Category: General

Nigerian security services have restated their commitment to safeguarding lives, property and businesses across the country in a bid to restore local and international confidence in the Nigerian economy.

They gave the assurance at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) 2023 Security Meets Business Dialogue Series on Tuesday in Lagos.

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, stressed the need to foster the nexus between security, the business community and national development.

Musa was represented by Maj. Gen. Ev Onumajuru, Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

The CDS noted that constant dialogue between the business community and security agencies was critical to better understand and value the contribution of both parties to national stability.

He stated that while security challenges such as terrorism, banditry, ritual killings among others affected the country, Nigerians must continue to live in peace, with citizens displaying the highest levels of patriotism.

“There are many challenges but it is not peculiar to Nigeria alone but a global issue, and so we must employ peaceful, diplomatic and political measures to address them.

“We advise that orientation and reorientation should be ongoing on nationalism, to drive the heart of the people to patriotism.

“On our parts, we would continue to provide counternarratives and strategic interventions to address the phycological effect of insecurity on Nigerians,” he said.

Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said events such as this were of paramount importance, particularly to explain to the business community the role of Nigerian Army in providing security of lives and businesses.

Lagbaja, represented by Maj-Gen. A A Adeyinka, Commander Nigerian Corps of Supply and Transport, Lagos, said this was given the army’s multifaceted role crucial to attracting capital and the expertise required for investments to thrive.

He stated that the Nigerian Army would continue to collaborate with security agencies by pooling resources, intelligence and expertise to foster conducive environment for investment to thrive.

“Beyond the primary area of security, the Army aims to continue to maintain its resolve to fostering an enabling environment by protecting critical infrastructure such as power plants, transportation system among others and would continue to keep them from attacks.

“Our efforts across the value chain involving the investors, manufacturers and the consumers would hopefully continue to yield the desired results to stabilise the economy.

“We would continue to train and build capacity of personnel to ensure security and stability is achieved to propel Nigeria into becoming a destination of choice,” he said.

Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, said within the last one year, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had increased tempo of air operations in support of land and maritime forces in all ongoing counter-terrorism/anti-banditry operations.

Abubakar, represented by Air Commodore OA Abu, Commander 651, Base Services Nigerian Air Force, Ikeja, said the force would continue to foster freedom of action in the air.

“Freedom of action in the air means that our colleagues of the other sister security services can accomplish their tasks of securing the environment without threat of adversary attack from above.

“Consequently, the NAF will continue to improve security while leveraging commercial programmes with local and foreign investors in order to attract more development to Nigeria,” he said.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, said the role of the Nigeria Police Force in ensuring a conducive atmosphere for socioeconomic activities to thrive was not only statutory but an onerous and daunting challenge.

Owohunwa, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Lagos State Police Command,Mr Tijani Fatai, said global opinion held that Lagos had not only become a mega-city but was fast transforming into a smart city.

He noted that the distinctiveness of Lagos placed squarely enormous challenges at the doorsteps of the Police as an institution, being the lead agency in internal security, enforcement of law, protection of lives and property.

“Lagos State Police Command is doing all its can to secure lives and property and the state remains a safe haven for investors both local and foreign, even though there are some challenges.

“As the commercial hub of the country, the state command is ready to do everything to deliver the onerous task of safety within the state.

“With the support of all stakeholders, the Command will continue to sustain the momentum and keep the flag flying,” he said.

Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, represented by Commodore NS Lakan, noted that the nature of Nigeria’s maritime domain, the longest in Africa, was characterised by its extensive coastline.

Ogalla said Nigeria had invested in developing maritime infrastructure to support trade and security with the Nigerian maritime domain of essence to the security of the country.

“The maritime domain plays a crucial role in revenue generation and the economic development of the country, especially with the blue economy.

“While criminal activities become systematised and sophisticated, issues of piracy are fast becoming a thing of the past and so the Nigerian navy would continue in its role in making Nigeria a safe haven for lives and businesses,” he said.

Prince Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi, former Minister of Health, said every security agency at the forefront of bringing peace must be appreciated, and the work they are doing understood.

He, however, emphasised the need to address the multidimensional poverty beguiling the nation, saying in such a situation, peace maybe difficult to achieve.

