Poverty, unemployment behind banditry in Northwest, says Sani.

Poverty, unemployment behind banditry in Northwest, says Sani.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has said poverty and unemployment are responsible for the banditry and kidnapping bedeviling the Northwest.

He said the solution to the security challenges in the region lies in ensuring that the residents get good governance from those in positions of authority.

Sani said this while hosting members of the state’s Elders’ Forum, led by General Zamani Lekwot (retd.) and Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House yesterday in Kaduna on his election victory at the Supreme Court.

He said as Kaduna State intensified military actions against banditry and kidnapping with the support of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to build two additional Forward Operation bases in the state, his administration was also adopting good governance as the best non-kinetic solution to the security challenges.

The governor, who decried the increasing number of out-of-school children must also be addressed to ensure a secured state and region, added that the state was getting $28 million support from Kuwait to help the education of such children.

Sani said: “The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army, and the Chief of Air Staff have assured us of their support to our security efforts. They have decided to set up two Forward Operation Bases (FOBs) in Kaduna: one in Southern Kaduna, at Zangon Kataf to be precise; and another in Birnin Gwari, to serve Birnin Gwari down to Giwa. The FOBs will be set up in the next three weeks.

“This is one of the most important interventions by the Defence Headquarters because we have always said that we need more boots on the ground and we need the support or the military generally, and we are grateful that we are having that support.

“We also announced last week that we would be setting up a security trust fund. By the grace of God, tomorrow (today), I would be signing the Bill for the Establishment of Security Trust Fund 2024. We are amending the one that is obsolete and coming up with a new one. This will give room for the private sector to come in and work with us.

“We are also looking at the non-kinetic approach to addressing the security challenges. But the issue of non-kinetic approach is not just about talking with the bandits, negotiating, and asking them to submit their weapons; that is only one aspect of it.

“The most important aspect of non-kinetic approach is good governance. No matter how much we talk and try to bring about peace, if we don’t look at the area of good governance, we will never end the problem of insecurity in northern Nigeria in particular.

“People always talk about how the problem of insurgency was ended in the Northeast. But insurgency is not the same with the problem of banditry and kidnapping that we have in the Northwest. The Northeast issue was about people that came from nowhere and talk about an ideology of Boko Haram.

“What we have in the Northwest is an economic problem where people kidnap and ask for money. What brought about that? It’s hopelessness, lack of education, and lack of economic prosperity.”

“The problem of the Northwest is lack of education and financial exclusion. Over 85 per cent of the people in the Northwest are either not educated or financially excluded. So, there is poverty. If we don’t address the poverty by supporting our farmers and increase productivity, we will not address the problem of insecurity.

“So, we need to look at the issue of good governance; it’s key. Many states in the Northwest, including Kaduna, have a large number of out-of-school children, which is unacceptable. Even access to healthcare, which is not a privilege but a right, is poor.

“Education is the greatest enabler. So, we must educate the children of the poor to compete favorably with the children of the rich. If we don’t do that, the problem of insecurity cannot be addressed…”

Oyo, seven others to receive $540m AfDB funds for SAPZs.

Oyo, seven others to receive $540m AfDB funds for SAPZs.

Oyo, Cross River and Imo are among seven states and the Federal Capital Territory to receive the first tranche of disbursements of $540m from the African Development Bank to develop Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones.

Prof. Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, disclosed this on Monday when a delegation of the bank and that of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation presented their separate reports on the status of projects being executed in Nigeria to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Shettima’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed details of Monday’s discourse in a statement titled, ‘AfDB set to begin disbursement of $540m SAPZs fund.’

Monday’s development comes nearly eight months after the AfDB President, Adesina, first apprised President Bola Tinubu of a $520m investment in the zones.

At a two-day summit on A New Global Financing Pact in Paris in late June 2023, Adesina had assured Tinubu that the bank would support the new administration’s economic policies in Nigeria, placing the people first in development targets.

Speaking on Monday, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka said the SAPZs, which plans to turn Nigeria’s rural landscape into economic zones of prosperity, is meant to “support inclusive and sustainable agro-industrial development in Nigeria.”

“The phase one of the project is at the point of disbursement. Kaduna, Oyo and Cross River States are all in the process of receiving disbursements and we hope that the other states can speed up their documentation so that we can fast-track these states.

