA).

National Institute for Leather Science Technology and National Institute for Chemical Technology to become one agency.

Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development to become one agency.

The National Metallurgical Development Centre and National Metallurgical Training Institute will be merged.

National Institute for Trypanosomiasis to be subsumed under Institute of Veterinary Research in Vom, Jos.

The list is not exhaustive.

Loveday Chika Ogbonna
State Director NIMC ANAMBRA

Action Group Of Rotary Club International Tasks Anambra Legislature On Creativity In Lawmaking

By

Joseph Albert

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February 26, 2024

… as Dr. Akpua enjoins colleagues to go beyond partnership, join Rotary to better society.

Action Group, a subsidiary of Rotary Club International District 9142 Onitsha, Anambra State, has urged members of the state legislature to be more creative in their primary responsibilities, and fashion out ways to alleviate the plights of the masses, especially at the current economic hardship ravaging Nigeria.

The group made the call when they paid courtesy visit to the member representing Njikoka Two Constituency, Dr. Jude Akpua.

Addressing their host and other state lawmakers who joined in receiving them, the leader of the group, Comrade Chinedu Ogbuefi, said the visit was necessary due to the importance of the legislature in addressing the needs of the masses they are representing.

He described Rotary Club International as a charitable organization renowned for selflessly improving the wellbeing of humanity irrespective race, religion or tribe.

Responding Dr. Akpua, who is the Deputy Majority Leader of Anambra State House Of Assembly, and other members of the state legislature commended the efforts of Rotary Club International in uplifting humanity, and promised to partner with them for more people-oriented programmes in the state assembly.

They noted that having been elected by the people for the people, they would continue to serve their people selflessly and without seeking personal aggrandizement of any sort, which the lawmakers said is in tandem with the working principle of Rotary Club International.

Dr. Akpua, a Rotarian, enjoined his colleagues at the state legislature to go beyond partnership and become members of Rotary Club International for more impacts in making the society better.

Highlight of the visit was decoration of members of the Anambra State House of Assembly present.

Tinubu Reacts As Qatar Rejects His Visitation Request

By

bvichannel1

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February 25, 2024

President Bola Tinubu has vowed to proceed with his planned visit to Qatar despite the authorities’ unwillingness to welcome the Nigerian leader.

Francisca Omayuli, spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on Saturday that read, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the forthcoming visit by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the State of Qatar on 2-3 March, as scheduled.”

The foreign affairs minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said Qatar and Nigeria are strong allies with a “long history of friendship and close bilateral relations,” adding that.

Mr Tinubu’s upcoming visit to Doha “will help build on this important relationship.”

The ministry, according to Ms Omayuli, was aware that the diplomatic memo expressing Qatar’s unwillingness to host the Nigerian leader had been leaked to the media, but it would not comment on “leaks.”

“The Ministry is aware of the circulation in the media of diplomatic correspondence and wishes to confirm that it will not comment on leaks,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier the Qatari government rejected Mr Tinubu’s proposed visit for a business parley on March 2 and 3 because the nation’s commerce minister would be outside the country on the days the Nigerian leader intended to visit.

Qatari authorities in the Note Verbale also stated that they had no signed agreement with Nigeria on investment promotion and protection.

“The embassy has the honour to inform that the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar apologises that it will not be able to hold a business and investment forum as proposed by the Nigerian side,” the Note Verbale sent by the Qatari government to the Nigerian government on Thursday stated.

Yoruba Nation: Buhari sent DSS to assassinate me – Sunday Igboho

By

Adamma Ikeogu

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February 23, 2024

Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Igboho, on Friday, said he came back to Nigeria by the power of God.

Addressing his followers in Oyo State in Yoruba language, he claimed that his agitation against Fulani herders killing of farmers in the Southwest was behind the move to assassinate him.

He said: “Buhari sent his soldiers and DSS to arrest me in my house because I said Yorubas are not slaves to Fulanis, they can’t suppress us in our father’s land.

“Fulanis can’t stop our fathers and mothers from going to their farms. But, I’m back with the power of God and authority not that of man.”

Source : Nation Newspaper

BREAKING: Olumide Akpata emerges Edo LP Gov candidate

By

Adamma Ikeogu

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February 23, 2024

Former National Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Olumide Akpata has been declared winner of Edo Labor Party (LP) Governorship primary election.

The Deputy governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who is the returning officer for the poll made the declaration after collating the results.

Akpata scored 316 votes to win the exercise held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Friday.

Source : Nation Newspaper

Lassa fever killed 84 in seven weeks — NCDC

By

Adamma Ikeogu

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February 23, 2024

he Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said it has recorded 2,621 Lassa fever cases and 84 deaths with a case fatality rate of 18.6 percent.

The NCDC said 476 cases were confirmed from the suspected cases from 23 states across 84 Local Government Areas, as of February 18, 2024.

The Director-General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris disclosed this on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja.

Dr Idris said, “The NCDC was notified yesterday by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health of the report of deaths from suspected viral hemorrhagic fever at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna. Following this notification, the NCDC has been working with both institutions to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the suspected cases as well as ramp up response activities.

“Four of the six blood samples from suspected cases sent to the Bayero University Teaching Hospital in Kano have been confirmed for Lassa fever. Furthermore, twenty-five close contacts of all these cases are now under follow-up and placed on prophylactic medicine.

