Connect with us

COVER

2023: Northern Elders Forum Gives Conditions for Southern Presidency

Published

on

Share

Apparently following the barrage of criticism that greeted his earlier posture that the North will still hold on to power after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, the spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has given some conditions for the North to support a politician from the South to become the next president.

Baba-Ahmed who spoke on Arise TV late on Tuesday, also advised Nigerians to rise beyond ethnic and religious sentiments in the course of the 2023 general elections.

According to him, the demand by the southern governors that the region must produce the next president was not presented in the appropriate manner, adding that with the Constitutional requirements, nobody from either divide can become president without the support of the other region.

“You cannot threaten us with violence and intimidation. We can read the constitution; we know what it takes to be the president. You have to score at least 25 percent in 24 states. There are no 24 states in the north, which means no northerner can become president, unless he gets support from the southern part of the country.

“By the same token, no southerner can become president unless he gets support from the north. We understand this; we are not ignorant. We know there will be a time when someone from the south will become president.

“But it must be a president that will emerge through the political and electoral process. He must be a president that southerners and northerners both like and vote to make him or her president.

“He must be a Nigerian president, not an ethnic president, not a regional president, not a religious president,” Baba-Ahmed said.

The NEF spokesman had last weekend at a forum said that the North will contest for the presidency in 2023, boasting that the region has the population to clinch the coveted seat once again.

COVER

FG to Fund Key Science and Technology Projects through PPP

Published

on

Share

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja Federal Government says it will consider using private sector funds through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a funding option for certain key projects in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology.This was disclosed when the Director General of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Dr Jobson Oseodion Ewalefoh, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji.

The meeting which was at the instance of the ICRC DG, sought partnership between the two government bodies to harness PPPs to advance critical projects that can boost the economic and technological growth of the nation.
Speaking during the meeting, Dr Ewalefoh said that science and technology, if properly deployed, can serve as a key driver of the economic growth and progress of Nigeria.
“Many countries around the world have used Science and Technology to drive the economic growth and prosperity of their country and people.“We are here to brainstorm with you and find ways by which we can deepen the usage of science and technology for the advancement of our country.“Over the last two decades, countries and businesses have harnessed technology and innovation for upscaling their economy and improve the efficiency in their service delivery.“That is where we want our country to go, and we believe that is the vision you are championing under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.“It is, therefore, my aspiration that your ministry will partner with the ICRC to see areas where we can champion private sector funding through Public Private Partnership to develop some of the projects specific to the ministry,” he said.The DG informed the Minister that there was already a collaboration with an agency under its purview but stressed that there were other key areas where PPP could be harnessed to deliver laudable projects in the Ministry.He added that the commission has streamlined its processes to accelerate PPP project delivery and deliver important services to the Nigerian people, pointing out that some key private sector operators have already verbalised their desire to work with the Ministry in a PPP arrangement.In his remarks, the Minister expressed his excitement at the appointment of Dr Ewalefoh as the DG of ICRC, saying that the DG’s wealth of experience will revolutionise the PPP sphere in Nigeria, adding that, indeed, a square peg has been placed in a square hole.The Minister emphasised that the Ministry served as a key enabler of economic growth and has had the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrated through major approvals granted the Ministry.He said that the President had given approval for methanol production, saying that although the implementation process were still being finalised, foreign direct investments for the project has reached over $1.5 billion.“We want to go into beneficiation of raw materials and we have the presidential executive order number 5 to back it, such that we don’t have to export our raw materials, but process it to a level before exporting. We are looking at doing green hydrogen, too,” he said.He stressed that Nigeria could make a lot more from cassava export than it was currently making if the raw cassava was processed before export.“We believe that with ICRC, we will partner in doing things right and enabling us to forge a better outlook for most of these projects.“In methanol, we are going to involve ICRC more closely to see the way forward and how it can benefit the country better.“I am happy that you are here; coming here shows that you know what you are doing. You are taking services to those that need it,” he said.

Continue Reading

COVER

Suspected Herdsmen Attack Benue Community, Kill 15

Published

on

Share

From Attah Ede, Makurdi

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani armed militia, on Wednesday night, reportedly invaded Anyiin town in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Multiple reports indicated that no fewer than 15 persons were killed in the attack, leaving several others with varying degrees of injuries while yet to be ascertained number were missing.

The attack, which was said to have been launched at about 6:30pm by the well-armed Fulani herders, caught the community unawares as the invaders reportedly emerged from different locations shooting at everyone in sight.

The attackers, who were said to be numbering about 200, were reported to be wielding AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons, operated for about three hours.

An eyewitness and community leader in Anyiin town, Chief Joseph Anawah, said the armed herders overwhelmed security operatives stationed in the town because of their large numbers.

