NEWS
You Have a Role in ‘Project Anambra’, Soludo Tells Indigenes in Abuja
By Prosper Okoye, Abuja
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, has clearly outlined the roles that indigenes of the state, residing in Abuja, can play to help achieve the development goals of ‘Project Anambra’.
“It takes two hands to clap; we must remember that we have just one ball in a field, even though there are different players.
Hence, the goal is for every player to strive to score the goal,” he said, urging participants in the State’s town hall meeting yesterday in Abuja to jettison divisions among party lines.Prof. Soludo explained to the gathering some key projects and activities that his administration is undertaking; while using the Holocaust analogy to persuade them about the importance of investing in Anambra State.
“It wasn’t a mistake to be born Igbo and from Anambra; therefore, we must give an account to God of what we have done to make our state better. Our central goal should be to make it the number one destination rather than a departure route,” he said.
According to the governor, especially now that plans for making the national budget are underway, strategic partnerships are needed to ensure that the state’s developmental aspirations are included in the budget. Hence, there is a need to call for a town hall meeting, similar to the one already held in Lagos.
“We have no excuse to fail the people, even though nine of the local government areas in the state were under siege by criminal elements when we took over.
We couldn’t campaign in most of the local governments; in others, the number of policemen and other security agencies present exceeded the people who attended those rallies.
As we know, the candidate of the Labour Party, Obiora Agbasimalo, was kidnapped on his way to campaign, and up until this moment, he is still missing,” Prof. Soludo lamented and disclosed plans to establish a Bureau of Missing Persons to take care of such incidents, among other things.
Speaking on the issue of the arbitrary sit-at-home enforced by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, which has crippled the state’s economic activities, Prof. Soludo said that with the cooperation of the new South Eastern governors and the revamping of the state security vigilante Strike Force, efforts have begun to put an end to the security menace.
Furthermore, the governor stated that almost 20 billion has been spent on the construction of federal roads, and his administration aims to achieve 500km of roads in the local government areas of the state before the tenure expiration.
He also mentioned that three more cities would be created, and ongoing electricity and environmental projects are progressing.
The industrialization programmes and agriculture projects are expected to improve the lives of the people and mitigate the effects of the petroleum product subsidy removal, according to the governor.
Prof Soludo also mentioned that massive land projects are being undertaken, while promising to provide lands to those who have genuine intentions to invest in the state.
“Everyone can contribute, and it’s not necessarily about opening big factories. If you have development plans, you can invite me to work as your personal assistant, and I will willingly carry your bag and follow you,” he wooed them.
There was a dramatic scene when the event’s Chairman, Sir Emeka Offor, was called to give his remarks.
After acknowledging Prof. Soludo’s achievements and urging continuous support for his administration, the Chairman invited on stage the senators representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah, and Anambra North, Tony Nwoye, in an effort to foster reconciliation.
The senators, speaking in turn, stated that they are working together to attract federal government projects to the state. They also pledged continuous support for the governor’s projects and expressed their willingness to support Prof. Soludo’s second term ambition if he decides to run for re-election.
However, Senator Nwoye warned Prof. Soludo to stop his workers from insulting the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party during the 2023 election, Peter Obi. He said that failure to do so could lead to strong opposition in the next election.
To conclude the meeting, a question and answer section was held. During this session, prominent figures like former Minister of Labour Chris Ngige and Senator Uche Ekwunife made recommendations.
They suggested among other things the implementation of environmental taxes in the state to support government environmental projects and the introduction of vocational education in secondary schools to tackle the issue of unemployment among Anambra youths.
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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