“We raised $540m in catalytic funding and expect every state to find a partner to bring equity and join up with them. It is a government-enabled project but private-sector driven,” he explained further.

He also clarified that the first phase of SAPZs is being implemented in seven states: Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Ogun state found a partner for the project and decided not to take the loan. We are going to distribute the loan to the other states.

“The next thing is preparation for phase two with 27 states. The demand is enormous, but we must prioritise those who move fast.

“We have set up eligibility criteria for the states and to rank them. We expect them to have a feasibility report, environmental impact study and a commitment to counterpart funding,” Oyelaran-Oyeyinka added.

On his part, VP Shettima called for immediate action, saying it is time for the government and its development partners to walk the talk.

The three states will benefit from phase one of the development of processing zones, including Oyo, Kaduna and Cross River, while others will get theirs as soon as they conclude documentation.

In another report on the visit to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, as earlier commissioned by the VP, the Head of Investment and Technology Promotion Office at the UNIDO, Abimbola Wycliffe, told VP Shettima that the recovery plan for the company would include revitalising through rehabilitation, modernisation and expansion.

She said, “Single-phase turnaround for the entire plant is challenging due to heavy investments and a prolonged revenue generation timeline. Convert the integrated steel plant into strategic business units to serve as profit centers.

“Conduct opportunity studies for each SBU, focusing on incremental investments, raw material availability, labor, utilities, and market demand. Prioritize SBUs with lower investments and quicker positive cash flows (the low-hanging fruits)”.

Wycliffe called for the reinvestment of profits from each SBU in ASC to reduce the burden of incremental investment on the Nigerian economy, even as she recommended the enhancement of foreign exchange earnings and contribution to local economic development in the country

In his response, VP Shettima called for immediate action, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure that the visions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are delivered to the Nigerian people.

He asserted, “We have passed the age of talking; we must walk the talk. We can talk from now till eternity and it does not mean anything if there is no action and; hence, we must make this work. We just must.

“We have not seen beyond the depth of our pockets; what comes to us is more important than what comes to the generality of the people. Things must change.

“I read a book on how Korea transformed itself with no natural resources, how they started producing steel against all odds, how they went into shipbuilding, and how Hyundai, Daewoo, Samsung and Kia came about. I believe that when there is a will, there is always a way. We have to walk the talk,” the Vice President stated.

Tinubu, Abiodun mourn as Jimi Solanke dies at 81.

Tinubu, Abiodun mourn as Jimi Solanke dies at 81.

President Bola Tinubu and the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Monday, mourned the death of renowned folklorist, dramatist and playwright, Mr Jimi Solanke, describing him as one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists.

The legendary poet and playwright mostly remembered by many for his television programme ‘Story Land’, on the Nigerian Television Authority, died on Monday morning after a brief illness at the age of 81.

Solanke was said to have died while being taken from his country home in Ipara Remo in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan when he passed on.

He said to had been in and out of the hospital since December.

Solanke was also known for the Kongi’s Harvest, Sango, Shadow Parties, and many more.

The lawmaker representing Remo North State Constituency at the state House of Assembly, Dickson Awolaja, who confirmed the death, said, “I got wind of the demise of Pa Jimi Solanke not long ago. His death is no doubt another big loss to us in Remo North and Ogun State as a whole, given his worthy contributions to the development of our dear nation. May his soul rest in peace.”

Tinubu, in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said he received the news of Solanke’s death with sadness, describing him as “one of the finest of Nigeria’s creative artists and bastion of our cherished mores and cultural heritage.”

“The President condoles with the Solanke family and all those who mourn this painful loss while praying for the peaceful repose of the beloved departed,” the statement added.

Also, Governor Abiodun described Solanke’s death as a colossal loss to the theatre community and Ogun State.

Abiodun noted that the late thespian“consistently put the name of the state in the limelight for very good reasons, especially in the arts, right from his days at the University of Ibadan School of Drama.”

“Renowned for his tireless dedication to the arts, Baba Agba, as he was widely known by his numerous fans across the country, was a great ambassador of our dear state. He promoted the culture and tradition of the Yoruba race on the global stage with his drama, music, poetry and other works of art.

“In 1961, he emerged as one of the pioneer members of the Orisun Theatre Group, founded by Professor Wole Soyinka. He went on to put in several decades of diverse exposure and experiences in the global entertainment industry across several broadcast stations, countries and festivals, impacting the sector greatly,” Abiodun said.

The governor said Solanke’s many admirers “still recall with nostalgia, his epic performances at the Western Nigeria Television, WNTV, Ibadan in the 1960s, his unforgettable stagecraft at the World Festival of Negro Arts in Senegal and the amazing skills he exhibited at the Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algeria, all in the 1970s.

“Also to his credit are brilliant performances in epics like Death and the King’s Horseman, Kurunmi, Kongi’s Harvest, The Divorce and Ovaramwen Nogbaisi. These performances and his numerous talents turned him into a global icon of the arts.

“He was at different times described by the Oxford Times and the New York Times as a ‘Skilled Nigerian Actor’ and an ‘Excellent Troupe’ respectively, owing to his performance of Wole Soyinka’s Kongi’s Harvest, during a tour of Europe.”

King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, says Buckingham Palace.

King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, says Buckingham Palace.

King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, says Buckingham Palace.

It is not prostate cancer, but was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The type of cancer has not been revealed, but according to a palace statement the King began “regular treatments” on Monday.

Buckingham Palace says the King “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.

He will postpone his public engagements and it is expected other senior royals will help to stand in for him during his treatment.

No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis.

The King, 75, returned to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning and the palace says he has commenced treatment as an outpatient.

Although he will pause his public events, the King will continue with his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings.

He was seen at a church service in Sandringham on Sunday, where he waved to crowds.

He had a prostate procedure at a private London hospital more than a week ago.

The King had chosen to go public about his prostate treatment, with the aim of encouraging more men to get prostate checks, the palace said at the time.

He was said to have been delighted to have raised awareness about the issue, with the NHS website reporting a surge in issues about prostate conditions.

For many types of cancer, the chance of getting it increases with age. UK figures suggest, on average each year, more than a third (36%) of new cancer cases were in people aged 75 and over.

BBC

Edo 2024: APC prunes 29 governorship aspirants to four.

Edo 2024: APC prunes 29 governorship aspirants to four.

The twenty-nine governorship aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo state have been pruned to four ahead of the February 17 primary election.

The disclosure was made on Monday, February 5, by the publicity secretary of Edo APC, Peter Uwadia-Igbinigie, a lawyer.

The four leading aspirants are former Edo deputy governor, Lucky Imasuen; the representative of Ovia constituency of Edo state in the House of Representatives, Dennis Idahosa; the immediate Edo chairman of APC, Col. David Imuse (rtd.); and the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Monday Okpekholo.

Of the four governorship aspirants, two (Imasuen and Idahosa) are from the Edo South senatorial district, while the other two (Imuse and Okpekholo) hail from the Edo Central senatorial district.

Uwadiae-Igbinigie said: “The advisory committee, led by the representative of Owan Federal Constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, had a primary objective of encouraging aspirants vying for the party’s ticket to consider a reduction in their numbers.

“In the screening, the four governorship aspirants received a positive evaluation. The advisory committee operated within its terms of reference for efficient primary management.

“The initiative does not undermine the governorship aspirants’ constitutional rights in their pursuit of APC’s ticket in Edo State, evident in their procurement of the expression of interest and nomination forms.”

Edo publicity secretary of APC also reassured all the governorship aspirants who had purchased the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms of a level-playing ground.

He urged the aspirants to be ready to appear before the screening committee, put in place by the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, between February 8 and 9, 2024, while adhering to the party’s timetable.

Uwadiae-Igbinigie noted that the intervention was to dispel any misconception surrounding the Ihonvbere’s committee’s purpose while emphasizing fairness and adherence to established procedures.

The publicity secretary of APC in Edo also stated that as the APC would be navigating its internal procedures, it had a commitment to transparency and equity in the election of its governorship candidate.

Hard times over soon – First Lady assures Nigerians.

Hard times over soon – First Lady assures Nigerians.

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has assured that hard times being faced by Nigerians will soon come to an end with the right policies of the Federal Government.

The President’s wife gave the assurance on Monday in the State House during a meeting with the Governors Wives on her pet project, Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

She assured that the year 2024 is loaded with “peace, progress, prosperity and greater achievements’’ to the advantage of all Nigerians.

Mrs Tinubu commended the governors’ wives for their efforts and supports in year 2023, urging them not to relent in addressing the needs of the vulnerable in their states.

