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60th Anniversary: FG Building a New Nigeria -Mohammed

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World Culture Day: Lai Mohammed stresses needs for social integration
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By Martin Paul, Abuja

As Nigerians prepare to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of independence on October 1, the Federal Government has said that President Muhammadu Buhari administration is working assiduously to build a new Nigeria.

It stated that celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the nation became imperative having “survived the civil war, security challenges and many political and religious crises”.

The low key nature of celebration would also feature the launch of the “National Ethics and Integrity Policy and Integrity Award to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) by President Buhari.

Speaking yesterday, at a briefing by a three-man media sub-committee for the event, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the low-key nature of independence anniversary was not unconnected with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He, however, said the nation opted to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee because the nation was able to survive a civil war, security challenges and many political and religious crises.

 “The 60th independence anniversary celebration will be low-key, as Mr. President has already announced. Of course, this is not unconnected with the Covid-19 global pandemic, which has forced some safety protocols on nations around the world.

“Therefore, the pomp and pageantry that should have marked the celebration will be largely missing.

“Before I announce the activities that have been lined-up for the Diamond Jubilee, let me say here that the 60th anniversary celebration will be celebrated for a whole year, ending September 30th 2021.

“Therefore, there are some activities that may come up after the ones to be announced today. This does not mean there will be daily activities between now and Sept. 30th 2021, but that there will be staggered events during that period. We will ensure to keep you posted.

“Now, some may wonder why Nigeria needs to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee at all, considering the myriad of socio-economic challenges facing the country. And our answer to that is contained in our theme of ‘Together’.

“For a country that has gone through a bitter, internecine civil war, years of political crisis, daunting security challenges, including religious and ethnic crisis, etc, our unity and our resilience (which by the way is what diamond represents) are worth celebrating.
“Also, in certain cultures, the age of 60 is seen as the beginning of a new cycle of life, and is usually well marked. For Nigeria as a country, the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari offers a new beginning.”

He said the Buhari administration  will bequeath a new Nigeria by laying the foundation for industrial and technological development.

 “The Administration is working assiduously to build a new Nigeria, laying the building blocks for industrial and technological development by building massive infrastructure in the areas of power, roads, bridges, rail etc. and by developing human capital.

“This Administration is also fighting corruption, tackling insecurity and diversifying the economy by leveraging ICT, Creative Industry, Agriculture and mining, among others and so, I say, let the celebrations begin, and this is wishing all Nigerians a happy 60th independence anniversary,” he said.

The Minister re-echoed President Buhari’s explanation of the 60th anniversary logo, adding: “Please permit me to quote Mr. President’s explanation of the logo: The neatly encrusted Diamond on the Nigerian Map symbolizes our age of treasure, the worth of the Nigerian people with our sparkle to the admiration of the world.

“In the same vein, the pear green and dark green colours should respectively remind us of our warmth, welcoming spirit and love as well as the abundant wealth inherent in our human capital and the richness of our land. All these properties make us unarguably the most prosperous black nation in the world and Africa’s largest economy.”

Other Ministers at the session were the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq.

…HURIWA Faults FG Plans to Link Niger Republic by Rail

Meanwhile, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has described the Federal Government decision to build railway line from Kano to Niger Republic as fraudulent and against public interest.

The group also threatened to sue President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the multi-billion naira project, which is expected to star from Kano state.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko and made available to DAILY ASSET yesterday, HURIWA condemned the approval of about $1.96 billion contract of the proposed project.

The human rights group described the planned project as a misplaced priority and a grave threat to national security, insisting that it is fraudulent to borrow from China and build for Niger Republic and then tax Nigerians to pay back.

The Federal Government had yesterday approved a $1,959,744,723.71 contract for a rail line that would link Nigeria to Niger Republic.

The railway will connect at least seven cities in Nigeria and one city in Niger Republic and is expected to start from Kano and pass through Dambatta, Kazaure, Daura, Mashi, Katsina, Jibia and terminate in Maradi, Niger Republic.

