Category: News

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.

By James Ogunnaike

A person who is worthy of being a leader wants power not for himself, but in order to be of service” ¯ Sam J. Ervin Jr.

“Our overall character is made up of specific individual traits and qualities for which each of us, as individuals, have some qualities that are more positive and some that are negative. Some are stronger while others are weaker.  It is those character traits, or qualities, that determine how we often respond, react or attend to issues in any given situation”.

Sunday, August 2 would have been a day to be remembered for some time in Ogun State following a protest staged by parents of boarding students in private secondary schools in the state.

The protest was to drag their displeasure known over the decision by government that each boarding student in private secondary schools would have to cough out N25, 000 to get tested for coronavirus before their resumption on August 4 for their WASSCE scheduled to commence on August 17.

The protest generated outcry from stakeholders including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), political parties, and the general public.

The NLC, through a statement by the State Chairman, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, and Acting Secretary, Comrade Olatunji Ayuba, said government action portrayed it as insensitive to the plight of the citizenry.

Perturbed by the rave of public outcry against the decision, Governor Dapo Abiodun had to summon the Special Adviser on Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, and the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, to a meeting.

It was gathered that, the governor was angry over the ugly development because he was unaware of the mandatory levy on private secondary school students for covid-19 test on the state.

It was also gathered that the subsidized N25, 000 for Covid-19 test by private primary and secondary schools students was solely the decision of the Special Adviser and some Directors of the Ministry of Education.

“The governor is not happy about this development, most especially when he knew nothing about the said N25, 000 charge on secondary school students”, a source said.

Buttressing the opinion above, a former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, said, “One needs to know the man behind an office to be able to assess that office properly! If you know Dapo Abiodun, you will soon realise that he is all about humanity and I do believe that he will not have known about the proposed student charges for Covid-19 test and it would be out of character for Dapo Abiodun if he was aware and agreed to such charges”.

Arising from the meeting with Soyombo and Coker, Abiodun ordered that the COVID-19 test for the returning SS3 students be stepped down.

He equally directed that government laboratories carry out the test at no cost while all those who have paid be refunded.

The governor said: “The admittance of students into boarding house in private secondary schools will be at the discretion of the management and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of such private schools.

“The inconvenience and confusion experienced is highly regrettable and my sincere apologies to the parents and students so affected.

“The state has been very apprehensive about the issue of school opening even for exit students.

“Data from other countries where schools have resumed shows that community transmission in school environment is a major concern.

“Even countries with stronger health care facilities than ours are being very cautious.

“We have put in place guidelines that would ensure that our students resume in a safe environment.

“I appreciate the cooperation, support, resilience and understanding of all the people of Ogun towards flattening the curve of COVID-19”.

Aside the cancellation of the Covid-19 test, the state government equally put in place facilities to meet preventive criteria which include virtual training on prevention of Covid-19 for school administrative heads and teachers; decontamination of schools and training of teachers as first line responders.

Other government interventions include establishment of sick bays/isolation rooms in all public secondary schools; provision of infrared thermometers,

provision of adequate supply of running water and provision of veronica buckets.

Government also directed all school administrators to ensure that teachers are frequently trained on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for virtual engagement of students and principals and vice-principals to ensure staggering of closing time for students.

There will not be general school assembly but schools will observe class assembly.

There are additional requirement for boarding schools, which the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will communicate to schools before operating the facilities.

These measures are also applicable to all private schools operating in Ogun.

As a matter, it should be noted that any school, whether private or public, that fails to comply with these guidelines will not be allowed to reopen.

The ability of the governor to yield to the request of the masses and equally came bold to apologize to the entire people of the state earned the governor more respect as a responsive governor.

The act demonstrated the level of humility on the part of the number one citizen and this has generated reactions and commendations for Abiodun.

The Adele of Orile Oko Kingdom, High Chief Olakunle

Olalekan, said the action of the governor showed that the current administration is not insensitive to the plight of the people.

He urged residents of Ogun to continue to support the administration to end Covid-19 in the state.

In the same vein, Ijebu Youths Association, through a release by their President, Fayomi Wasiu Okikiola, commended Abiodun for declaring Covid-19 test free for students.

The youths described the governor as a democrat.

The Chairman of the Ogun State Park Management (OGSPAM), Alhaji Akeem Bodunrin, also applauded the administration for declaring free Covid-19 test for students.

READ ALSO: We’re yet to be reabsorbed to Owo polytechnic, 35 sacked staff cry out

Bodunrin described Abiodun as a compassionate leader with the interest of the people of Ogun at heart.

Ola Muritala, on his part, opined that the action of the governor captured it all that he is a listening and responsive governor.

“This shows that Abiodun is a listening governor and one who respects others’ opinions”, he said.

A former Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State chapter, Femi Dokunmu, said the way Abiodun resolved the protest over the #25,000 fee for COVID-19 test once again brought to the fore the essence of public opinion management in governance.

He said, “Governance, especially in democracies, requires that formulation and implementation of government policies and programmes should take into consideration all stakeholders views and public opinion at various stages of formulation and implementation”.

“With the way the fee had been introduced, there is no doubt that all the relevant stakeholders or publics have not been properly carried along and their opinion and interests respected. Hence, the wave of protests and spate at which even some relevant government officials distance themselves from the exercise”.

“However, the intervention of the governor and his objective assessment of the situation must have revealed the shortcomings in the process and how public opinion does not favour, not only this process but also its implications for the image of the governor and his government”.

Speaking on the governor’s action, the State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Committee (IPAC), Olamiposi Oginni, commended him for reversing the decision.

Oginni saluted the governor for his show of humility.

“The issues of education and health of Ogun children are very sensitive issues. I appreciate the fact that Gov. Abiodun didn’t listen to sycophants”, he said.

