Strategic Empowerment: Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo Elevates Constituency Ward Coordinators.

Strategic Empowerment: Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo Elevates Constituency Ward Coordinators.                                                                 By: Comr Olamide Akinwumi.

In a move geared towards enhancing governance and ensuring effective representation, Hon. Kolawole Davidson Akinlayo, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency (II), which comprises Ido/Osi, Moba, and Ilejemeje local governments, has taken a strategic step by elevating all his constituency Ward coordinators to the position of Personal Assistant (PA).

This significant development comes with the issuance of official letters of appointment, each outlining a distinct portfolio for the newly appointed PAs. Hon. Akinlayo's decision underscores a strong commitment to empower grassroots leaders, deepen community engagement, and optimize the collective efforts of his constituency for a more robust and inclusive governance structure.

The elevation of Ward coordinators to the role of Personal Assistant aligns with Akinlayo's vision for a responsive and citizen-centric representation, bringing governance closer to the people. The move is expected to facilitate better coordination between the elected representative and grassroots leaders, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the constituency's governance model.

Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo's approach showcases a proactive effort to build a strong and well-connected team that can address the diverse needs of the constituency. This empowerment initiative is poised to strengthen the bond between the elected representative and the community, fostering a sense of ownership and active participation in the governance process.

As constituents anticipate the positive impact of this strategic move, Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo continues to demonstrate a commitment to progressive and inclusive representation, setting a precedent for effective grassroots engagement in Ekiti North Federal Constituency (II).

Nigerian Army admits bombing villagers in error – Kaduna Govt.

Nigerian Army admits bombing villagers in error – Kaduna Govt.

The Kaduna State Government says the Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for dropping a bomb on Tudun Biri in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State which left no fewer than 30 villagers dead on Sunday.

It was reported that scores of villagers in Tudun Biri in Igabi LGA of Kaduna State were killed after a bomb was allegedly dropped by a military jet during a Maulud celebration.

No fewer than 30 residents were killed in the incident which took place around 9 pm on Sunday.

Earlier, the Nigerian Air Force denied responsibility for the attack.

According to a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF has not carried out any operations in Kaduna in the last 24 hours.

However, the Overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army and Force Commander Operation Whirl Punch, Maj Gen VU Okoro, admitted that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists when the incident happened.

This was contained in a statement released by the commissioner to journalists shortly after the deputy governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe met with Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, heads of security agencies, where “the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.”

The meeting was held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House, Kaduna on Monday.

The statement read, “The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major VU Okoro, explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.”

He added that search-and-rescue efforts were still ongoing as dozens of injured victims had been evacuated to the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the state government.

He also quoted the deputy governor as having commiserated with the victims’ families while praying for the repose of the victims’ souls

The statement added, “The Kaduna State Government has received briefings on Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured.

“In a meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, which had in attendance heads of security agencies, religious and traditional leaders, the Nigerian Army explained the circumstances which led to the unfortunate and unintended attack.

“The General Officer Commanding 1 Division Nigerian Army, Major VU Okoro, explained that the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists but inadvertently affected members of the community.

“The deputy governor, at the end of the closed-door meeting, conveyed the condolences of the government and people of Kaduna State to the families that lost their loved ones and prayed for the repose of the victims’ souls.

“As of the time of this update, search-and-rescue efforts are still ongoing, as dozens of injured victims have been evacuated to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital by the Government.”

The heads of security agencies who attended the meeting included the state Commissioner of Police, MY Garba; Director of the Department of State Services, Abdul Eneche; the Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of Jam’atu Nasril Islam, Prof. Shafi’u Abdullahi, who led other religious leaders as well as the District Head of Rigasa, Alhaji Aminu Idris, in whose domain the incident occurred

Ekiti Determined To Reduce Child Mortality Rate, Says First Lady.

Ekiti Determined To Reduce Child Mortality Rate, Says First Lady.                                                .......Flags off Second Round of Child Health Week.

Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has restated the determination of the state government to the reduction of child mortality rate and also improve the health status of women of childbearing age.

Dr. Oyebanji who disclosed this on Monday at the flag-off of the second round of the 2023 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week urged women of childbearing age to take advantage of the programme which runs till Friday in all government health facilities and some designated places.

The Governor's wife who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye,  revealed that during the exercise, deworming tablets and vitamins supplements will be administered to our children between ages 6 and 59 months.

She added that pregnant women will have access to HIV screening services and medicinal items such as SP Folate and other health care commodities noting that all these interventions are not only free, they are safe and effective.

Dr. Oyebanji acknowledged with deep sense of appreciation, the concerted efforts and contribution of Ekiti Health Workers and the State Committee for Food and Nutrition in improving the maternal and child survival in the State noting that History will, no doubt, be kind to them.

According to her, the Administration has carried out various interventions in the health sector since its inauguration in October 16, 2022 expressing confidence that the enduring interventions in the health sector will, in no small measure, help in reducing maternal and child mortality and also improve the health and wellness of the good people of Ekiti State.

The First Lady who stressed the irrevocable commitment of the Governor Oyebanji led Administration to the wellness, health and wellbeing of the people of the state pointed out that the revamping of the health sub-sector was aimed at providing access to to quality healthcare delivery and engendering a healthy population.

She said: "It is instructive to note that the present Administration is irrevocably committed to the wellness, health and well-being of the good people of the State. This informs the top priority the present administration places on the Health Sector. 

"To further demonstrate this, the health sub-sector is made a major component of the Human Capital Development, which is one of the Six Pillars of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji-led administration. The objective is to provide qualitative, affordable and accessible health care delivery to the good people of Ekiti State. 

"This good gesture has been further demonstrated by the various transformations in the health sector in Ekiti State. Put succinctly, the present Administration has equipped our various primary and secondary health facilities in Ekiti State among which are the Specialist Hospitals at Ikere, Ikole and Ijero, General Hospital at Emure Ekiti, and Primary Health Facilities across the three Senatorial districts." 

Goodwill messages were delivered by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro; the Head of Service, Engr. Sunday Komolafe; Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani; Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo and Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Tayo Adeola.

The event was attended by the President, League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest, Edo and Delta States, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello; Chief Medical Director of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Kayode Olabanji; senior bureaucrats in the health sector, market women, nursing mothers and their kids.

FG settles N52m fines, compensation for 399 inmates in Kaduna.

FG settles N52m fines, compensation for 399 inmates in Kaduna.

The Federal Government has settled N52m in fines and compensation for 399 inmates at various correctional centres across Kaduna State as part of its efforts to decongest the centres.

The Comptroller of Correctional Service, Kaduna State, Dr Ado Saleh, disclosed this during the inauguration of the initiative at Zaria on Monday.

Saleh said, “We are here to release 68 inmates from Zaria, Makarfi, Soba and Ikara Correctional Centres.”

He said that 110 inmates were earlier released at Kaduna, adding that the ceremony in Zaria was a continuation of the programme that was designed and implemented by the Federal Government.

“In total, 399 inmates in Kaduna State were marked to be released at the cost of N52million.

“The commencement of the programme is simultaneously taking place at Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria to see the release of 281 across the state.

“Of the 281 to be released across Kaduna State during the ceremony 68 inmates were from Zaria Zone,” he said.

The comptroller explained that of the 68 inmates, 43 were from Zaria, 19 from Soba, 5 from Makarfi, and 19 were from Ikara Correctional Centres.

He added that each of the beneficiaries would be given N10,000 to pay as transport fare.

Earlier, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo, said the initiative was to decongest the Correctional Centres by paying the fines and compensations for inmates who were owing fines or compensation of one Naira to one million Naira.

Ojo, represented by Assistant Legal Adviser, Federal Ministry of Interior, John Otsuka, said that facilities and centres across the country were overstretched.

He added that the gesture was to reduce the number of inmates at the centres and leave the rest to the judiciary to act.

Ojo said that no fewer than 4068 inmates would benefit from the initiative across the country.

While speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Solomon Atambe, a resident of Railway Quarters, Sabon-Gari-Zaria, commended the Federal Government for the invaluable gesture.

He urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture and “sin no more,” urging them to utilise the skills they acquired while in the facility.

NAN

Subsidy: FG to disburse grants to SMEs.

Subsidy: FG to disburse grants to SMEs.

The Federal Government says it will soon commence disbursement of funds under its Presidential Palliative Programme, targeted at alleviating the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

A statement on Sunday by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the programmes consisted of the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme and the Presidential Palliative Loan Programme.

It stated, “In the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme, the Federal Government will disburse a grant sum of N50,000 to nano businesses across the 774 local government areas.

“The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria will collaborate with state and local governments, federal legislators, federal ministers, banks and other stakeholders.

“Eligible nano business beneficiaries should be willing to provide proof of residential/business address in their local government area, and provide relevant personal and bank account information, including Bank Verification Number for verification of identity.”

For the Presidential Palliative Loan Programme, it said, the Federal Government would disburse N75bn to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across various sectors, and N75bn specifically to manufacturers.

The loan would be administered to the beneficiaries at a single-digit interest rate of nine per annum.

