NEWS
Deby’s Death Devastates Buhari in Week of Minister Controversy
In a week of controversy stoked by alleged extreme religious views of a serving minister, President Muhammadu Buhari also voiced his “immense shock’’ over the tragic death of a veteran leader in a neighbouring country.
Buhari on April 21, expressed sadness over “the sudden and tragic death of President Idriss Deby of Chad, who died in battle, fighting rebels.
”Deby, 68, was a long-time ruler of Chad, a country sharing border with Nigeria.
Reacting to the development in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari said: “I’m deeply shocked and devastated by the sudden death of Idriss Deby in battle front, defending the sovereignty of his country.
“The late Deby had played a very active role in our regional joint collaboration in the military campaign against Boko Haram terrorists,” the president stated, referring to the joint campaign by Nigeria and Chad to fight off the terror group in Nigeria’s northern flank.
Boko Haram embarked on a bloody campaign in West Africa since 2009 but Nigeria, Niger, Cameroun, Chad and Benin Republic have joined forces to crush the group.
The President of Niger Republic, Mr Mohamed Bazoum, who was on a two-day official visit to Nigeria, was received by Buhari at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa on April 19.
Among those who joined the president to welcome Bazoum were the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello and some presidential aides.
The governors of Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi and Zamfara States were also at the villa to welcome Bazoum, who was on April 2, sworn in for a five-year term.
Bazoum’s inauguration marked the first successful transfer of power from an out-going president to an elected president in the West African country since independence in 1960.
Buhari and his guest later went into a closed-door meeting.
The Nigerian leader had earlier received briefing from Vice-President Osinbajo after Buhari returned to Abuja from London after a 16-day medical check-up.
Also on April 19, the Minister of Police Affairs, Mr Maigari Dingyadi, presented the new acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, to the president.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the president, Baba said he was in the villa for formal introduction to the president.
“My minister brought me to the president for an introduction and he has introduced me to him.
“I thanked the president for giving me an opportunity to serve Nigeria in acting capacity as Inspector-General of Police.
“I have promised to do my best to change the narrative as far as internal security is concerned in the country. I’m coming back for a full briefing.’’
On April 20, Buhari joined Muslim faithful in the State House Mosque for Ramadan Tafsir, meaning explanation of the Qur’an.
The president, who was accompanied by his aides, was attending the Tafsir for the first time in two years, following the closure of the mosque during Ramadan last year, due to restrictions in public gatherings because of COVID-19.
On April 21, Buhari presided over the 42nd virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.
The council approved augmentation of N8.39 billion for the completion of the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Makera Road.
Those in attendance at the meeting were Osinbajo, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
On April 22, Buhari met behind closed-doors with some governors from northwest and north central states that are contending with the menace of banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes.
The governors included Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, Bello Matawale of Zamfara, Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Sani Bello of Niger and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State.
Also on April 22, the Presidency dismissed the current controversy on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami, saying that “the Buhari administration stands behind all Nigerians, including the minister against unfair treatment’’.
Reacting to calls in some quarters for Pantami to resign over his utterances, dating back to over two decades, the presidential spokesman in a statement, the calls for Pantami to quit as unfortunate.
“It is unfair and unfortunate for anyone to seek the downfall of a hard working public servant, due to statements he made in the past even after such statements had been rejected by the affected person.
Also on April 22, Osinbajo presided over a meeting of the National Economic Council.
The meeting received presentations from the minister of finance, the Central Bank Governor and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
At the end of the meeting, the council affirmed that there was no printing of N60 billion or any amount whatsoever to shore up allocation for the month of March as insinuated recently in the media.
Also on March 22, Buhari condemned the latest killing of people by bandits in Zamfara, warning that “such wanton disregard for life will be brought to an end sooner than later.
“This insane and persistent violence against innocent people must stop.
“These criminals should stop pushing their luck too far by believing that the government lacks capacity to crush them,” Buhari said in a statement.