“The governor is humble enough to tendered unreserved apologies. I will forever respect Gov Dapo Abiodun for this”.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Ogun State Chapter of Labour Party, Comrade Abayomi Olufemi Arabambi, said:

“Government was even so very humble enough to cancel Covid -19 test as requirement for students’ resumption.

“Government has also ordered public laboratories to carry out the test at no cost to students.

“Government equally directed that each returning student should be supplied with a free face mask”.

“Upon all, in his own name, the governor did tender apology for the inconveniences that resulted from the protest.

“Take all of the above and run the comparison of this government against some of our recent state governments.

“I have read some uninformed and careless comments accusing the government of shoddy planning and inadequate research before bringing a policy that got eventually somersaulted and had to be withdrawn at the expense of inconveniences to parents.

“It is high time people started to strive to be adequately informed about government objectives in any of its policy.

“Government explanation and apology are so much refreshing and a pleasant departure from known and usual official arrogance in the past governments”.

Vanguard

Reports had alleged that Shasore worked against Nigeria’s interest despite receiving $2 million fee.

But in a statement sent to Sunday Vanguard, last night, Shasore said: “In the last 24 hours, I have been urged to break my deliberate silence. My choice of silence has been the result of my own high sense of responsibility as well as my commitment to the professional duty, which I undertook in representing the Federal Government in this case.

“I am relieved that the corrupt and fraudulent foundation of this case is affirmed in the recent ruling, though I am disappointed that part of the case made for that result was a case against me based on demonstrably false statements, unfounded innuendos and spiteful personal attacks on my professional conduct and reputation.

“I was instructed in this matter and accepted the instructions on behalf of my firm and to the knowledge of my partners in late 2012 and I made every effort to defend and vindicate my client at every stage with very few tools and with minimal support from within the government itself. I represented Nigeria up until the liability stage in the arbitration.

“I did not represent Nigeria in the damages stage of the arbitration. Which means I was not involved when the huge sum of damages was awarded against Nigeria. The complete records will show the series of steps that I took to defend Nigeria and the several results, which I secured in that effort at various stages. None of these is consistent with the unfounded allegations that I failed to present the best available defense.

“With very little or no cooperation from relevant government officials at the time, I filed a jurisdiction objection that potentially could and should indeed have terminated the case in favour of Nigeria because it was clear to us from the beginning that the contract was a scheme against Nigeria.

READ ALSO: $9.6bn Judgment Debt: Lai Mohammed say victory in UK court, huge relief

“When the then Nigerian officials failed to supply documents or any witness to defend their case, I fought liability by enlisting the support of the legal adviser of NNPC who gave evidence to the best of his knowledge when everyone else with knowledge, refused to do so. I instructed the UK firm of Stephenson Harwood, a respected international arbitration team and a leading Barrister to attempt to set aside the award on liability in England. We overcame numerous hurdles and faced a hostile tribunal, which relied on the testimony of a principal witness who had died before the hearing and whose testimony should have been discounted.

“It is on record that I fought had for the tribunal to dispense with that evidence. I am happy that the falsity of that testimony has now been recorded in the High Court in England. Indeed this was the ground on which I took the matter to the Federal High Court in Nigeria, which was the proper seat of the arbitration and successfully obtained an order setting aside the liability award.

READ ALSO: The whole truth about Jonathan, P & ID’s deal – Reno Omokri

There was no basis to proceed to the damages hearing since the liability had already been set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Indeed, Nigeria continues to rely on this order in the proceedings in the United States. In addition, I obtained an injunction restraining the parties and the tribunal from proceeding with the arbitration. Much issue has been made about the legal fees paid. This was payment to two law firms and not exceptional or unusual in the context of such a dispute. In fact, in order to extract the best possible, it was from these fees that expenses were paid to ensure attendance at hearings and meetings in the UK by witnesses for Nigeria.

” The case had blown open after P & ID took Nigeria to a UK tribunal accusing it of not fulfilling its part of the bargain on a gas project in Cross River State.

In July 2015, the arbitral tribunal found that Nigeria had repudiated its obligations under the project and that P & ID had been entitled to accept the repudiation and claim damages for breach.

On December 23, 2015, the government asked for the award to be set aside.

Consequently, a commercial court in the UK awarded $8.9 billion (about N3.2 trillion) in favour of P & ID.

In a twist last Friday, the Federal Government secured a judgment of a British court following its appeal to suspend the unfavourable ruling.

The judgment, delivered by Ross Cranston, granted Nigeria’s appeal for a stay of execution of the awarded sum.

Vanguard

Suswam

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

Former Governor of Benue State and senator representing North East District of the state, Gabriel Suswam, has described the proposed National Water Resources Bill as anti- people, warning that it could plunge the country into crisis.

Suswam, who spoke in Katsina-Ala, Katsina-Ala LGA of the state during the commissioning of various projects executed in his district by Governor Samuel Ortom said the bill was unacceptable.

READ ALSO: Ortom, Suswam, others not defecting to APC ― PDP chair

He said, “though the bill is yet to come before the Senate, it will die on arrival in whatever form it comes. It is anti-people. For me, I cannot sit down as representative of the people and allow the Federal   Government to take over the water of the people.

“The Land Use Act of 1978 clearly states that all land in a state belongs to the State Governor and it will require a constitutional review for this to happen.”

Vanguard

…Says they retained camps after demobilization

By Kennedy Mbele

About N60billion may have been paid to 17 ex-militant leaders under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) over the past 10 years, according to the report of the presidential panel that probed the activities of PAP.

Each ex-militant leader, the report, according to a Sunday Vanguard source, said, got N490,037,000 monthly to be paid to intended beneficiaries.

But the panel noted: “It is imperative to note that there is no mechanism to enforce payment of the stipends to intended beneficiaries by their respective camp leaders and pay their stipends directly into their accounts.

“This mode of payment could have empowered the camp leaders with sufficient funds to acquire arms that can be used to hold the Federal Government to ransom in the event the programme is closed”.

The report said the panel discovered that five vocation training centres were supposed to be built at a cost of N23billion, saying, however, that only three had been built.

The panel, the report said, found that PAP had been  corrupted with illegal removal and inclusion of names of beneficiaries of the programme overnight.

On training of PAP beneficiaries, the source quoted the report as saying: “There are beneficiaries being sponsored in foreign institutions which are not accredited and hence not recognised by Nigerian tertiary institutioms and the National Universities Commission”.

The Federal Government had, in February, suspended the Coordinator of PAP, Prof. Charles Soludo, and a five-man panel was set up to investigate the activities of the agency.

READ ALSO: It’s a lie, parties blast APC over restructuring claim

The panel is headed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), General Muhammed Monguno (retd).

The action followed allegations of fraud levelled against officials of PAP, dating back to when it was established 11 years ago.

The Yar’Adua administration had, in May 2009, established the Amnesty Programme to calm armed youths in the Niger Delta complaining of marginalisation in the face of their region’s producing the crude that provides the bulk of Nigeria’s foreign earnings.

But PAP has been dogged by all manner of allegations mostly bordering on misappropriation of funds.

On Abandoned Vocation Training Centres, the source said: “The Committee discovered that 5 vocation training centers were supposed to be built over the years for an estimated cost of N23 Billion for training of ex militants in various skills that will enable them to earn a living.

The training centers are located at Kaiama, Bayelsa State; Agadagba, Ondo State; Bomadi in Delta State, Gelegele in Edo State and Obuama, Harris Town, in Rivers State. The Committee discovered that in spite of these investments, only three of these centers at Kaiama, Agadabga and Bomadi have been built while those of Gelegele and Obuama are still at foundation level after the contractors absconded. Even the three that have been built, no single training has taken place in them hence, there are are underutilized and abandoned with government funds were wasted”.

On Payment of Bulk stipends to militant leaders, he said: “The Committee discovered that some militant leaders still retain camps with paramilitary structure despite undergoing demobilisation process which is the formal and controlled discharge of active combatants from armed forces and groups.

Consequently, 17 camp leaders are paid stipends in bulk sum, a total of N490,037,000.00 monthly for the last 10 years. The list of camps and respective monthly payments are at Annex B.

It is imperative to note that there is no mechanism to enforce the payment of the stipends to intended beneficiaries by their respective camp leaders and pay their stipends direct into their account. Hence, there are several petitions by delegates requesting the Federal Government to liberate them from their leaders.

This mode of payment could have empowered the camp leaders with sufficient funds to acquire arms that can be used to hold the federal government to ransom in the event the programme is closed”.

Vanguard

By Charly Agwam, Bauchi

The police in Bauchi State have confirmed the arrest of a suspected serial rapist, Yusuf Bako, who allegedly defiled a four-year- old girl in a mosque.

According to the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Bauchi State Police Command, Ahmed Wakil, the police team rescued Bako from an angry mob after he had sustained injuries.

Wakil quoted the suspect as saying he was jailed for rape in 2001 and 2015, and that he was one of the convicts pardoned and released as part of the measures to decongest the prisons in the wake of the spread of coronavirus

“On the 03/09/2020 at about 11:30hrs, one Jamilu Abdullahi ‘M’ of Igbo quarters reported at the Township Police Station that, on same date at about 09:20hrs, an angry mob were beating an unknown person at Aminu Street, after which a team of police officers moved to the scene and rescued the suspect with various degrees of injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

READ ALSO: 46 years old man apprehended in Delta for allegedly defiling 8 years girl

“The suspect whom we identified as Yusuf Bako, ‘M’ aged 50 years of Yakubu Wanka Street, Bauchi, allegedly lured four-year-old girl (names withheld) to a Mosque located at Aminu Street and had canal knowledge of her. Yusuf Bako confessed to the crime. When interrogated he stated that he was arrested and imprisoned in the year 2001 and 2015 for the same offence. He further claimed that he was among the fortunate inmates recently pardoned by the state on the eve of coronavirus”.

Wakil further said the Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta appealed  to the public to continue exercising their civil responsibility by pointing and giving vital information that may help the police in its operations to rid the state of all forms of crime and criminality.

Vanguard

Tinubu

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

NATIONAL Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has campaigned for the reelection of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, saying he has done more than talk.

Tinubu spoke in Akure, during the inauguration of the Internal Revenue Service office complex constructed by the Akeredolu administration.

While commending   Akeredolu for his giants strides, Tinubu said that he has laid a solid foundation for the state.

The National Leader said:  “Akeredolu has done more than talk development and dedicated himself and his administration to bringing development to the state.

“Since the governor came on board in 2016, he has had his hands on the plough, recording one milestone after another.

“Among the laudable projects he has launched is the Ore Industrial Hub which was commissioned by President Buhari. That industrial hub will bring needed employment and economic development to the deserving people living in the Ore vicinity.

“Step by step, project by project, industrial hub by industrial hub is how we construct the foundation for durable progress and prosperity. Governor Akeredolu has done more than talk development; he has dedicated himself and his government to bringing development to this state.”

10 governors, deputy governors, ministers and other party leaders who attended the flag-off campaign of Akeredolu in Akure defied rain and waited for over three hours that the rally lasted.