HURIWA said that the project is another proof of misplacement of priority by the Buhari regime.

However, the rights group described the project as a ticking time bomb and a grave threat to National security, adding that when completed, it will ease the influx of illegal aliens into Nigeria.

“We are worried that this project when completed will be express entry for killer herdsmen and terrorists from Niger. We see it also as a plot to flood Nigeria with illegal aliens for purposes of undermining the 2023 polls,” the group said.

“Therefore, we condemn this venture as wasteful because of the danger of being used to import weapons that will set Nigeria ablaze. Whereas there are no such rail lines linking Lagos to Enugu and Port Harcourt or Maiduguri to Enugu, President Buhari is investing almost $2bn to build railways for terrorists and bandits to flood into Nigeria and destabilize the country. Is this government just for the North?

“In any event, the bottom line is that security everywhere in Nigeria, particularly across the north, appears to be rapidly deteriorating, resulting to popular discontent. Hence, this rail project is ill-timed and a wasteful effort.

“Beyond the security aspect, Let us even look at it from the point of view of the economy. What is the economic benefit of this project to Nigeria? The Nigerian economy, as it is today, is not in a state to contain this kind of wasteful spending.

“Generally, illegal immigration in Nigeria is a serious problem and the border has become quite porous. According to authorities, people from Niger are the biggest group of illegal immigrants, and the problems with illegal influx migrants are seen in the dangers faced by the host or receiving country, which are social, economic, political and security.

“A rapid influx of illegal immigrants has led to crisis of identification and an increase in the crime rates in Nigeria. It is alleged that among the illegal migrants, there are militants, who enter the nation to carry out terrorist activities.

“Terrorism has become a global trend, and it is thought that the current government of Muhammadu Buhari would seek out practical ways to strengthen our porous borders, instead, it is creating easy and accessible means of illegal arms trafficking and immigrants.”

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FG Seeks $1bn W’Bank Loans for IDPs, Agriculture.

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Federal Government is in talks with the World Bank to complete the processes of obtaining over $1 billion loans to address the challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and their host communities as well as boost rural access and agricultural marketing in the country.

The request is contained in World Bank documents entitled, Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project and Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up.

While the IDPs loan is put at $500 million, the rural access and agricultural marketing project loan is estimated at $550 million.

Some of the World Bank loans that are being currently addressed by the global bank have reportedly been initiated under the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari

According to the documents provided on the bank’s website, the IDP initiative is meant to improve access to resilient and inclusive basic services and economic opportunities for IDPs and their host communities in displacement-affected local government areas in the northern part of the country.

The Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project, estimated for an appraisal date of Feb. 11, 2025 and slated for approval on April 8, 2025, represents a targeted effort to improve the lives of millions affected by internal displacement due to conflict, violence, and climate challenges.

The World Bank said the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would act as the borrower for Nigeria, while the National Commission for Refugee Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and the North East Development Commission are the implementing agencies.

A breakdown of the funding showed that $30 million is proposed to be spent on the project management and support for the implementation of the national policy while $120 million will be expended on community development, income-generating opportunities, and social cohesion.

Also, strategic investments for climate-resilient economic development will gulp $320 million and $30 million on strengthening state and local government institutions for improved service delivery.

The document from the Washington-based bank reads: “The proposed project will utilise a three-pronged approach to develop sustainable solutions for IDPs and host communities in Northern Nigeria.

“First, the proposed project aims to provide tailored solutions for each of the targeted states and communities, recognizing that each internal displacement situation is specific and localised, with conflict, violence and/or climate challenges presenting a different level and set of vulnerabilities for host communities.

“Gender, age, and special needs of individuals also play a role, as well as the length of displacement, number of times displaced and other factors. Thus, responses will be adapted to address the specific needs of vulnerable populations within displacement-affected states and communities. Second, the proposed project will follow a “People-in-Place” approach, integrating the needs of the people and the impacts on the place where they settle.