On April 23, the president approved the restoration of leases on OMLs 123, 124, 126 and 137 to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The leases were in production sharing contract with Addax Petroleum.
Addax Petroleum is wholly owned by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The leases, belonging to the Federal Government were revoked on March 30, 2021.
On April 23, Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo visited the Presidential Villa, where he updated Buhari on the socio-economic and security situation in Imo.
Uzodinma, who spoke to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with the president, alleged that some politicians were responsible for the rising cases of banditry in parts of the country.
He also proclaimed that some politicians were bent on bringing down constituted authorities for selfish reasons.
Buhari also on April 23, participated in a virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, where he assured the international community of Nigeria’s readiness to mobilise relevant stakeholders towards action on climate to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
He lauded U.S. President Joe Biden for his renewed interest in the Paris Agreement.
On April 24, Buhari condemned the killing of three of the students kidnapped at Greenfield University in Kaduna State.
He described the students as bright youngsters who were cut down by evil people in their prime.
“My thoughts are with their families in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace.”
The president also extended his condolences to the relatives, associates of the murdered students and the Kaduna State Government. (NAN)
By David Torough, Abuja
Stakeholders have expressed concern over delay in the domestication of Disability Act in Benue state and called on government to expedite passage of the law in the state.
At the stakeholders’ consultative meeting to domesticate the disability law in the state held Tuesday in Makurdi in collaboration with Inclusive friends Association (IFA), Hope Alive for Possibilities Initiative (HAPI) and JONAPWD, the Director General, Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, Dr Leonard Viashima, represented by the Technical Adviser on Bureau for International Cooperation and Development, John Akuse, however said governor Alia’s administration was willing to domesticate the law in the state.
In his address, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Disability Affairs, Bem Anshe, who doubles as the chairman of JONAPWD, stressed the need for the domestication of the law in Benue, saying it would facilitate the inclusion of people with disability in governance.
Anshe decried the non-passage of the law in the state, lamenting that Benue was the only state in the North Central yet to domesticate it.
In her remarks, the Executive Director of IFA, Grace Jerry, represented by the Programme Manager of IFA, Stephen Idoko, noted that despite the challenges, she was confident that the forum would achieve its objective if all worked together.
She noted that the presence of stakeholders in the meeting reaffirmed the collective commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of persons with disabilities in the state.
On her part, Prof. Christy Anyogo from IFA expressed hope that Benue would soon join the league of states that have domesticated the disability law, saying governor Hyacinth Alia never looks back on whatever he wants to do.
The consultative forum was attended by stakeholders from the state ministry of Women Affairs, ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, traditional rulers, religious leaders, social investment programme agency, Albinism association of Nigeria, leprosy survivors and spinal cord injury.
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah has charged contractors and the site engineers handling construction of the 260 smart schools and 260 Type-2 Primary Health facilities in the 260 wards of the state on the delivery of world-class projects that would stand the test of time.