“The LCCI must continue to recommend ways that things can become better and encourage people to become great people and not just big people of worth.

“Every Nigerian must begin to have a sense and moral of values.

“There’s also need for some level of education, information and advocacy about the activities and interventions of the security agencies to spur trust in the heart of Nigerians in the country’s security architecture,” he said.

President, LCCI, Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, noted that in the last decade, Nigeria had experienced unprecedented levels of insecurity with severe implications for investment flows and businesses.

Olawale-Cole, lauding President Bola Tinubu’s tempo at addressing insecurity and economic challenges, called for sustained funding for defence operations to equip the security architecture with the most advanced weaponry and intelligence infrastructure.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Borno Commissioner for Health, Prof. Baba Gana, says only 6.7 per cent of married women in the state are using modern contraceptive methods.

Gana made this known on Tuesday in Maiduguri while speaking at an event to commemorate 2023 World Contraceptive Day (WCD).

“In Borno, only 6.7 per cent of currently married women are using the modern contraceptive methods and unmed needs for contraceptives is 17 per cent.

“This figure shows the need to invest, improve and promote the use of contraception.

“We know the appropriate use of contraception is very important to the health and wellbeing of women, as well as the outcome of the newborn baby, ” Gana said.

He said that government health providers and sexual reproductive health partners like UN Population Fund (UNFPA) remain committed in providing the needed awareness and contraceptive services.

Also speaking on family planning in Borno, the Deputy Director, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), Dr Mala Abdulwahab, said there is apathy towards it until the agency changed the name from “Family Planning” to “Child Spacing”.

“We made them realised that it’s not about reducing a community population but about addressing maternal mortality and morbidity,” Abdulwahab said.

He said that out of the 436 health facilities in Borno, only 269 are offering family planning services.

In his remarks on behalf of UNFPA, Mr Kelvin Chukwuemeka, said access to variety of contraceptive methods would ensure that Borno women have access to choose what works best for them, taking into consideration factors such as lifestyle, health considerations and future plans.

“Family Planning, Child Birth Spacing, Contraceptive methods range from hormonal options like birth control pills, patches, and injections, to barrier methods such as condoms and diaphragms, and Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants.

“Each of these method comes with its own set of benefits and potential risks, and by offering options, the people of Borno State can find what suits their preferences and needs.

“This diversity calls for a comprehensive array of contraceptive methods that cater to the unique requirements of everyone. This approach not only empowers the people of Borno to plan their families but also enhances their overall well-being and autonomy,” Chukwuemeka said.

Other stakeholders who spoke on the importance of child spacing include religious and traditional leaders.

This year’s theme for the WCD is: “The Power of Options”. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Senate confirmed the appointment of Dr Olayemi Cardoso as the Governor of the CBN on Tuesday.

It also confirmed the nomination of Mrs Emem Usoro, Mr Muhammad Dattijo, Mr Philip Ikeazor and Dr Bala Bello as the bank’s deputy governors.

Their confirmation followed the consideration and approval of a motion moved by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti Central).

Before their confirmation, the Senate suspended its orders to facilitate the admittance of the nominees into the chamber.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel led the nominees into the chamber.

Thereafter, the CBN governor and the deputies took turns to highlight their career profiles and professional experiences.

Cardoso said for 12 years, between 2010 and 2022 he had the privilege of serving as the chairman of Citi Bank where: “I dedicated myself to enhancing both the financial and non-financial operations of the institution.’’

He told the Senate that the issue of exchange rate of the Naira to other currencies was worrisome.

“For the type of economy that we want, we need to have an exchange rate that is stable and we must apply short and medium term measures to achieve this,’’ he said.

Cardoso added that CBN’s new management team would evolve rules that were open and transparent and comprehensible by all players in the finance business.

“We cannot expect serious foreign investors, portfolio investors who have an impact on the market to do so if we do not have a transparent system that everybody understands and can rely on,’’ he said.

On the issue of inflation and costs of goods, Cardoso said the CBN management would adopt evidence-based monetary policies.

“There is the need to significantly revamp the infrastructure at the central bank with respect to data and to ensure that our data gathering capacity is significantly enhanced.

“This is necessary so that we can make decisions based on stellar data. This is crucial in measuring inflation,’’ he stressed.

He added that reliable studies showed that in the past 10 years to 15 years, at least 50 per cent of inflation resulted from money supply and deficit financing.

“This is a big problem; at least it certainly has been over a period of time and it is something we have to face frontally,’’ he said.

Cardoso also told the Senate that the CBN would ensure that the issue of deficit financing ceased to be a national problem.

Earlier, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa Ibom North-West) said the Senate reconvened from its annual recess to expeditiously consider and confirm the nominees.

He said the expeditious confirmation also resulted from of the emergency resignation of the former CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Akpabio urged the Senate Committees on Finance and Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to regularly conduct thorough oversight of the CBN. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Creative Vision Development Foundation, an Abuja-based NGO has planted 80 trees in Karshi a suburb within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mitigate climate change.

Mrs Funmilola Oladejo, Executive Director of the NGO said this during the tree planting exercise in the community on Tuesdays in Abuja.

“We have planted 80 trees in Karshi today to mitigate climate change within the community.

“Planting of economic trees is essential in the environment because it serves as shade, cover, food, climate change mitigation, gives cooler temperature and ensures a healthy environment amongst others.

“We will continue to collaborate with communities at the grassroots and plant more trees in secondary schools within the FCT to mitigate climate change,” she assured.

Oladejo noted that the NGO was carrying out a project called Youth Advocacy for Climate Action (YACA).

The YACA (project) theme is; “Go green Plant a tree today save our planet”.

Jude Gagah, Programme Intern with the NGO said that the trees planting was aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change within the area.

“One of the issues affecting humans on earth is the environment due to human activities such as burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and the indiscriminate disposals of wastes within the environment ” he said.

He decried the attitude of most residents who drop their wastes in drainage lines believing that when the rains fall it would wash the wastes away, but instead these wastes block the water channels which causing flooding.

Gagah expressed displeasure over what flooding could cause in the society after such acts of indoctrinate waste disposal and called on residents to be more cautious.

Responding, Alhaji Ahmed Doka, District Head Karshi, expressed satisfaction over the tree planting gesture saying that it was a welcome development for the people of the area.

“We are having soil erosion in our community so with the planting of trees it will help us control the erosion,” he said.

He urged them to monitor the trees that they have planted to ensure survival.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Tuesday, restrained the Ondo State House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct.

Justice Emeka Nwite gave the interim order in a ruling shortly after Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Kayode Adewusi, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.

The judge also restrained Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding same to the lawmakers for an approval as the state’s deputy governor based on a letter of resignation purportedly authored or signed by Aiyedatiwa, pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application.

Justice Nwite held that after listening to Adewusi, he was of the view that the interest of justice would be served by granting the application.

“Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the embattled deputy governor had, in the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the the Department of State Services (DSS).

Others are Gov. Akeredoku, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State and the House of Assembly as 1st to 6th respondents respectively.

In the application dated and filed by Mr Adelanke Akinrata on Sept. 21, Aiyedatiwa sought for four reliefs.

Ruling, the judge made an order of interim injunction restraining Akeredolu, his servants or privies from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing and preventing Aiyedatiwa from carrying out the functions of his office as deputy governor of Ondo State pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application.

He further gave an order of interim injunction restraining the state’s chief judge or any other person’s acting for or on his behalf from constituting any seven-man panel at the instance of the assembly’s speaker in respect of the complaint(s) against Aiyedatiwa.

Nwite restrained the chief judge from swearing-in any new deputy governor of Ondo State nominated by Akeredolu and the appointment approved by the speaker and state’s assembly pending the hearing and determination of the Interlocutory application.

The judge, who granted all the reliefs adjourned the matter until Oct. 9 for hearing of the motion on notice.

Earlier, Adewusi said that the application, filed on Sept. 21 was brought pursuant to Order 26, Rule 1, 2, 3 and 6 of the FHC Civil Procedure Rules, 2019 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

The lawyer said the applicant was the incumbent deputy governor, who was elected into office on October 2020, and took oath of office on Feb. 24, 2021 alongside Gov. Akeredoku.

According to him, the plaintiff has been discharging his role as deputy governor of Ondo State as assigned to him by the 3rd defendant/respondent (Akeredolu) towards the development of Ondo state.

He said a 27-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Aiyedatiwa himself was filed with a written address in compliance with the rules of the court on Sept. 21 as their argument in urging the court to grant their prayers.

“This application is that the right of the applicant as deputy governor is being infringed upon by the defendants/respondents.

“The 3rd defendant/respondent is instigating the officer of the 1st and 2nd defendants/respondents, and the 5th and 6th defendants/respondents.

“As we speak, he has been prevented from meeting, accessing the 3rd defendant)respondent on urgent matters that will allow the applicant to discharge his duty as deputy governor for the overall interest of the state,” he alleged.

The lawyer, who told the court that currently, “Ondo State is on a standstill,” alleged that the officers of the police and DSS, acting under the instruction of Akeredolu, prevented Aiyedatiwa from seeing him, even to the extent of harassing the deputy governor from meeting the governor on pending urgent matters of the state.

“There has been attempt to remove and replace him and as a law abiding citizen, he comes before your lordship as his last hope.

“We pray your lordship to grant our application in the interest of justice,” he said.

NAN reports that Aiyedatiwa had, also in another suit marked: AK/348/2023 prayed the High Court in Akure to stop the state’s house of assembly from proceeding with the impeachment proceedings against him pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed in the court on Monday.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Ltd., on Tuesday inaugurated the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in Idumagbo and Oyingbo communities in Lagos State, aimed at ending open defecation by 2025.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project is one of the social development initiatives powered through the 1 million euro donation made by the NBC’s parent company, the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company.

Speaking at the event, Mrs Soromidayo George, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Director, NBC, said the company had a long-standing history of pioneering sustainable development projects as part of its commitments to give back to communities.

George said the projects were embarked upon to provide support to thousands of people in Nigeria that lacked access to clean water, good sanitary environment for healthy living.

“Our aim is for us to be able to provide support to thousands of people in Nigeria with basic needs which include access to clean water, good sanitary environment and toilet facilities to have healthy environment,” she said.

She added that the company set up the facilities to support the Federal Government’s drive to eliminate open defecation by 2025.

George said it was the first in the series of project inauguration that would be done across the nation, noting that Lagos State is highly privileged and close to the company’s heart.

She said the company was working hand-in-hand with the local governments, Ministry of Environment and various implementing partners to ensure that Nigerians lived healthy without cholera.

George implored the leaders of the communities to ensure proper use of the facilities their sustainability.

She also enjoined them to educate members of their communities in order to end open defecation in Lagos State.

Also speaking, Mr Jerome Oyebanji, Corporate Affairs & Community Partnerships Manager, NBC, said the initiative was to support the national agenda to end open defecation by 2025.

Oyebanji, who described the target as a tall order, noted that it would only be achieved through partnerships by improving public health in the country.

He said the company partnered with OPS-WASH (Organised Private Sector in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) to build a 10-room toilet facility equipped with bore-hole, over-head tank, water taps, bio-digester and sanitary facilities.

“This is an enabler, an enabler for economic activities because we strategically located the facilities in various places we have markets,” said Oyebanji.

He added that the facilities would support economic activities as well as tourism.

Oyebanji said apart from providing clean water and good hygiene services for over one million Nigerians, OPS-WASH would be leveraging the sustained operation of the facilities for a data collection exercise aimed at increasing SDG 6 investments.

Mrs Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Director Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, NBC, said the SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) represented Nigeria’s biggest development challenge, with 48 million Nigerians left without access to safe sanitation.

Onyemelukwe said the company would continue to make a difference in different communities across the country.

“Our mission is to refresh the world and make a difference, and why we are here today is to actually experience the making a difference path.

“It cannot be overemphasised that this kind of facility needs to be duplicated in multiple places in Lagos so that people can have access to clean water and sanitation.

“We recognise that water is a priority to everyone and for us as a company because it is essential to life, essential to our beverages and our communities and we must have it in a sustainable manner,” she said.

She said the company had remained consistent in enhancing the lives of Nigerians for over seven decades it started operations in the country.

The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources, Dr Omobolaji Gaji, said the project was in line with the SDG 6 and part of commitment of the NBC to give back to the society.

The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Deputy Director Sanitation, Mrs Omoyeni Balogun, said over 2.2 billion people globally had no access to good sanitation.