“Project activities will aim to improve the provision of infrastructure and basic services as well as livelihood opportunities in an integrated way, moving beyond capital investments to supporting operational improvements and sectoral reforms, and fostering income-generating opportunities within host communities.”

According to a review by a World Bank team, Northern Nigeria, especially Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states experienced the highest numbers of internally displaced persons.

This is primarily due to the ongoing conflict involving Boko Haram, as well as other factors such as banditry and conflicts between farmers and herders, leading to the displacement of over 3.5 million people.

Borno State alone hosts nearly 1.7 million IDPs, which is over a quarter of its total population and almost half of the total IDP population in Northern Nigeria.

The Bank said, “Nigeria is considered an FCV country and has one of the largest and fast-growing populations of internally displaced persons in the world, as a result of conflict and natural events. In Northern Nigeria alone, conflict and violence have led to the displacement of over 3.5 million people.

“Over 65 per cent of IDPs in Northern Nigeria are in the NE region (approximately 2.3 million IDPs as of June 2023) 5 and 95 per cent of them are in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (the “BAY states”). Borno, which has been the epicentre of fighting involving Boko Haram since 2014, hosts the highest number of IDPs of any state in the North, with nearly 1.7million IDPs, representing over a quarter of the state’s total population and almost half of the total IDPs in the North.”

The bank added that the inflow of IDPs had put additional pressure on already strained and obsolete infrastructure and services in the host communities highlighting that, “In Maiduguri, IDP inflows have put serious pressure on water supply and sanitation infrastructure and services already under strain before 2014.

“Due to the inflow of IDPs, daily solid waste generation increased from an estimated 390 tons to 570 tons per day. Solid waste management in Maiduguri is insufficient, with over 60 per cent of residents lacking access.”

The situation is further compounded by the weakening of poverty reduction efforts due to the conflicts and increasing climate shocks, making Nigeria one of the countries with the largest and fastest-growing IDP populations worldwide.

The World Bank’s intervention through the requested loan aims to mitigate the effects by fostering economic opportunities and improving access to basic services, thus contributing to a more stable and prosperous future for IDPs and their host communities in Nigeria.

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SSANU, NASU Strike Cripple Unical, UniAbuja, UNN, Others