He said it was a coordinated operation, stating that the alleged Fulani terrorists took residents of the town unawares, surrounded the town and shot sporadically.

Anawah said some of the villagers who ran for their dear lives were caught in an ambush laid by the invaders.

He listed some of the victims to include: Mr Orihundu Ati, a retired primary school supervisor and the son of a kindred head.

Also killed was a son to a Chief of Staff to a former Logo council chairman, Tordoo Suswam and a relation of a late District head of Ukemberagya, Zaki John Chembe.

Anawah listed Ukemberagya, Tswarev, Mbawar, Gov, Mbainange, and Tombo among neighbouring communities earlier displaced by the invaders and whose residents were taking refuge in Anyiin before the latest attack.

The community leaders appealed to the federal government and the Benue state government to revive an abandoned Mobile Police barracks project along Akwana-Anyiin-Wukari road to secure the lives and property in the communities.

They lamented that farmers in the affected communities could not harvest their crops because they were being killed and abducted on their farms by the armed invaders.

According to them, communities along the Benue-Taraba border are the worst hit by the marauders’ incessant attacks.”This is the second attack in one month by the Fulani terrorists. On Oct. 9, they attacked Ayilamo town, the headquarters of Tombo Council Ward and killed scores of people. As I speak, people are deserting Anyiin town for fear of the unknown”, Chief Anawah said.

Continue Reading

COVER

Nigerians Among Most Malnourished in Sub-Saharan Africa – Abbas

Published

on

Share

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas yesterday described growing malnutrition and food insecurity as great threat to Nigeria’s economic stability and public health.

Inaugurating the Local Organizing Committee for the National Assembly summit on nutrition and food security in Abuja, the Speaker reiterated the urgent need for legislative action to restore the country’s productivity and public health.

Abbas who was represented by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu noted that Nigeria’s rate of malnutrition is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.

He noted that malnutrition, especially among children, stunts physical and cognitive development, impacting long-term educational and economic potential and contributing to broader societal challenges.

The Speaker assured the lawmakers’ full support for the committee’s initiatives, urging collaboration with State Houses of Assembly to create a unified approach to combating food insecurity.

He said, “The need for this National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security has never been more urgent.

“This organizing committee’s mission is to foster collaboration across ministries, engage both public and private sectors, and create a platform for lawmakers, experts, and community leaders to address the root causes of food security challenges.”

The chairman of the committee, Chike Okafor said there is malnutrition across Nigeria, particularly in the north spiking by 51 percent among children.

He described the situation as a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by recent floods in Adamawa, Maiduguri, and Jigawa, which have disrupted food supplies nationwide.

According to him, the summit will help to in the formulation of policies to tackle food insecurity.

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS7 hours ago

Kebbi Gets New Head of Service

ShareThe Kebbi Government has appointed Malami Muhammad-Shekari as the substantive Head of Civil Service of the state.The Chief Press Secretary...

NEWS7 hours ago

APC Stalwart Faults Ex-Kogi Gov’s Trial

ShareAll Progressives Congress (APC) Stalwart Isaac Onuh and a former Ambassador to Botswana has faulted the trial of former Kogi...

NEWS7 hours ago

Ebonyi: Police Arrest 4 Suspected Organ Harvesters, 173 Others

Share The Nigeria Police command in Ebonyi said it arrested no fewer than 177 suspected criminals for various offences in...

NEWS7 hours ago

Disbursement of FG’s Cash Transfer Commences for 25,000 Abia Beneficiaries

ShareThe Abia Government has commenced the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cash Transfer (RHCT) for 25,000 poor and vulnerable persons from...

NEWS7 hours ago

Woman Allegedly Stabs Husband to Death in Ibadan

ShareA 33-year-old housewife, Comfort Tinubu, allegedly stabbed his 39-year-old husband, Olusegun Tinubu, to death in Ibadan, during a misunderstanding, the...

NEWS7 hours ago

NCC Raids Bookshops in Lagos, Seizes N20m Pirated Books

ShareThe Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Friday conducted a raid on several bookshops in Ajegunle boundary area of Lagos State,...

NEWS8 hours ago

#EndBadGovernance Protest: Proceeding Stalls as 4 Children Slumps in Court Druring Trial

Share There was a mild drama at a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, as no fewer than four...

Health8 hours ago

UCH JOHESU Suspends Strike

ShareThe Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan,has suspended the strike it embarked on Oct. 25.The workers...

NEWS8 hours ago

Gov. Otu Constitutes Committee on N70,000 aminimum Wage

Share Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River has approved the constitution of a Joint Public Service Negotiating and Implementation Committee...

POLITICS9 hours ago

Kogi Assembly Calls for Rebuilding of Facilities Affected by Omala Crisis

ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, Lokoja The Kogi State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to consider the...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc