Tinubu approves N50bn security vote for five northern states.

Tinubu approves N50bn security vote for five northern states.

Vice President Kahsim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu has approved the “Pulaaku Initiative”, a non-kinetic solution to deal with insurgency and banditry in the North, and has equally allocated the sum of N50bn to the initiative, in its first instance.

“Pulaaku” is a Fulani word that loosely means “to be shy”.

The Vice President had in July 2023, during a condolence visit to the Government of Kano State over the death of elder statesman Abubakar Galadanci, disclosed that the Pulaaku initiative would be unveiled “in a couple of weeks”, noting that using the military alone would not end the crisis in the North-West region of the country.

Speaking during his opening address at a two-day Roundtable on Insecurity in Northern Nigeria, organised by the Coalition of Northern Groups, with the theme “Multi-Dimensional Approach to Tackling Insecurity in Northern Nigeria”, Shettima, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Hadeija, said the now-approved initiative would begin in five states of the North namely, Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Benue, Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna states, and would “catalyse” the fortunes of the northern region.

“Every part of the country is equal to the rest, and the government treats the needs of each region as critical. For the North, we are also embarking on a transformative journey to address the root causes of the challenges. The Pulaaku Initiative, a non-kinetic solution, has received presidential approval, with an allocation of N50bn in the first instance.

“This initiative aims to enhance living conditions and livelihoods in selected states, starting with Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Benue, Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna. The construction of residences, roads, schools and other essential facilities is set to commence, promising to catalyse the fortunes of this region,” he said.

Shettima, noted that the government was committed to addressing insecurity in the nation, having allocated a larger share of the 2024 budget to insecurity, while stating that Nigerians must focus on building stronger systems and stop narratives that divided the country.

“I believe the informed gathering here is aware of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s promise to the nation in his inaugural speech of ending insecurity and ending insecurity is a cardinal agenda of the government. As such we have never downplayed the foundational role of security in governance matters. This rationale led to allocating the largest share of this year’s budget to the security sector.

“As we endeavour to improve the quality of life and security for our citizens, we must also look beyond lamentations and focus on building solid defence systems and institutions, to prevent and redeem the identified lapses.”

Also speaking at the event, the chairman of the occasion and former military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, stated that investments in education and the economy could address the root causes of insecurity, adding that security agencies and federal authorities must form a synergy to combat terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry.

“Additionally, investing in education and economic development can address the root causes, ultimately fostering long-term stability. Also, synergy among the security agencies, and state and federal authorities is key to effectively combating terrorism, kidnapping, and banditry. Together, we can work towards a safer and more stable northern Nigeria, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come. This will have a ripple effect on other regions within the country; thereby transforming the security landscape for the greater good of the citizens of our dear nation”, he said.

Similarly, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, emphasised the importance of integrity in fighting insecurity, noting that a lack of coordination and complementarity among security agencies and government at all levels, would hinder the effective fight against insecurity.

He also warned against the use of vigilantes in addressing insurgency, while advocating instead for more formal institutions, such as state police, stating “rather than continue to promote the phenomenon of vigilantes in our communities, perhaps we may as well go back and get the Constitution appropriately amended, so that we have formal institutions of state policing.”

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, appeals for peace in Plateau.

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, appeals for peace in Plateau.

Captain of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa, has called for peace in his home state, Plateau, following the ongoing killings in the North Central state.

Taking to his Instagram page on Thursday, Musa called for unity in the state.

He wrote, “A heartfelt plea for peace in Plateau. Dear Plateau family and Nigerians as a whole.

“Our state is hurting, and we need to come together. The fights, the killings– it’s too much. We are all one big family, no matter our religion. Most families in Plateau have both Christians and Muslims. We should be celebrating our differences, not fighting because of them.

“Let’s ask our leaders to focus on what really matters: keeping us safe and bringing back the peace we once had. Plateau used to be known as the Home of Peace and Tourism. We want that back.

“So, let’s stand side by side, no matter our religion. Hold hands, pray, and ask for peace. We can do this if we all work together.”

Armed men had on Wednesday launched a fresh attack in the state, killing no fewer than 30 victims in Kwahaslalek village in the Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

The latest attack is happening one month after 195 persons were massacred in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu, and Bokkos LGAs of the state last Christmas Eve.

About 221 houses were burnt, including other property worth millions of naira.

Police arrest Mr. Ibu’s son, adopted daughter for fraud.

Police arrest Mr. Ibu’s son, adopted daughter for fraud.

The Nigerian Police, through its Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has arrested Oyeabuchi Okafor and Jasmine Okekeagwu for allegedly conspiring and defrauding Mr. John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu, of N55 million.

In a press statement on Thursday, the FCID disclosed that they acted on a petition from Diamond Waves Law on behalf of Mr. Ibu’s wife, Stella, alleging that the actor’s sons, Onyeabuchi and Valentine Okafor, along with his adopted daughter, Jasmine Okekeagwu, conspired to defraud Mr. Ibu.

The police statement issued by the spokesperson, ASP Mayegun Aminat, read, “Investigation into the case established that as part of efforts to fund his medical bills, Mr. Ibu launched a public fund-raising initiative and attracted donations from his fans, entertainment industry players, and other well-spirited members of the public into a bank account which he publicised and dedicated for the purpose.”

The FCID revealed that Onyeabuchi and Jasmine manipulated Stella, took possession of Mr. Ibu’s phone, and hacked into the banking details.

They were said to have reinstalled the banking app, transferred N55 million from the donations, and planned to escape from the country after a sham marriage.

The police said N50 million has been recovered from the suspects, and they have been charged with conspiracy and stealing at the Chief Magistrate’s Court 1, Yaba.

They were said to have been granted bail, and the case adjourned to March 11, 2024.

The case file has also been forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

It was reported in October 2023 that Mr. Ibu had undergone multiple surgeries and was seeking further treatment abroad, with his family expressing gratitude for the donations received from his fans.

Alake to security agencies: provide a work plan to secure mine sites in two weeks.

Alake to security agencies: provide a work plan to secure mine sites in two weeks.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake had told security agencies in the country that they have two weeks to provide a work plan for securing mining sites in the country.

He said the work plan should include the formation of whatever outfits would be proposed, the modalities, execution, funding, and all details associated with the security outfits that are proposed.

Alake said this yesterday in Abuja at a press briefing following the end of a security meeting held by the Minister and representatives of all the security agencies in the country.

He said the meeting was a result of the committee set up by the President to address issues surrounding the security of natural resources and to fashion out strategies to completely curb the menace.

He noted: “Now, the Committee set up the president to address issues surrounding the security of natural resources and to fashion out strategies to completely curb the menace that is making Nigeria bleed. After the meeting, the decision was to expand it to include the service chiefs and their representatives who form the critical security arms of the country.

“Following up on the first meeting that we had amongst the ministers. It was decided that we should expand the scope to incorporate the critical security agencies and that’s why the security agencies are here represented.

“All the critical stakeholders, security stakeholders that are relevant to this issue of securing Natural Resources are present here and we have deliberated exhaustively, like I said, and “It’s decided that the security agencies that constitute the experts in this particular venture should meet and give us a work plan of execution of that mandate, and what is the mandate?  To secure our natural resources, mineral sites, the forest and the marine economy and everyone agrees here.

“Now we’ll meet in a fortnight and deliberate on the work plan submitted by the security agencies and that work plan simply includes the formation of whatever outfits that we propose the modalities, execution, funding, and all details associated with the security outfits that we propose.

“I want to use this opportunity to let you know that what happened in the Ibadan, even though we’re expecting like I said in the Ibadan, the final forensic analysis report from the various security agencies, intelligence agencies, and the technical experts, even some from the Mines Inspectorate Division of this ministry of solid minerals.

“So we have the solid intelligence agencies working on unraveling the situation. And don’t forget that shrapnel or fragments, documents, and a lot of items constituting evidence were obtained from the site. And some of these things have to be scientifically analysed before an authentic report will be given. I did say at the time that the government would not be able to make a categorical statement until we have seen or received the report, studied, and come up with informed decisions.”