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From Ene Asuquo, CalabarThe seven-day warning strike jointly embarked by Non Academic Staff of Nigeria Universities (NASU) and their counterpart, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) yesterday crippled activities of many universities across the country, leaving students stranded.It was observed that the main gate of the University of Calabar was locked up by the striking workers.Members of NASU Unical branch joined the strike to press demand for the payment of four months arrears of their salaries.The non-academic staff early Monday morning locked the main entrance of the university barring academic staff and students from entering the institution for scheduled examinations and other activities.Some students said they were in their scheduled halls to take the first semester examinations when NASU members stormed the place and chased students away.Daily Asset gathered that a task force set up by NASU to monitor the strike went from one office to office as well as examination hall to ensure total compliance with the action.According to a source, the President of Unical Students Union Government, Comrade Godsgift Kichi-Akwo confronted the task force and queried their right to harass students or disrupt examinations but he was allegedly beaten up by the staff.Piqued by the alleged attack on their president, some students carrying placards stormed the office of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Florence Banku Obi to register their displeasure.Briefing Obi, the SUG president demanded an apology from NASU and told the VC that another member of his exco was also attacked and wounded by the striking workers.The Vice Chancellor directed that the wounded students and the SUG officials be taken to the institution’s medical centre for treatment.Obi who appealed to the students to remain calm and peaceful was intimated that some striking workers were also attacked and wounded by students.In a telephone chat, NASU Chairman, Comrade Victoria Orok alleged that the students attacked the NASU Secretariat on campus and destroyed everything.Orok accused the VC of sending the students to attack and destroy the secretariat.She disclosed that five members of the union were attacked by the students and they were receiving treatment in the institution’s medical centre.  UniAbujaThe situation was not different at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) as academic activities were temporarily disrupted.The protesting workers blocked the entrance to the university, preventing students and others from going inside.SSANU Branch Chairman Nureden Yusuf, while addressing newsmen said the strike was to protest their four months withheld salaries.According to Yusuf, the unions were on strike to draw the attention of the government to the state of the universities.“You may recall that one of the contentious issues why we went on strike in 2022 was that of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement.“That agreement ought to be renegotiated every three years and now we are in 2024, that is fourteen years after the last agreement, it is yet to be renegotiated.“Also, we are talking about withheld salaries which President Bola Tinubu in Oct,. 2023 gracefully agreed should be paid to us.“Our counterparts in the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had been paid their four months salaries, but we are yet to receive our salaries.“NASU and SSANU are unions of professionals. We oil the wheel of the university system,” he said.According to Yusuf, apart from teaching, there were other activities carried out by SSANU and NASU members in the university system.Yusuf said that the unions would be shutting down all essential services including security units, healthcare services, water supply, transportation unit, electricity.Also, Chairperson of NASU, University of Abuja, branch, Sadiya Hassan said that it was imperative that the Federal Government paid the four months withheld salaries to the unions.According to her, it was discriminatory and unacceptable for NASU and SSANU to be left out in the payment of the four months withheld salaries.“We are professionals in our different fields that we chose to be in the non-teaching sector,” she said.Hassan urged the Federal Government to do the needful for the workers to return to their duty posts.UNN, EnuguAcademic activities were partially paralysed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the Enugu campus following. The strike affected some ongoing examinations at both campuses of the university.Students who were taking examinations earlier were allowed to finish while those who started their afternoon papers were chased out of the classrooms.The striking members also closed many offices including Students Affairs and others.Some of the students lamented the negative effects of the strike in their studies.A 400 level student of the Faculty of Environmental Studies, Ijeoma Edeh said the strike, if allowed to go on, would affect her seriously.“Please, the government should pay them, otherwise a prolonged strike will spell doom for some of us,” Edeh said.Another 400 student of Architecture, Favour Obichili appealed to the Federal Government to resolve their grievances and meet demands.SSANU and NASU said the warning strike called by their national Joint Action Committee (JAC) was to protest the Federal Government’s failure to pay their members four months withheld salaries during their strike in 2022.Addressing members during an emergency congress in the UNN, Dr. Linus Akata, Chairman of SSANU-UNN flanked by Comrade Ekene Amu, Chairman of NASU-UNN said the emergency congress was to tell their members about the warning strike declared by JAC.Akata said that the strike would be total and comprehensive in UNN, in total adherence and compliance to the directive of the national leadership.He said that all the administrative offices and essentials service sections of the university were already under lock and key,The union leader warned that the unions would deal decisively with any member found defaulting or sabotaging the seven day warning strike.“Members are directed to go home immediately after this congress and stay away from work until the seven-day warning strike ends, as any defaulting member will be decisively dealt with.“This warning strike is total and comprehensive as the administrative block of the UNN, offices, works department, University Medical Centre, University Primary School and among others have been shut down till the end of the strike.“There will be no water and electricity supply from the university hostels, also internet facilities from the university have been shut down for the period as we have directed our members working in these places to go home,” he said.Akata said that the unions had no apology over the seven-day warning strike as their national leadership had done everything necessary to avert the strike by appealing to the government to do the needful.“SSANU and NASU have written so many letters to the government, held several press conferences, led delegations to government officials in a bid to resolve the issue but all to no avail.“So, at the end of this warning strike, if the government did not meet our demand we will also take a directive from our national body on the next line of action,” he said.Akata urged members to go home and relax till the end of the strike but should report any threat or query for not coming to work from management, head of department or faculty to the union. Zaria, Yola VarsitiesThe industrial grounded academic activities at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.Theatres, lecture halls, libraries and laboratories were under lock and key at Samaru and Kongo campuses of the university.Power supply and internet services had been off as many slated computer based tests were cancelled at the university.Chairman of SSANU, ABU Chapter, Mohammed Yunusa said the union complied with industrial action in the university.He said that workers at the Works, Registry and Student Affairs and Bursary Departments had downed tools, adding that it achieved 90 percent compliance.The chairman said that members of the union would hold a peaceful protest and a press conference on Tuesday.“We are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities; we are the custodians of the university’s rules, we are law abiding citizens and we know what it takes to have a peaceful warning strike.“We have gotten to a point where we cannot sit and watch things as these events are unfolding now. The university system is being run with contributions from all major stakeholders.“Therefore, it is very unfair for the federal government to say one stakeholder is more important than the other,” he said.Similarly, the strike paralysed academic activities at the Modibbo Adama University (MAU), Yola.Michael Omokoro said the shutdown would affect water supply, electricity, internet and all other services rendered by members of the association.“Basically it is about our four months withheld salaries, the 35 per cent wage increment, the N35,000 palliative that stopped in January, the reconstitution of Governing Councils, etc.“During the seven days, there will be no light, water supply, clinic, ICT and all other services because we have withdrawn our members,” Omokoro said. NLC calls for Immediate PaymentIn its reaction, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate payment of the withheld salaries of NASU and SSANU members.NLC President Joe Ajaero urged the Federal Government to pay the four months outstanding salaries to avoid drift in the academic sector.In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday, the NLC President said at a time confidence was being restored to the public universities, the worst thing the government could do is to engineer another strike.While ASUU was paid the withheld salaries in full, NASU and SSANU were allegedly denied the full payment.Ajaero said, “There has been no credible reason or explanation for withholding those salaries in the first place.“We recall this singular act plunged the members into indescribable hardship.“Much worse, it defies logic to try to subject members of these unions to discriminatory treatment.“By doing so, the government is clearly courting avoidable industrial disputes,” he said.The NLC President stressed that the effects of the strike on the parties would be unacceptably high, especially for students and parents.He, therefore, urged the government to expeditiously pay up the outstandings salaries“We advise the government not to take for granted the maturity of these unions,” he said.