“The State Ministry of Health has also activated their Incident Management System with all the response pillars including intensified risk communication and community engagement for the prevention and control of Lassa fever in the affected communities.

“As of February 18, 2024 (end of week 7), 84 Local Government Areas in 23 states of the country have reported a total of 2,621 suspected cases, 476 confirmed, and 84 deaths with a case fatality rate of 18.6 per cent. Our condolences go to the families and friends of those (including the health workers) who lost their lives to this disease across the country.”

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus. The natural host organism for the virus is the Mastomys natalenced rodent (commonly known as the multimammate rat or the African rat). Other rodents can also be carriers of the virus.

The virus spreads through direct contact with droppings ( urine, faeces, saliva, or blood) from the infected rats; contact with objects, household items, and surfaces contaminated with these droppings; consuming food or water contaminated with these droppings; and person-to-person transmission can also occur through direct contact with an infected person’s blood, urine, faeces, vomits, and other body fluids.

The disease initially presents like any other common illnesses accompanied by a fever, such as malaria. Other symptoms include headache, general body weakness, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.

Meanwhile, the NCDC boss said the activated multi-sectoral multi-disciplinary Incident Management System has distributed medical supplies for case management, infection prevention and control, laboratory diagnosis, etc. in all Lassafever treatment centers in the country, among others.

He urged Nigerians to always keep their environment clean, and block all holes in their house to prevent the entry of rats and other rodents.

“Cover your dust or waste bins and dispose of your refuse properly, communities should set up dump sites far from their homes to reduce the chances of the entry of rodents into their homes, safely store food items such as rice, garri, beans, corn/maize, etc., in tightly sealed or well-covered containers.

“Avoid drying food stuff outside on the ground or roadside, where it is at risk of contamination, discourage bush burning as this destroys the homes and food sources of rodents and drives them to migrate from the bushes to human residences to find food, eliminate rats in homes and communities by using rat traps and other appropriate and safe means.

Palliative palaver: Govs tackle Akpabio, deny receiving FG N1tn lifeline

By

Adamma Ikeogu

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February 23, 2024

Governors on Thursday denied a claim by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the Federal Government disbursed N1.08tn to states to address the food crisis in the country.

During the inauguration of the renovated central mosque in the Iseyin area of Oyo State on Thursday, the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, said as the Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, he could attest to the fact that state governors did not receive N30bn each as claimed by the Senate President.

Also, officials of Lagos, Zamfara, Benue, Osun, Katsina, and Enugu states told The PUNCH on Thursday that their state governments did not receive N30bn.

State governments had in September 2023 received N2bn each out of the N5bn loan offered to them by the Federal Government as a palliative to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy.

The economic reforms, including the subsidy removal implemented by the Federal Government, had precipitated a cost of living crisis across the country following higher transport costs, food inflation, and the plummeting value of the naira.

Speaking during the plenary on Tuesday, Akpabio said an unconfirmed report indicated that state governors received N30bn each from the Federation Account to ameliorate inflation and the high cost of food in their respective states.

“I must say that unverified report has it that each of the state governments in the last few months has received additional N30bn from Federal Inland Revenue Service outside their normal allocations from the Federation Account to assist them in ameliorating the food situation,” he reportedly said.

Akpabio challenges govs

The senate president, Akpabio, advised the governors to utilize the funds judiciously to reduce the high cost of food items and other challenges facing the country.

“We believe that every state government should utilize the funds received towards ensuring that food is available in the country.

“So, the state governments have a lot to do. They are closer to the people and I do not want to mention local government because most of the local governments are controlled by the state governors.

“My belief is that if the state government does what is needed, then the local government will be involved in sharing to make sure that these things get to the people. But we must not overlook the fact that Nigerians are not going to be interested in stories.

“Nigerians want to see action. Nigerians want to eat and we will provide food for them, there is no excuse. Despite what we met on the ground,” Akpabio added.

However, the Vice-Chairman of the NGF, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, at Iseyin, denied receiving N30bn from the central government.

Anambra Youth Development Commissioner, Aghamba Speaks On Targeted Impact Of Gov. Soludo’s Youth Empowerment Program

By

Joseph Albert

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February 21, 2024

Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Patrick Aghamba, has emphasized that the “1 Youth 2 Skills” program of the Soludo administration will help to realize the 130, 000 private sector jobs, and 1000 youth millionaires annually as envisioned by the Governor.

Mr Aghamba stated this in Awka while addressing the media on the targeted impact of the youth empowerment program.

According to the Youth Development Commissioner, the program has expanded the skills from 21 as captioned in pilot phase to 47 in the coming phase.

He noted that more youths will be trained, empowered to create businesses, employment opportunities, as well as empower others.

The Commissioner maintained that those who benefited from the phase one has opportunity to access loans through Anambra State Small Business Agency to improve their capacity and expand their business scope.

Mr Aghamba noted that the Soludo administration is determined to building productive youths that will contribute to the growth and development of the state, and improve their families well-being.

While assuring that the ministry of youth development will ensure the that best is given in terms of training and mentorship, the Commissioner called on the beneficiaries and potential ones to maximize the opportunity.