Governor Mbah enjoined them to deploy quality materials and build according to specifications, warning that any sharp practices would attract stiff sanctions and rejection by the government. He equally underscored the need for contractors to deliver their projects on schedule as stipulated in their terms of contract.The governor spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Ezeagu LGA on Wednesday.He said the purpose of the inspection by the project’s monitoring team, which also comprises the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Gerald Otiji; Commissioner for Education, Prof Nwabueze Mbah; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hon. Chris Robert Ozongwu; Chairman of the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), Dr. Gabriel Ajah; Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Development and Implementation, Uche Nwatu, among others, was to ensure the quality and integrity of the projects, from start to finish.”We met with the contractors and their site engineers in all the sites we’ve visited. This is to ensure that there is no variation in the work specification, and that the quality of the materials they are using, starting from the foundation to completion, could guarantee the integrity and structural tests of these projects.”What His Excellency is setting out to achieve here is to make sure that we did not run the three risks that we know that are eminent in every construction, considering that a time will come in Enugu State when we will have almost five hundred live projects – smart schools, primary healthcare facilities – in all the 260 wards, in addition to the roads constructions that are going on across the board. So, we are building a very strong monitoring team that will address the quality aspect of it.”We are also taking into consideration the cost risk that comes when the time risk begins to happen, because, once we miss the timeline, the next is that we begin to discuss variation. So, this team here is to ensure that all risks are evaluated and compliance is strictly adhered to.”We are also working on engaging with the local stakeholders to ensure the security of the process here. So, that will help us address issues around theft of materials we brought to the site. But more importantly is that at the end of each project there will be sustainability and that these stakeholders will take ownership of these schools and other projects in their communities.”So, it is not just about monitoring, but also about building on all the key facets that will make sure that these projects achieve the objectives to have smart children and smart teachers coming out of our local governments and a smart workforce for the state,” Prof Onyia stated.That’s why we have accommodation for them and we are also going to ensure that Enugu generally has a smart workforce. That’s why we are here”.He allayed the fears over the culture of abandoned projects by various strata of the government, saying that the allocation of 33 per cent of the entire 2024 budget to education has guaranteed the start, completions, and handover of the smart school projects on schedule.On his part, Chairman of ENSUBEB, Dr. Ajah, said they were happy with the quality of work so far, adding that contractors were complying with specifications and corrections were immediately effected wherever there were gaps.Admonishing communities to take ownership of the projects, he urged them to see the facilities as their own by ensuring the security of the projects.”Security is everybody’s business. The people are happy. The government has never come to the people at ward level like this before now. So, I am calling on our people to protect these projects from vandals by taking charge and ownership of them”, he concluded.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Director-General, Benue State Education Quality Assurance Agency, BEQA, Dr. Terna Francis, on Thursday, said the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia is at the verge of reviving the state foreign exchange programme that was abandoned by previous administrations.
Dr. Terna, who said the foreign exchange program that had provided Benue citizens with opportunity to study abroad in the past, was abandoned due to the inability of the government to pay three million naira for those who secured foreign scholarships. The DG who disclosed while speaking with journalists in his office in Makurdi, said he had already sent a memo to the State government to reintroduce the program in order to add value to the educational system in the state.”We want to revive the foreign exchange program which was stopped because of just 3 million naira. I have already made a memo to the State government to reintroduce the program.We have some of these people who have benefited from this foreign exchange programme presently working with the state government. Some of them are in government house working while others are in other MDAs working and adding value to what we are doing”,Dr. Terna maintained. He however expressed dismay over the poor quality of education system in the State, saying there is a big mess in the quality of teaching and learning in schools across the State. “It was for this reason that the Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia established this agency with the mandate to document, control and check the quality of learning in the basic and post basic education sector.”We met a mess in the education sector and we are now doing a clean up exercise . Several schools in the State have structural defects. People convert their two (2)bedroom flats into school.”The teachers are just secondary school leavers. Someone who just finished SS3 is giving a teaching job to teach SS3 physics.”Just imagine, a proprietor chokes students in a poultry farm. This is unacceptable and we are going to close the school down. Education is just for profiteering without quality.”We have been doing our best to clean up the mess. The agency is a bureau directly answerable to the Governor. Quality Assurance that means the department of Quality assurance in the Ministry of Education is directly under the agency.”It is a systemic thing. 32,000 is the fee for WAEC. But before now, the students were paying over 50,000 or more as WAEC fees.”We have called for recertification and gathering of data about quality of teachers and paying of annual renewal fees. We sent out our evaluators to confirm the data schools give to us.”I have visited over 300 schools in the State. We have warned school proprietors and proprietresses to put things in place or have their schools sealed. We are not compromising on standard and quality no matter who is involved. We are not backing down. We have the political backing.”It will amaze you to know that 2016 was the last time the examination board conducted BECE without issuing certificates.”You can imagine that a school in Makurdi is using the British curriculum and operating a semester kind of education. The students are made to pay 550,000 as fees.”We have tried to reduce bureaucracy in the establishment of schools before now, which takes up to a year, but now, it takes just a few months to get a provisional approval to establish a school.
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