“Times like this calls for sober reflection, hence, all hands must be on deck. Moreover, the hardship situation is temporary, it will soon fade away.

“The mission of the RHI is driven by my office to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Tinubu,’’ she said.

She said Women Agricultural Support Programme (WASP), under RHI, will empower 20 farmers each, from five states in the South East Zone.

“These farmers will get N500,000 each and a total draft of N10m will be given to five RHI states’ coordinators as the case may be.

“The National Agricultural Land Development Authority in partnership with the RHI will support an additional 80 female farmers from each state with the provision of training and capacity building and agricultural inputs.

First Lady tasks Christians to go beyond religious sentiments, embrace tolerance

“We will buy-off all produce from the farms after harvest,’’ she said.

Mrs. Tinubu said she would soon launch “Young Farmers Club’’ in public schools across the nation to encourage farming among young population.

She said schools with the best farms would be identified, and prizes would be given to them, ranging from school renovations, equipping of school science laboratories, provision of ICT equipment and upgrading of school libraries.

On the programme, “Every Home a Garden’’ competition, the first lady said the overall best garden owner will win the sum of N20m by December.

 She urged the governors’ wives to update her on the progress made on the programme.

According to the first lady, other areas of focus in RHI included, economic empowerment, health and social investment.

(NAN)

Senate panel seeks increased revenue target for Customs.

Senate panel seeks increased revenue target for Customs.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff Senator Isah Jibrin on Monday told the Customs Service the N5.079 trillion 2024 revenue target of the agency will be reviewed upwards from the second half of the year to save the country from further borrowings.

Jibrin made this assertion at a meeting with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Adewale Adeniyi and top management of the revenue agency in Abuja.

Jibrin said: “First of all, Nigeria is saddled with lot of debt obligations and we need to wriggle ourselves out of that trap and one of the ways to do that is Internally Generated Revenue. 

“Customs is one of the major providers of internally generated revenue and as it is today, we expect them to play one of the major roles in this drive to reduce our debt burden.

“We need to pay off what we are owing now and minimize additional loans we are going to take.

“Customs is in a very good position, if they are able to block all perceived leakages, they should be able to generate significant amount of income that will enable Nigeria get out of debt, at least partially.”

On concessions given to some sectors of the economy for example, agriculture, the Kogi East senator said it is for those who are into agricultural services, those who are into solid minerals and those whose services have direct impact on the economy. 

He said: “If somebody is bringing agricultural equipment into the economy and you try to take something out of that person in a way of import duty, that will discourage the person and that is what we are saying. 

“It is not that any body took that money or custom compromised in the course of their services.

“Concessions were in the interest of Nigeria to encourage importers who are going into specific areas in the economy. 

“There is a trade off here between importers and the country, particularly the things you think you are generating.”

On the rate of unemployment in Nigeria, which he described as “very high”, the lawmaker said: “Customs is not the only employer of Labour. They can only employ the number they believe they can adequately take care of and we are putting them under pressure to exceed the 1,600 benchmark. 

“We may not get beyond 2000, but for sure, we will get 1,600 and like we all know, there are so many unemployed Nigerians out there, I will always say, it is difficult for the Nigeria Customs Service to absorb all unemployed Nigerians, but they can only employ those they can.”

While responding to questions from the lawmakers, the NCS boss disclosed that the service is seeking approval from government to allow them give waivers to owners of smuggled cars to allow them regularise their payment of Customs duties.

This, he said, will be done after adequate publicity so that those who find themselves in such situation can get their vehicles regularised through payment of duties.

On the naira exchange rate, Adeniyi said he is also pained by the volatility in the exchange rate regime.

“In fact, even if it stays high and people can predict that this is what it will take me to clear, perhaps it is not particularly too bad, but when it is so volatile, today it is X, tomorrow it is X+10, X+20, it does not make for adequate planning and things like that.

“Currently, it is the mandate of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fix the rate, either the one we use during Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) or the one we use for importation or the one used for payment of Customs duties.

“I have been in discussions with my minister. Perhaps, what you are going to advocate is that there would be a meeting point between authorities of government that are in charge of monetary policy and those in charge of fiscal policy.

“Personally, what I think we can do is to get a spot rate for a period of time. We can agree that for Q,Y 2024 this will be the spot rate for payment of Customs duties; we could say for the first half of the year,” he said.