FG inaugurates handbook on citizenship administration.

FG inaugurates handbook on citizenship administration.

The federal government (FG) on Thursday, January 25, inaugurated a new handbook on Citizenship Administration in Nigeria. 

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said the document would put Tinubu’s administration on the positive side of history. 

The handbook prescribed conditions for acquisition of Citizenship by foreigners and citizens born outside Nigeria by Nigerian parents, amongst others. 

It also prescribed conditions for “Citizenship by investment”, amongst which is “evidence of required amount for investment”, pegged at a minimum of one million United States dollars. 

According to the minister what was codified in the document if implemented seamlessly would transform management of Citizenship and business administration in Nigeria as never before. 

He praised President Bola Tinubu for his vision, saying what the president has brought to the table in his Renewed Hope Agenda would bridge the gap between the strong and the weak, between the rich and the poor. 

Tunji-Ojo said: “A greater Nigeria is here. You and me are here for a Nigeria that will work for all of us, both the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor. With the Renewed Hope Agenda, what Nigerians are yearning for has come to stay. There is no need for anybody to shake hands before you can do business here. 

“If we practicalise what has been codified in the handbook, Nigeria will grow at the rate that’s proportionate with its rich human and materials resources”.

“We have taken critical look at the Citizenship Administration in Nigeria together with major stakeholders especially the Ministry of Justice and made far reaching amendments to the document in a way that the country would become better in all aspects of life. 

“It is therefore our hope that what has been codified in the handbook will be a reality to enhance internal security in terms of entrance and exiting, granting of business permit, naturalisation and the protection of marriage institutions in Nigeria,” Dr Tunji-Ojo added. 

He said the handbook covered granting of Citizenship and Residence permit, establishment and maintenance of federal marriage registries, licensing and renewal of public places of worship for celebrations of marriages and issuance of secured federal marriage certificates in federal marriage registries. 

The Minister said the government had grappled over the years with institutionalising the process of Citizenship Administration, but with different challenges. 

“These challenges range from processes beyond the Ministry such as security reports and response from state governments in respect of applicants, to legal/jurisdiction disputes from local government authorities.

“There were also other ad-hoc administrative/operational hiccups in the form of insufficient funding and capacity development gaps “, the Minister said. 

Tinubu approves funding for Second Niger bridge, Abuja-Kano, Lagos-Ibadan highway.

Tinubu approves funding for Second Niger bridge, Abuja-Kano, Lagos-Ibadan highway.

The minister of works, David Umahi, said President Bola Tinubu has approved funding for the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano, Lagos-Ibadan highway and the Second Niger two bypass projects. 

Umahi said the approval would remove the financial constraints hindering the three projects while asserting federal government’s commitment to eliminating all obstacles hindering the road infrastructure revolution it has initiated.

The minister made the disclosure during the inspection of the Lafia Bypass Road and dualisation of the 9th Mile (Enugu)-Otukpo-Makurdi road project in Makurdi, Benue State.

He was accompanied to the project site by the governor of Benue State, Father Hyacinth Alia.

The 260-kilometer project, examined during the inspection, is managed by China Harbour Nigeria Limited and financed jointly by the Export-Import Bank of Nigeria (85%) and the Federal Government (15%) traversing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasarawa, Benue Logo, and Enugu States.

The project is expected to be delivered in 48 months. 

The Minister said: “I want to thank Mr. President that about three days ago, he approved work should immediately commence in many sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano.

“it is cheering news for me, we were having some problems with funding but the President has solved the problem and directed for the immediate release of funds so that the road will continue.

“The same thing with the Lagos-Ibadan highway and the second Niger bridge two bypasses”. 

The Minister, who had earlier inspected the Mararaba-Keffi reconstruction and expansion project, commended the Benue and Enugu State Governors, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia and Peter Mbah respectively for setting up taskforce committees to provide security on the sites of the project.

He also disclosed that the request for certain inclusion in the road project by the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Alia would be accommodated, saying, We are from Abuja to Mararaba to Keffi, that is an ongoing project of dualization and it is 43km.

