NEWS
Abiodun Gives Reasons for Peaceful Co-existence among Believers in Ogun
Kunle Idowu, Abeokuta
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has attributed the peaceful co-existence among various adherents in the state, to his administration’s commitment to religious tolerance.
The governor noted that though people living in the state practice different religions, with Ogun, being the religious capital of the country, they have imbibed the spirit of tolerance by seeing themselves as one.
He explained that his government had been promoting acts that unite and encourage peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.
The governor stated this in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta when he received the national leadership of the Ansar-Ud-Deen xociety of the it iiNigeria, who paid him a courtesy call.
Represented by his Deputy, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun assured that his administration would continue to give equal treatment to all religious bodies operating in the state.
“Our administration is committed to religious tolerance. Our state is the religious capital of Nigeria with headquarters of Muslims and Christian organisations. We are a very tolerant state, and we have lived together peacefully. The government is also reflective of that with the appointment of a consultant to the governor on Islamic affairs.
“This is done so that issues that pertain to religion can be channelled to him so that we do not have biases or any issue between our faiths. We work together to maintain that harmony in our state,” Abiodun said.
He also called for synergy between government and religious organizations in addressing social ills currently prevalent in society.
The governor decried the moral decadence that is gradually tearing the society apart, emphasizing collaborative efforts in stemming the tide.
He challenged the Ansar-Ud-Deen society to work with the government to make sure that some of the ills were tackled and eliminated to create a better community.
Abiodun lauded the society for its various philanthropic works especially in the area of education, noting that it has helped in providing health facilities to ensure that quality health services get to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
He called for the sensitization of its members to take advantage of the various government intervention schemes aimed at elevating the suffering of the people due to the removal of subsidies on fuel.
“Just as you are going around helping the indigents and vulnerable people, the governments at state and federal levels have so many schemes that are out there to support the people, but our people can be very sceptical of politicians.
“But if a Chief Imam gives the introductions, they will obey. So we need you to help educate our people so that they can take advantage of these programmes to reduce the burden in society,” he added.
The governor noted with delight that the society founded in 1923 by 42 young men in Lagos has grown into a giant in the last 100 years, contributing positively to the socio-economic development of the nation.
He urged the leadership of the society to introduce technology into its programmes and activities to draw more people, especially the youth, for the continuity and preservation of the society’s legacies.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the Society, Dr. Are Sanni, condemned the get-rich-quick attitude of the youths, which has led them to be involved in cultism, fraud, kidnapping and money rituals, assuring that the society was ready to work with the government to nip it in the bud.
He said the society in the last 100 years, through contributions from members, embarked on the provision of education and health facilities as part of its efforts to build an egalitarian society.
Dr. Sanni said the visit to the state was to intimate the governor on the programmes lined up to celebrate the 100-year anniversaries of the society and to explore areas of collaboration for the benefit of the people.
Niger Government has established the state Price Control and Monitoring Board, approved by Gov. Umaru Bago to ensure fair pricing and consumer protection.
Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to the Niger Government (SSG), inaugurated members of the board on Thursday in Minna.
The eight-member board has Alh.
Hussaini Ahmed, a former Permanent Secretary as the chairman.Usman noted that the inauguration of the board marked a significant step in the state’s commitment to ensuring fair pricing and consumer protection.
He said that the board was expected to control and stabilise prices of essential commodities and eradicate or reduce to the barest minimum, hoarding of essential commodities across the state.
He said that board would also handle issues that may arise as a result of enforcement and penalty for contravention of guidelines among several others.
“The board will be responsible for the distribution, monitoring and evaluation of essential commodities and keep price under continuous surveillance.
“They will also interpret price movement and relate them to other development in the State’s economy,” Usman said.
He said the board was expected to interface with relevant stakeholders such as local government chairmen, traditional institutions and councilors and well as market organisations to ensure the success of their mandate.
The SSG enjoined members of board to bring their wealth of experience and expertise in economics, consumer affairs and market dynamics to bear in their assignment.
He said that their appointment underscored the government’s dedication to maintaining economic stability and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the board chairman, Ahmed, assured that the board would interface with relevant stakeholders within and outside the state in order to bring succour to the populace.
Other members of the board include Hamza Bello, Permanent Secretary, Investment, Aliyu Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Garba Abdullahi, from Ministry of Basic Education.
Also on the board are Adamu Maikasuwa, Ministry of Agriculture, DCP Aminu Garba, Nigeria Police, Niger Command, Aminu Ladan, Chairman, Chanchaga Local Government Area and Usman Liman, retired Statistician-General as Secretary of the Board. (NAN)
The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), has shared N1.298 trillion among the Federal Government, states, and the Local Government Councils (LGCs) for September.
This is according to a communique issued at the end of FAAC meeting for October held on Thursday in Abuja.
The communiqué was made available to newsmen by Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF).
According to the communiqué, N1.
298 trillion total distributable revenue comprised distributable statutory revenue of N124.716 billion, and distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N543.518 billion.It also comprised Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N18.
445 billion, Exchange Difference revenue of N462.191 billion and Augmentation of N150.000 billion.It said that a total revenue of N2.258 trillion was available in the month of September.
“Total deduction for cost of collection was N80.993 billion, while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N878.946 billion,” it said.
According to the communiqué, gross statutory revenue of N1.043 trillion was received in September 2024, which was lower than the sum of N1.221 trillion received in August by N177.426 billion.
It said that gross revenue of N583.675 billion was available from VAT in September, higher than the N573.341 billion available in the month of August by N10.334 billion.
“From the N1.298 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total sum of N424.867 billion, and the state governments received a total sum of N453.724 billion.
“The LGCs received a total sum of N329.864 billion and a total sum of N90.415 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue,” it said.
On the N124.716 billion statutory revenue, the communiqué said that the Federal Government received N43.037 billion and the state governments received N21.829 billion, while the LGCs received N16.829 billion.
It said that the sum of N43.021 billion (13 per cent of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting states as derivation revenue.
“From the N543.518 billion VAT revenue, the Federal Government received N81.528 billion, the state governments received N271.759 billion and the LGCs received N190.231 billion,” it said.
It said that in September, Oil and Gas Royalty, Excise Duty, EMTL and CET Levies increased considerably while VAT and Import Duty increased marginally.
It added that Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT) and others recorded significant decreases. (NAN)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has reiterated the importance of strict adherence to traffic laws, emphasising the prohibition of commercial motorcycles on highways and other restricted routes.
Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the General Manager, said this in a statement on Thursday, signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.
Bakare-Oki said that non-compliance with the regulations not only jeopardised the safety of the riders but also endangered the lives of other road users.
The statement came following the death of a motorcycle rider going against traffic on Carter Bridge, due to a collision with a fast-moving vehicle.
Bakare-Oki noted that the deceased, reportedly traveling from Ebute Ero, collided head-on with a fast-moving vehicle as it ascended Carter Bridge from Ilubirin.
“The forceful impact of the collision led to the immediate death of the motorcyclist while the vehicle driver ran away.
“Personnel from the LASTMA promptly arrived at the scene of the accident and swiftly alerted officers from the Central Police Station at Adeniji Adele and Shemo.
“Together, they coordinated efforts to retrieve the lifeless body of the rider, while LASTMA officials handed over the motorcycle to security authorities for further investigation,” he said.
The LASTMA boss extended his heartfelt sympathy to the family of the deceased.
“LASTMA remains committed to upholding public safety and is intensifying its efforts to minimise the occurrence of such tragic incidents on Lagos roads,” he said. (NAN)
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