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15 Passengers Missing after Bus Attack in Taraba

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From Dorcas Manasseh, Jalingo

Fifteen persons including women and children are reported missing as armed men suspected to be vigilante personnel attacked an 18-seater bus conveying passengers from Zaki/Biam in Benue State to Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of Taraba State on Tuesday.

It was said that the attack happened at Gankwe village along the Donga Mararaban-Baissa road in Donga Local Government Area of the state.

The driver of the bus, Mr.

Mpuuga Mbaave who escaped narrated the incident to journalists on phone saying that the armed men in vigilante uniform attacked his bus.

“I picked 18 passengers from Zaki/Biam in Benue State heading to Maihula in Taraba State.

On our way, close to Mararaba, Isaw many people in vigilante uniform. I suspected something was wrong, so I parked the vehicle.

“One of the villagers who was passing by told me that I should proceed. According to him, two members of the vigilante personnel were killed by kidnappers and the vigilante came to carry their corpse.

“As I moved closer, some of the vigilante personnel started shouting, ‘kill all of them! kill all of them! They’re their people [Tiv] that killed our members’, and they attacked the passengers and cutting them with machetes.

“They ordered the passengers out of the bus, forced them to lie facedown.

“I refused to hop down but when I discovered that it was getting out of hand, I jumpped out of the bus and ran away.

“My conductor too followed me. They came after us with machetes but we ran for our dear lives,” the driver narrated.

The chairman of the local council, Ezra Voka confirmed the development.

Speaking to journalists on phone, he said that he was out in the nearby forest searching for the missing people.

“Please my friend, I’m already in the bush in search of the missing people, we cannot talk much now till when I get more information from here,” he said.

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