“It is being done with NNPC funding, whatever impeded the funding, graciously, God lifted it and the President has approved in all zones of the country, that the job should go ahead. 

“We noticed that there is a lot of hold-up around the beginning of the project, so I have asked them to study it because the essence of governance is for the convenience of the people. 

“So, if we have a lot of hold-ups there, people can’t plan. So we have directed that we should have a flyover at the location to ease it. 

“So, the road from Keffi to Makurdi has been completed and we are going to toll it. 

“But for some modifications, we have asked the China Harbour Engineering Company to provide the service station, where we can have our trailers parked, vehicles parked, you can go for snacks, fuelling and so on but they are not there and they must be there before we start tolling the road. 

“The plazas are not beautiful and I told them to make them beautiful like we have in China. 

“This one is 260km and that is 229km completed, some sections are not good and I have directed them to go back to work, the first 5km, but the rest are beautiful. 

“Where a job is not good, you must go back and where it is good, we commend you. 

“This route is to be done on asphalt but what I prefer is concrete all through but it is like they are defeating me. 

“The flyover you are requesting, we are going to incorporate it. 

“If you are building a road and the people are being inconvenienced or we finished it and it does not solve the problems, we have done nothing.  

“So that flyover is very critical and it is very good that we are here. We had to do that because of the passion for your people and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.

“From the beginning of the road to here, it must be done on concrete. So anywhere we have bad terrain we will scope it for concrete. We will put the middle of the divide of the two carriageways in the middle of the existing route.  

“So, we will minimize a lot of compensations.

I would like to thank you and the Enugu State Governor for setting up a task force to assist them in terms of security and other things.

“The project is financed by China Exim Bank, so the money is there and the project is in dollars, so it will not vary that much.

“We want to assure you that from today, things will be happening, you will be happy with the progress. 

Governor Alia, in his remarks, commended the President for the people-centered policies and programmes he has embarked on since he assumed office.

He said: “We are pleased that you are beginning the second phase of Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Ninth Mile road. We are very excited that you have already incorporated the prayers we presented to you. We thank Mr President for his thoughtfulness and good heart for the common masses. 

“He is someone who doesn’t want to see people suffer. From Abuja to Makurdi, the journey was four and a half hours but with this new road, it takes us three hours. That is going to help our business and help us to plan on plying on the route.

“We thank you for the pains you take for being here yourself.

“From this axis to Otupko, instead of taking one hour it will take you two hours, be rest assured of our continued support and collaboration which we need to do for the smooth running of the project will be done”. 

Earlier, while inspecting the Mararaba-Keffi highway, the Minister urged the contractor to redesign the project to accommodate a flyover at the Mararaba corridor.

According to him, the flyover would ease the movement of citizens that reside along the corridor.

Crude oil theft ends soon – Uzodinma.

Crude oil theft ends soon – Uzodinma.

Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma has assured the Federal Government is doing everything possible to bring the menace of crude oil theft and its attendant ills on the nation’s economy, to an end.

Uzodinma spoke to journalists at the State House, Abuja, after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima. 

He informed he discussed progresses being made on the fight against oil theft with Shettima.

Uzodinma is the Chairman of the National Economic Council’s (NEC) sub-committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention, set up in 2023 to review the existing architecture and make recommendations to stop oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Over many years, Nigeria has lost billions of dollars in revenue to crude oil theft, which has thrived despite measures introduced by the government.

The Governor said: “I came to give him an interim briefing arising from the subcommittee on crude oil theft that I am chairing on behalf of NEC. So we had a very positive discussion. It’s still a work in progress.

“We are addressing it. At the end of the day, we are going to bring a final solution to this monster called crude oil theft.”

He also spoke on the importance of reconciliation efforts within the APC, citing the ongoing rapprochement between the party and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State.

He said the most important thing is the interest of Nigeria and the people, irrespective of political affiliations.

Asked how important Kano is to APC, he said “Kano is not only important to APC but to Nigeria, so it’s an important state for all of us.

“NNPP is a political party, APC is a political party. The most important thing is the interest of Nigerians and the people,” he added .