READ ALSO: Why Ondo South is backing Akeredolu ― Oke

The governors include Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and Chairman, APC National Caretaker Committe, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State, Governor and Chairman, APC Governor’s Forum, Chairman Ondo APC National Campaign Council and Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Borno State Governor,Babagana Zulum Kwara state Governor, AbdulRahman AdulRasak, Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, Governor of Ogun State Prince Dapo Abiodun, Sani Bello of Niger State, and the deputy governor of Kogi State, Chief David Onoja.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Silva, Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Tayo Alasoadura and other notable leaders.

Sanwo-Olu, addressing the gathering, said Akeredolu had performed creditably well and deserves to be re-elected for a second term in office.

He said the APC will continue to take the welfare of the people very serious, adding that the Ondo governor had done the party proud with his Midas touch across the state.

On his part, Buni said the people of Ondo must not allow anyone to truncate the developmental stride of the Akeredolu administration.

Akeredolu told his guests that he was prepared to do more than his administration had recorded in the last three and a half years.

The governor warned the people not to allow those who will come to ruin the gains that had been entrenched across the state.

Vanguard

…Shina Abubakar

Coalition of Civil Societies in Osun on Friday thronged major streets of Osogbo protesting against the increase in petrol pump price and electricity tariff.

Also read: How insecurity in Nigeria renders women economically, politically impotent

The Co-Convener comrade Saka Waheed said the protest was to alert President Muhammadu Buhari of his administration’s insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians.

Vanguard News

The post [ICYMI] VIDEO: Civil societies protest hike in fuel price, electricity tariff appeared first on Vanguard News.

Boss Mustapha

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has felicitated with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, on his 64th birthday.

Omo-Agege in a congratulatory message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja on Saturday, described Mustapha as a patriot and an icon of national service.

Omo-Agege, who is also Chairman, Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution, said: “You have devoted your life to public service with extraordinary courage, resilience and tenacity of purpose.

“We appreciate your commitment and the incredible amount of work you have done.

READ ALSO: 64th Birthday: Buhari commends Boss Mustapha stand for good governance

“Indeed, your commitment to the nation and your capacity for working with people from all parts of Nigeria remain sterling attestations to President Muhammadu Buhari’s considerations for appointing you as SGF.

“As you mark your 64th birthday, I join others to wish you more years of service to humanity and fulfilling years ahead.”

Vanguard News Nigeria

Mr Eyitayo Jegede, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ondo governorship race, has promised that his government would usher in a new dawn in the state if he is elected.

Jegede stated this in Ibadan on Saturday shortly after meeting with the National Campaign Council of the PDP headed by the Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde.

The PDP candidate said that the people of Ondo would experience a new lease of life in all sectors of society.

“We are going to address the issues in the education sector, the high tuition fees imposed by the current government will be brought down when we come into government.

“The high cost of health care will also be brought down. We will provide opportunities for our youths to get employment and we will address the agriculture sector.

READ ALSO: Ondo 2020: Ajayi, Jegede back Akeredolu on Amotekun

“There are also plans to explore our tourism potentials. We will develop the solid minerals sector. We have bitumen. We will set a deadline to exploit it and the people of Ondo State will be happier for it,” he stated.

Jegede, who further stated that his party was prepared for the election, declared that he had the massive support of the people of Ondo State and cautioned his colleagues against violence.

He said: “We will continue to work for free and fair election; we pray for it and will resist any attempt by any person to thwart the will of the people.”

Makinde, in a remark, expressed confidence that PDP would win the election “with the level of work being done”.

Shedding light on the meeting, Makinde said that it focused on the activities of the party’s National Campaign Council for the poll.

“These are the people in charge of the sub-committees for the council. We came here to strategise and also put our house in order,” he explained.

He added that the party had been working hard to reclaim the state, stressing that PDP was ready


to do all that was lawful to secure victory in the governorship election.

The National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Mr Austin Akobundu, in a remark, expressed confidence that the party would take over Ondo State.

“We are working very hard and we are determined to get in there. We believe there is a lot of work to be done and we are ready for that,” Akobundu said.

Vanguard

Governor Godwin Obaseki

Gov. Godwin Obaseki, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Edo has urged all eligible voters in the state to ensure they turn out on election day to cast their votes.

The governor said the low turnout of eligible voters on election day was responsible for Oredo Local Government Area of the state’s loss of its political value.

Obaseki stated this while addressing a crowd of PDP supporters in Ward 6 and Ward 7 of Oredo on Saturday in Benin.

According to him, the major challenge is that on election day many of us don’t come out to  vote.

“In this Ward 6 and Ward 7 we have almost 50,000 registered voters here, but we don’t have 15,000 on election day.

“So, opposition thinks we don’t have power, they think we don’t have political value, this has been the norm, so in this election I want us to change this narrative.

“Because you don’t come out to vote massively on election day, they think you don’t have power. The opposition thinks  they are  political champions.

READ ALSO: Edo 2020: Obaseki urges massive turnout of voters, cautions against apathy

“They said I did not win my unit and ward, but if all registered, eligible voters, come out and vote, they won’t be able to say so.

“In this Sept. 19, gubernatorial election, it’s between me and the opposition. I want to prove them wrong that the people are with me and my Deputy, Philip Shaibu.

“The same way the opposition is treating me in Oredo is the same way it is treating my deputy in Etsako.

“The infrastructural development on ground is more than the ones we had before, but one thing I know is that thuggery will not return.

“One thing I know is that collection of Certificates of Occupancy less than 24 hours without any harassment will remain.

“Training and prompt payment of teachers’  salaries will not be stopped by anybody.

“Our teachers are digital now, they now train our children with computers, unlike in the past.

“All this I promise to continue doing can only be actualised by our producing more votes.

“So, go from door to door, call your neighbours that there is need to vote massively in this election,” he said.

Earlier, the Senator representing Edo South, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide, said that it was a tradition to reelect any governor who had done well, and the people would renew his mandate.

Urhoghide said that nobody could stop the reelection of Gov. Obaseki, saying the people are for him.

He said that the people of Oredo should take the election as a challenge by voting massively for PDP

Vanguard

Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council(NSC) has said that diversified means of transportation would reduce the cost of transport and port gridlock in the country.

Bello told newsmen in Abuja that transport drives the economy and President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration was working at ensuring diversification of the country’s transport system.

Also read: Fuel price, electricity tariff hike most unfortunate — Gani Adams

“We have been having challenges in our Nigerian ports because of some distortions.

“I will give some examples to the road, our dependence on the road has cost us a lot, or has stiffened and made it impossible for transportation to make an expectant contribution in terms of revenue, in terms of employment and infrastructure.

“But the government is trying. Like I said, if not for COVID-19, we will not be having gridlock, we would have connected the rail to the ports.

“Now connection of the rail to the port is significant because it will do two things, for every trip the rail makes, 38 trailers are removed from the port.

“Before now the monopoly is on the road traffic, it is only the dominant, maybe 90 per cent of connection that is dropping cargo to the port.

“You can’t rely on one mode of transportation. Nigeria Shippers’ Council has now encouraged rail employment and also evacuation from the ports and that will be at a cheaper rate,’’ Bello said.

He said the various stakeholders in the maritime sector were collaborating to strengthen the standard operating procedure for the rail.

He said:“ that will mean two things, we have an alternative to road, we remove a lot of trucks and we give the truckers a run for their money.

“There will be competition, so this will mean prices of transportation will crash very soon in time to come and that is one of the achievements.’’

According to Bello, the NSC is also looking at a very important aspect of access to the ports which is the batches inland waterways.

According to him, the diversified means of transportation will give room for competition, the law of demand and supply will apply, thus, there will be a reduction in transportation cost.

“Besides the Federal Government has made a policy statement that all ports and I hope this will include dry ports would be linked with rail. As I have said if not for COVID-19, the Chinese will have linked not just Apapa but Tin Can with rail.

“The moment we have inland connectivity, the gridlock in Apapa will disappear that is apart from infrastructural efforts the federal government has made.”

The NSC boss, however, noted that infrastructure was not enough to manage traffic, adding that the various stakeholders were working at developing an electronic system that would ensure this.

On the high cost of doing business, Bello reiterated that the NSC had made it impossible for shipping companies to bring out arbitrary or unilateral charges which would increase the cost of doing business in the country.

He said the council was also working with the Nigerian Customs Service to ensure speedy clearance of cargoes at the ports.

“Because of lack of scanners, cargo is cleared after 100 per cent physical examination, now this is a primitive way of doing things and it causes so much delay.

“ So scanners will be redeployed very soon we have been at it with Customs, it takes five hours for a container to be examined physically and then cleared but when we have the scanners it will take five minutes.

“So you can see we are all making our ports efficient, we have the structure, infrastructure superstructure as a matter of fact and the clearance will be simpler, faster, more economical,’’ Bello said.

Vanguard News

A fuel pump (stock photo).

Emergency & Risk Alert Initiative (ERAI), a non-governmental Humanitarian and development organization has warned the government of Nigeria of the consequences of hike in Electricity Tariff and price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Gbenro Olajuyigbe, the organization whose vision is a world where everyone takes informed and appropriate action to reduce vulnerability and prepare for emergencies condemned the nonchalant attitude of the government and its agencies in respect of the price hike. It posited that the increment will deepen poverty, widen inequality and heighten crimes and violence.

Also read: JUST IN: FG removes fuel price cap, gives marketers freedom to fix price

The organization whose priority is to support all processes that keep people safe, secure and resilient in a just society bemoaned the not thoughtful increase in tariff of electricity and price of premium motor spirit or petro in the contexts of economically devastating global COVID-19 Pandemic that has severely, negatively socially and economically impacted Nigerians and businesses without appreciable support for recovery from the government.

He declared that ‘Increase in Electricity Tariff will increase the Cost of Production of already ailing companies and make their products uncompetitive in the market, further harming the capacity for economic growth in the long run. Developing state like Nigeria that is desirous of growth and development needs to produce at a very low cost so as to compete with other states who have mastered the art of Ease of doing business at low cost.’

He said, ‘It is sad and unacceptable that after over five years in office with the campaign promise of building refineries, the government of an oil-producing and exporting state like Nigeria has neither build new one nor rejigged the existing ones in order to refine petrol. With this failure and by continually importing petrol, Nigeria government has kept on exporting jobs to other countries thereby exacerbating unemployment rate at home.’ He declared that ‘In fact and indeed, what it calls removal of subsidy is the sheer transfer of the cost of own failure and irresponsibility’.

He noted that ‘more shameful is that the government kept on justifying the increase of fuel price by drawing price comparison from the U.S, Europe and other countries without corresponding reference to Per Capita Income, GDP, infrastructures, available options; including modes of transportation and diversities of such economies. Such face-saving data and comparison are misleading and disingenuous. They are too simplistic as Impacts vary. Development Economic Analysis is about vulnerability, about risk and risk reduction measures in place to address spiral effects of economic policies; more so in a monocultural economy like ours’.

Olajuyigbe asserted that nobody is safe under the cloud and regime of the high cost of living, low standard of living with mingling hyperinflation in a climate of recalcitrant unemployment and the frightening preponderance of poverty triggered violence and insecurity. He said in such an atmosphere, ‘the rich will mock the poor who are hungry at day time and the angry poor will mock the rich at night! That’s how society prepares crime’

Olajuyigbe advised that rather than afflict poor Nigerians further, the government should reduce the humongous cost of governance, address the issues of mind-boggling corruption and resource mismanagement that has trailed the government and its functionaries in the last few months. It is disheartening that rather than supporting vulnerable people and businesses of a country that is just emerging from exceptionally high risk and high impact health emergency like COVID-19, the Nigerian government has chosen to prioritize taxing and tasking people and businesses that have not functioned in the last five months.

Emergency & Risk Alert Initiative (ERAI) believes that increase in Electricity Tariff and the price of petrol will trigger cost of living, hurt businesses, deepen Poverty, widen Inequality, heighten crime, violence and abolish the constitutional expectation of security and welfare for which government is instituted to provide. We demand the immediate reversal of the hike!

Olajuyigbe Gbenro

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Djerassem Le Bemadjiel

Chad’s former oil minister has been charged with stealing public money and ordered detained, the country’s justice minister told AFP Saturday.

Djerassem Le Bemadjiel was arrested on Wednesday after a complaint by a state body that reports directly to strongman Idriss Deby, who has been in power since 1990.

Chad is not a major oil producer in Africa but oil revenues account for 40 per cent of GDP and 60 per cent of the arid country’s revenues.

“He hasn’t yet been questioned yet. He has only been charged,” said justice minister, Djimet Arabi.

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One of Le Bemadjiel’s lawyers confirmed that he was being held in custody and said they were preparing his defence.

The former minister, who held the oil and energy portfolio between 2013 and 2016, is accused of “misappropriation of public funds”, the “unlawful use of state property” and corruption, according to the complaint, which AFP was able to consult.

The document refers to irregularities, particularly, in the then minister’s dealings in 2013 and 2014 with auditing firms Alex Stewart International (ASi) and Cameroun Audit Conseil (CAC).

[AFP]

Vanguard News Nigeria.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine should be done in an equitable and affordable manner rather than on the basis of the highest bidder.

Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Saturday, said the vice-president spoke at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICA Forum with the theme, “Towards a Realistic Euro-African Partnership During and Beyond the COVID-19 Era”.

The vice-president said that such an approach would effectively contain the global spread of COVID-19.

The summit featured presentations from notable global leaders, including the UN Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, and the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr Ulisses Correia Silva among others.

READ ALSO: How Osinbajo detected P&ID fraud against Nigeria ― UK Judge

The EurAfrican Forum aims to foster stronger collaboration between Europe and Africa, and better promote a shared green and inclusive growth, among other objectives.

“Europe should work closely with Africa to ensure that when a vaccine is finally deployed, it should not be on the basis of the highest bidder but rather be made available at an affordable and in an accessible manner.

“This is a matter that should not be taken for granted. We saw during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in richer parts of the world, that orders for test kits and reagents by African countries were deemed too small and tended to be ignored.

“Although Nigeria does not have the resources or means to pre-pay for a COVID-19 vaccine; we are fortunate to be a GAVI supported country.

“We urge the EU to lend support to GAVI’s effort to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX initiative. This way, poorer countries, and their citizens will get the vaccines they need at the same time as the rest of the world,” he said.

Osinbajo said the summit offered an opportunity for Europe and Africa to share perspectives on matters of mutual interest.

According to him, a global crisis calls for global partnerships.

He said that if COVID-19 existed in any part of the world, it remained a significant threat to every part of the world.

“The partnership between Africa and the European Union is a good platform for both sides to work together on economic recovery and rebuilding of health systems.

“It is also equally important that we become even stronger advocates for closer international cooperation to tackle the fall out of COVID-19.”

The vice-president also spoke about Nigeria’s efforts in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, adding that the priority was to ward off a deep recession.

He said that the Economic Sustainability Plan consisted of measures to support local businesses, retain and create jobs, and to improve the circumstances of the most vulnerable.

Osinbajo said that the plan bolstered Nigeria’s interventions and promoted the use labour-intensive methods in key areas like agriculture, light manufacturing, housing, and facilities management.

On debt relief for Africa in the era of COVID-19, Osinbajo said given the continent’s previous structural vulnerabilities and limitations, debt relief involving commercial debts was desirable.

He said that Africa continued to experience huge financing gaps, huge debt servicing obligations, and foreign exchange shortages; therefore needed all the help it could get.

“The Debt Servicing Support Initiative of the G20 is welcome and will no doubt bring some relief to relevant African countries.

“However, it remains inadequate because it does not address the problem of commercial debt service obligations.

“The share of commercial debt is almost two-thirds of debt service in Africa so any debt relief arrangement not involving this segment is unlikely to succeed.

“Getting relief on commercial debt servicing will require the cooperation of bondholders and rating agencies which is why the African Union Special Envoys on COVID-19 are engaging with them actively.

“Nigeria calls on the EU to lend its weight to this initiative which is very important for Africa,” he said.

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Nigerian soldiers

Troops of Operation Sahel Sanity of the Nigerian Army have arrested 418 bandits and 315 illegal miners in the North-West.

The Acting Director, Defence Media Operation, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, stated this while briefing newsmen on the success recorded by the Army Operation at the Special Army Super Camp 4, Faskari, Katsina State, on Saturday.

Onyeuko explained that Operation Sahel Sanity launched by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in July 2020, was to support Operation Hadarin Daji to fight banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, arm robbery and all form of criminalities in North-West and some parts of North-Central.

He stated that troops of the Operation Sahel Sanity had recovered 43 Ak-47 rifles, 100 locally made guns, 3,261 live ammunitions and 151 local bullets from bandits across the five states of Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kaduna and Niger.

He said that from July to date, the troops have neutralised 100 bandits, 20 informants, and six arms dealers that specialised in supplying arms to bandits.

According to him, during the period under review, 81 bandits’ camps were destroyed including that of notorious bandits leader, nicknamed “Dangote” who was killed on July 24.

READ ALSO: Security men repel bandits on Kaduna-Abuja Road

Onyeuko announced that a total of 3,984 cattle, 1,627 sheep and goats, and three camels were also recovered from the camps.

He said the animals have been handed over to relevant authority who would return them to their owners.

Onyeuko assured communities in the affected states of the army’s determination to rid the zone of all criminalities, urging them to provide relevant information to security agencies in the ongoing operations.

Vanguard News Nigeria

The Kwara Executive Cabinet has granted approval for the government to seek a N7.1billion loan facility from a bank as a counterpart fund to access over N14 billion outstanding Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds.

A statement issued in Ilorin on Saturday by the Commissioner for Communication, Mrs Harriet Afolabi-Osatimehin quoted the Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Mrs Florence Oyeyemi as saying this during the cabinet meeting on Friday.

According to Oyeyemi, the money will serve as 50 per cent matching grant for the UBEC counterpart funds.

This, she said, would bridge the yawning gap in the basic education sector including strengthening infrastructure, training, and equipping teachers with modern teaching skills.

The commissioner for finance and planning added that the fund would be spent to provide instructional materials and purchasing vehicles to aid the performance of monitoring and quality assurance activities across the state.

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Oyeyemi said that Kwara currently had Nigeria’s highest outstanding UBEC funds, following the commission blacklisting the state previously for diverting what it accessed in 2013.

The commissioner said Kwara exited the pariah status last year after the new administration paid back the N450 million that was diverted, although it still had an outstanding N7.1 billion with the UBEC.

Oyeyemi said the bank facility would be accessed and drawn in installment to provide the counterpart funds to be invested in the basic education sector

“Added to the N7.1 billion matching grants from UBEC, Kwara will be committing at least N14, 301, 843, 568.18 to revitalise the basic education sector across the state,” Oyeyemi said.

She told the cabinet that the facility became necessary in the face of dwindling resources to subnational governments across the country and the overarching need in Kwara to invest in basic education for a brighter future.

Oyeyemi said that the cabinet’s decision would be conveyed to the House of Assembly for their approval and inclusion of the same in a supplementary budget, which the government may pass to deepen investments across productive sectors of the economy.

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A chieftain of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Famous Daunemigha, has faulted the claim that former coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Kingsley Kuku, was indicted by the presidential panel set up at the behest of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mungono.

In a press statement issued recently by Daunemigha, the former governorship aspirant debunked the claim by a recent publication, saying it is misleading.

“Our attention has been drawn to a front page report in a newspaper captioned “N712 billion looted by 3 Amnesty Coordinators”. The report  gave the names of the three past Coordinators  of the Amnesty Programme indicted by Presidential panel as Mr Kingsley Kuku , Gen Boroh and Prof Charles Dokubo.

“It is instructive to state that the circulating interim report of the panel constituted by the National Security Adviser, General Babagana Mungono (Rtd), is at total variance with the report by The Sun Newspaper and a few online sources.

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“The circulating panel report did not investigate or review the stewardship of Hon. Kingsley Kuku who served as the last Special Adviser to a Nigerian President on Niger Delta Affairs. The PAP was domiciled in his office by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON, GCFR.

“Without mincing words, Hon. Kuku served meritoriously and delivered without partisan inclination from 2011—2015.

“We urge the people of the Niger Delta to be alert and reject the avoidable insults and denigration we face in whatever guise. The PAP under Kuku recorded tremendous strides. It started a downward spiral after Hon. Kuku left office. The last two coordinators, General Paul Boroh and Professor Dokubo, were appointed on the recommendation of the NSA.

We urge the National Security Adviser, General Mungono, to do better judgement on leadership and public service in the Niger Delta. He should take full responsibility for the infractions of Boroh and Dokubo, and stop general-brushing as if there are no credible leaders from the Niger Delta who could have improved on the great strides of Kuku and his competent team at the PAP. The APC and indeed all political parties in the Niger Delta have competent, efficient and outstanding youth leaders and elders, men and women, who can effectively manage the PAP. We question the appointive judgement of the NSA, and urge him and Mr President strongly to look beyond military coursemaates and tutors to appoint the right people to manage highly sensitive and strategic intervention agency — the PAP.

“I was a founding member of the Izon Youth Movement, former National Deputy President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), founding member and former governorship candidate of the CPC in Bayelsa State and currently, a chieftain of the APC in Bayelsa State and the Southsouth political zone. I am, however, first an Izon and Niger Delta man. Stop insulting the intelligence and credibility of the Niger Delta people.  Appoint the right people and sustain the peace and security of the region.

“Partisan differences apart, we urge our brother and son, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, wherever he is in the United States of America, to focus on his health and disregard this orchestrated media campaign and trial relaunched by reckless and irresponsible media outlets and their sponsors.

“The PAP is a product of toil, sweat, blood, death and peace. It was effective under former Presidents Yar’Adua and Jonathan. Comparing Hon. Kuku and his team’s sterling leadership and performance at the PAP to the period you supervised it ( 2015 till now) is like heaven and hell; light and darkness,” the statement read.

By Juliet Ebirim

Amidst the global pandemic, the Nigerian music industry has received a boost with the recent unveiling of Moment On Disc also known as MOD, a multifaceted entertainment outfit, poised to inject revolutionary management into showbusiness in the country.

According to Davies Den, CEO, Den Management, which handles talent and business part of MOD “MOD has three parts; MOD Studios, MOD Records and MOD film production outfit. We have platforms where we encourage new and emerging artists. We encourage talents. We do a partnership with brands. We are fully ready for the industry,” he discloses.

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Speaking further, he said “MOD is a full entertainment outfit. We have a five-in-one studio that can be utilised as a dance studio, visual studio, recording studio and for live rehearsal and mini comedy event. The studio is equipped with top-class equipment, including cameras, lighting and sound equipment with cutting-edge technology.”

Also, MOD has hit the ground running with the signing of Adokiye Jack popularly known as J100 as the first official artiste under its record label. Born and bred in Lagos, the emerging artiste is acclaimed for his versatility in multiple genres including rock and pop but prefers to describe his style as Afrosticks. He has been active in the music scene for a number of years.

His album is reportedly in the works and MOD is working towards an imminent release.

“J100 is our first official artiste. He is an all-in-one talent. His songs would be released soon. We are presently gathering materials,” affirms Khlo, the A&R for MOD who added further, “we are hopeful the album would blow your mind.”

Vanguard News

Rescue workers said Saturday there was no longer any sign of life in a collapsed Beirut building, dashing hopes raised by sensor readings showing a pulse beneath the rubble from last month’s blast.

The cataclysmic August 4 explosion in the port of Beirut killed at least 191 people, making it Lebanon’s deadliest peacetime disaster. One month on, seven people are still listed as missing

On Wednesday night, a sniffer dog deployed by Chilean rescuers detected a scent beneath a collapsed building in the heavily damaged Gemmayzeh neighbourhood adjacent to the port.

High-tech sensors confirmed an apparent heartbeat and rescue teams took up the search.

But after three days’ work removing piles of masonry, Chilean rescue specialist Francesco Lermanda late Saturday said there was no longer any sign of life under the rubble.

“Sadly today we can say that technically we have no sign of life inside the building,” he told the media.

Two female rescue workers on Saturday slipped through a final tunnel to check for any victim in the last air pocket where there could possibly be but found nobody there, he said.

Work would however continue to make the zone secure and ensure there was no possiblity of any victim being left inside, Lermanda said.

In the afternoon, engineer Riyadh al-Assad had said the workers had cleared two layers of rubble and reached a stairway, where they found no-one.

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The civil defence agency’s operations director, George Abou Moussa, in the morning said the chances of finding someone alive were “very low”.

But civil defence officer Qassem Khater said his team was determined not to give up.

“We are not leaving the site until we’ve finished going through the rubble, even if a new building collapse threatens,” he said.

Chilean specialist Walter Munoz in the morning had put the chances of finding a survivor at “two percent”.

Lebanese officials had played down the chances of anyone surviving so long beneath the rubble.

But even the faint hope of a miracle caught the imagination of a country already reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and the country’s worst economic crisis in decades.

“I was not aware I needed a miracle that much. Please God, give Beirut this miracle it deserves,” said Selim Mourad, a 32-year-old film-maker.

Lebanon lacks the tools and expertise to handle advanced search and rescue operations, so they have been supported by experts from Chile, France and the Unites States.

The Chileans, in particular, have been praised as heroes by many Lebanese on social media, who have compared their expertise with the lacklustre performance of what they see as their own absent state.

The country observed a minute’s silence for the dead on Friday.

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A study conducted by researchers in Brazil found that people who flout coronavirus measures (facemasks) exhibit higher levels of callousness, deceitfulness and risk-taking, which is likened to traits of sociopaths

People who refuse to wear facemasks or choose to ignore social distancing measures amid the coronavirus pandemic are considered more likely to be a sociopath according to recent research.

According to Healthline: “A sociopath is a term used to describe someone who has an antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). People with ASPD can’t understand others’ feelings.

“They’ll often break rules or make impulsive decisions without feeling guilty for the harm they cause.”

These are traits that Professor Fabiano Koich Miguel and colleagues at Universidade Estadual de Londrina believed to be connected to those flouting face mask rules.

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Findings come from a survey of around 1,578 Brazilian adults who were asked about their compliance with Covid-19 measures, Mirror UK reported

One question that participants were asked was: ‘Do you think it is necessary to use a facemask/socially distance/wash your hands more frequently?’.

From their findings, participants were divided into two categories: the ’empathy group’ and the ‘anti-social group’.

The ’empathy group’ comprised of 1,200 people, all of whom showed an understanding of the measures in place and tended to be interested in ‘developing positive social interactions’ with others, The Times reported.

Whereas, the remaining 400 people who were placed in the ‘anti-social group’ showed the opposite.

The researchers said that people in this group posed more of a societal risk to others, based off of their lack of concern in helping to reduce the number of climbing deaths by following rules in place.

They’re also more inclined to look for ways in which their interactions with others could benefit them personally, more likely to feel ‘socially detached’ and to engage in hostile behaviour.

This group were deemed as less compliant, and less likely to wear face coverings.

The study according to Daily Mail says: “Our findings indicated that antisocial traits, especially lower levels of empathy and higher levels of callousness, deceitfulness and risk-taking, are directly associated with lower compliance with containment measures.

“These traits explain, at least partially, the reason why people continue not adhering to the containment measures even with increasing numbers of cases and deaths.”

However lead researcher Professor Miguel said that the findings had to be approached with some caution, The Times added.

“We cannot state that if a person chooses not to wear a facemask, the only reason is that they are a sociopath. Although this is possible, there are likely other factors involved.”

For example, some people do not wear masks for health and disability reasons and may carry an exemption card.

Experts in Poland also made a similar discovery, finding that people with psychopathic and narcissistic personality traits are more likely to ignore coronavirus restrictions, face mask rules, hand-washing, social distancing and stay-at-home measures at the height of the pandemic.

They were also deemed more likely to hoard more essentials like toilet roll due to their apparent greedy, competitive and entitled manner.

Vanguard