‘While MSMEs can access loan facilities up to N1m with a repayment period of three years, manufacturers can access up to N1bn to access financing for working capital with a repayment period of one year for working capital or five years for the purchase of machinery and equipment,” it stated.

Interior minister, NIS CG order probe into ‘passport racketeering’ in Southeast.

Interior minister, NIS CG order probe into ‘passport racketeering’ in Southeast.

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and the Comptroller General of Immigration (CGI), Mrs. Caroline Wuraola Adepoju, have ordered investigation into alleged racketeering of international passports by personnel of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) commands in Abia, Enugu, Imo and other states in the Southeast.

The minister and the NIS boss said while efforts were being made to track perpetrators of the illegal act, the Federal Government would activate appropriate disciplinary measures to ensure those involved were severely sanctioned.

NIS National Service Public Relations Officer Adedotun Aridegbe, who stated this at the weekend, said the agency was doing its best to ensure that Nigerians go through the technologically powered windows to acquire their travel documents without hassles or extortion by the personnel assigned to drive the process.

The NIS spokesman said the standard operating procedures for registration, payment, and processing of international passport as well as timelines for issuance had been laid out to intending holders at online windows disseminated to the public.

To avoid playing into the antics of third party agents or personnel involved in sharp practices, the spokesman said Mrs. Adepoju had urged Nigerians to apply for their international passports six months before the date of expiration.

Offering clarification on the development at the weekend in Lagos, Mrs. Adepoju said: ”I can tell you, barring all technical problems, you should be able to completely apply for your passport, and within three weeks, you should be able to get it.”

The NIS boss said it was important for every applicant to register with the same records they had with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) as their national identity numbers would be linked to their passports.

Some reports had said Passport Control Officers of the NIS in some Southeastern states were accused of charging extra fees, in addition to the official fees, for obtaining international passports.

The reports indicated that hundreds of applicants for passports were made to either pay more or get delayed for several months before they would get their passports, if they chose to follow the normal process of applying online.

In Abia State, for instance, applicants alleged that after applying for the passport, they were pressured to pay N13,000 before an applicant was allowed to go for data capturing.

It was learnt that after the capturing, an applicant would be told to pay additional N20,000, if he wanted his passport to be processed faster, thus making it N33,000, besides the official payment of N25,000, including bank charges of N2,000, totaling N60,000 for the five-year passport.

In Owerri, the Imo State capital, it was gathered that applicants were made to pay about N70,000 for a five-year passport, of 32 pages, while about N150,000 was charged for the 64-page 10 years passport.

In Enugu, it was learnt that applicants were made to pay more than the official cost for the passport of N60,000; sometimes less.

But in Ebonyi, the officials allegedly requested for up to N115,000 for a 10-year passport and N55,000 to N60,000 for a five-year passport and up to N150,000 for “express service”.

Commonwealth, Fed Govt open talks on deep sea mining.

Commonwealth, Fed Govt open talks on deep sea mining.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has begun talks with Nigeria on how the country can make gains from sea mining.

This was on top of the agenda during a presentation of the Commonwealth Secretariat with the Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, during the minister’s visit to the institution.

In his determination to mobilise international assistance to position the solid minerals sector to compete globally, Alake requested to discuss matters of mineral development with the Commonwealth.

Addressing the forum, the minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had identified the solid minerals sector as a pillar of Nigeria’s current efforts to diversify the economy.

The policy, he said, led the ministry to develop a Seven-Point Agenda that encompasses the establishment of a solid minerals company, gathering of big data on mineral reserves to de-risk investments, ensure improved security to keep the mines safe, and socio-economic development of mining communities through effective community development agreements.

Alake urged the Commonwealth, as an institution that has developed expertise over many years, to support the Tinubu administration’s efforts.

Nigeria is a member of the 54-member Commonwealth.

The Senior Director of Trade, Oceans and Natural Resources Department, Paul Kautoke, praised the delegation for its visit to the Commonwealth secretariat.

He said Nigeria, as a coastal country, could explore the profitable prospects of extraction of deep sea minerals, such as copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, and rare earth elements.

Kautoke noted that many Commonwealth countries in the Pacific region were making inroads into the seep sea mining subsector, promising that the body could assist to develop a policy for Nigeria.

Also, the Director of Natural Resources, Victor Kitange; the Trade and Investment Adviser, Opeyemi Abebe; the Economic Adviser on Trade, Ocean and Natural Resources, Daniel Wilder; and the Adviser of Ocean Governance, Allison Swaddling, spoke about the progress achieved in deep sea mining.

They expressed concerns that African countries were lagging behind in the sub-sector.