He said people practiced open defecation, especially in developing countries, which put health at risk leading to spread of diseases.

“Sanitation is an essential starting point and a key weapon to fight disease, poverty and degradation of the vital environment.

“Lagos with the population of over 22 million people was reported in 2018 to have 1.8 million people practising open defecation on daily basis.

“The state currently has about 1,500 public toilets including privately built ones and this is grossly inssufficent considering the continuous influx of people into Lagos State,” he said.

According to him, the state needs over 4,000 toilets considering the population in addition to the 1,500 to address the issue of open defecation.

The permanent secretary said a new strategy had been birthed to provide a sustainable solution and innovation to public toilet design.

Mrs Oluwatoyin Agbenla, the Zonal Director South West/Federal Control, Federal Ministry of Environment, said sanitation was crucial to the development and survival of the country.

Agbenla said WASH was declared as federal and state emergency in 2018 with the target that open defecation would come to an end across the country.

She commended the NBC for partnering with government to end open defecation.

Agbenla urged the community leaders to ensure proper use of the facilities for more to come. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct a mock accreditation of voters in Balyelsa, Imo and Kogi, ahead of the governorship elections scheduled for Nov. 11.

This is contained in a statement signed by the commission’s National Commissioner of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

Olumekun said that the mock accreditation scheduled for Oct. 14 would be done using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and upload of polling units results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

He said the decision was taken at the commission’s meeting held on Monday, where it among other issues reviewed the preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in the three states.

“As it was the case in recent off-cycle governorship elections, the commission will conduct a mock accreditation using the BVAS and upload of polling units results to the IReV,” he said.

“The test run will take place simultaneously in the three States on Saturday Oct. 14 from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

“A maximum of three polling units in each Senatorial District have been identified across each of the three States, covering a total of nine Senatorial District and 27 polling units.

“Lessons learnt from the exercise will be taken into consideration in ensuring a seamless process on election day,’’ Olumekun said.

He said that the full details of the polling units, including their locations by Local Government Area (LGA), Registration Area (RA)/Ward, Delimitation Code and number of registered voters have been uploaded to INEC website and social media platforms.

The News Agency (NAN) reports that the LGAs selected for the exercise in Bayelsa are: Brass, Nembe, Ogbia, Sagbama, Ekeremor, Yenagoa, Kolokuma/Opokuma and Southern Ijaw.

Aboh Mbaise, Ngor Okpala, Owerri West, Ideato South, Ohaji Egbema, Nkwere, Ihitte/Uboma, Isiala Mbano and Obowo LGAs of Imo.

In Kogi, the exercise will hold in Lokoja, Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East, Adavi Ajaokuta, Okehi, Dekina, Idah and Omala LGAs.

Olumekun appealed to registered voters in the selected polling units to turn up with their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the exercise.

“The general public is informed that the exercise is strictly a test accreditation and not the actual election” he added.(NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says it is set to upwardly review traffic offence fines from the least N2,000 to N5,000 and even up to N300,000.

Mr Kalu Emetu, DRTS Director of Public Relations made this known on Monday during an enlightenment exercise embarked upon by the service in some selected motor parks in the FCT.

Emetu said the service took the decision of imposing stiffer penalties to serve as deterrent and reduce traffic offences in the territory.

“We are hoping that this development will go a long way in forcing motorists to deem it necessary to obey traffic rules and regulations.

“However, the fines depend on the nature and gravity of the offence.

“For example, if a motorist blocks a particular road, thereby, causing serious traffic gridlock, the vehicle will be impounded immediately while the culprit will be fined N300,000.

“After one week, if the culprit does not show up, the service will have no choice than to approach the court to obtain certificate of forfeiture.

“If the forfeiture order is granted, the property automatically becomes government property and it is now left for the government to decide what to do with it,’’ he explained.

Emetu said the development was geared towards forcing motorists to do the right thing by making sure they obey traffic rules and regulations at all times.

“We urge motorists in FCT to obey traffic rules and regulations for their own safety and the safety of others. Otherwise, they will be made to face stiffer penalties.

“We also want them to know that it is no longer business as usual. There is a new government in place. So, it is expected of them to have attitudinal change towards roads usage.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria