Putin: diplomat’s murder was attempt to destroy Russian-Turkish ties

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Ties
Moscow, Dec. 23, 2016 (dpa/NAN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the recent murder of the ambassador to Turkey, saying it was an attempt to destroy bilateral relations.

The Russian  ambassador was shot dead on Monday outside Istanbul by suspected security agent.

Russia and Turkey, with support from Iran, have been effectively working together in an effort to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Putin tells his annual press conference.

About 100,000 people were evacuated from the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo, “the world’s largest humanitarian operation,” Putin says.

A subsequent step should be to implement a ceasefire regime across all of Syria and then undertake practical efforts for a political resolution to the civil war, Putin says. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

Berlin truck attack suspect shot dead in Milan, officials say

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Attack
Rome/Berlin (dpa) Anis Amri, the Tunisian suspect in the deadly Berlin Christmas market attack, was killed in a shootout with police in Milan, officials in Italy said Friday, ending a four-day Europe-wide manhunt.

Amri’s identity has been confirmed “without a shadow of a doubt,” Italian Interior Minister Marco Minniti said in a press conference.

The ANSA news agency, citing security sources, added that the man’s fingerprints matched Amri’s.

The suspect was stopped for a routine check at around 3am (0200 GMT) in Sesto San Giovanni, in the northern outskirts of Milan. When an officer asked him for his documents, Amri pulled out a gun and shot him.

He was killed when police fired back, the minister said.

The officer is in hospital, but is not in life-threatening condition.

“Anis Amri was not carrying any documents, but a loaded .22 gun. His identity was confirmed by forensic police who arrived on the scene immediately after the event,” Italian police said in a statement detailing the events.

Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper reported that police officers found a ticket for a train from Chambery, in south-eastern France, arriving in Milan at 1 am, just two hours before he was shot dead.

A spokesman for Germany’s Interior Ministry declined to confirm that the suspect killed in Milan was Amri, but said it would be “relieved” if there is confirmed of the suspected Berlin attacker’s identity.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni said he personally told German Chancellor Angela Merkel that Amri was killed in Milan.

“We remain on maximum alert, threats must not be underestimated, but what happened last night I think should allow all of our citizens to know that the state is present, that Italy is present,” the prime minister said.

Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian national who had been due for deportation from Germany, is believed to have driven a large truck laden with steel into a Berlin Christmas market late Monday, killing 12 people and injuring 53.

Amri reportedly spent several years in Italy before entering Germany in July 2015.

According to German media reports before the shootout in Milan, German authorities had believed that Amri was unlikely to have fled beyond Berlin after the attack. Officers have carried out several raids across the city, and in the western state of North Rhine,Westphalia, where Amri is known to have spent time.

On Thursday and Friday, police searched a mosque in Berlin’s Moabit district where Amri was reportedly sighted several days before and immediately after the attack.

Amri arrived in Italy in February 2011, among thousands of migrants from Tunisia who crossed the Mediterranean in the wake of the Arab Spring. He spent several months in a youth centre near the Sicilian city of Catania.

On Oct. 23, 2011, Amri was arrested on suspicion of arson, assault, intimidation and embezzlement, and was later sentenced to four years in prison, during which he was detained in six different Sicilian facilities.

On May 18, 2015, Amri was released from Palermo’s Ucciardone prison, but remained under custody in a migrant detention centre after being issued with a repatriation order, ANSA reported.

The order could not be executed because Tunisian authorities did not respond in time to requests for his identification. He was eventually let go and given orders to leave Italy of his own accord.

Two months later he entered Germany via the south-western city of Freiburg, which is close to the Swiss and French borders, according to local authorities.

A Berlin official told a parliamentary committee on Friday that several victims of the attack are still in life-threatening condition.

Andreas Geisel, Berlin’s senator of the interior, said that 53 people were injured in the attack, 14 of them “very seriously.” (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

Kabba set for 2016 Obangogo Hill Cultural festival

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Festival

Lokoja, Dec. 23,2016(NAN) Mr Ben Owoleke, the Chairman, of the 2016 Obangogo Hill Tourism Festival in Kogi, has assured tourists of maximum security during the annual festival.

Owoleke, who spoke on Friday in Lokoja in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN),said the festival would showcase the cultures and artifacts of the Kabba community and Obangogo historical sojourn.

NAN reports that Obangogo hill is about 4.8km from Kabba-Okene highway with an average height of 188 metres.

He said the previous festival had been successful, stressing that this year the festival would be interesting and memorable.

Owoleke said the festival would commence on Dec.27 and advised tourists to be at Saint Augustine Secondary School field by 8a.m. to witness the activities.

He urged tourist to avoid stampede and to adhere to the instructions of tour guides especially while climbing the hill.

He appealed to participants to follow all instructions and ensure they maintain the dress code of jeans and T-shirts.

He commended security operatives for their supports and assured that measures would be adopted for a hitch-free festival. (NAN)

WAL/DS/OU
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Edited by Obike Ukoh

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NAN-S-3
Baseball
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Dec. 23, 2016 (NAN) The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has signed a new partnership with the Play For Change (PFC) charitable trust, aimed at enabling more children around the world to benefit from its programmes.

An online portal, Insidethegames on Friday said the PFC’s sport programmes centred on improved education, employment and health.

PFC, according to its tweet site, is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable children around the world using the power of sport to improve education and build life skills.

It said that over 6,000 children participated in the sports like badminton, football, basketball and volleyball this year.

The portal said that the partnership was expected to expand the reach of the programmes in 2017 with the addition of baseball and softball.

According to the portal, Riccardo Fraccari, WSBC president said PFC and the confederation will work together in an attempt to begin baseball and softball programmes in targeted territories.

It added that it would boost programme resources, baseball and softball educational materials, coaching and training, kit and equipment worldwide.

“The WBSC is tremendously honoured to partner with Play For Change to help expand the important humanitarian efforts that they are leading, and for baseball and softball to have a role in them.

“As a world governing body of a major sport, WBSC and all our stakeholders take this duty very seriously.

“With partners like this, I am very hopeful and confident that a more level playing field can be cultivated with more educational, sporting and life opportunities being brought to underserved children around the world.

“Partnering with PFC aligns with WBSC’s social responsibility efforts to use the power of sport to up-skill communities, while reducing inequalities,’’ it said.

The PFC programmes coordinator, Louisa MacDonald, describes the partnership as a welcome development.

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with WBSC. With WBSC’s global influence and PFC’s commitment to improving lives through sport, we can reach more children around the world.

“Sport is a powerful tool that can be used to tackle inequalities that exist and it is great to have WBSC on board who share a passion of driving positive social change,” it said.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously voted in August to take baseball and softball events to the Tokyo 2020 sports programme along with karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing. (NAN)
KOA/ENN/IS
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ismail Abdulaziz

NAN-H-47
Children
By Egbogota Clara
Lagos, Dec. 22, 2016 (NAN) Some clerics, on Thursday in Lagos, urged the Federal Government to resuscitate government centres for the rehabilitation of delinquent children.

The clerics expressed their views in separate telephone interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Monsignor Gabriel Osu, the Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, urged all government authorities to resuscitate the centres as they did in the past.

According to him, if all tiers of government go back to the drawing board, concerning the welfare of the delinquent, they know the modalities to put in place.

“In the past, government officials usually went round with their vehicles in search of delinquent children, some of whom were taken to schools while others were engaged in some other ways.

“Then, we had among others, the late Pa Huppers Centre, Yaba Training Centre, Alakoro Centre, Ministry of Youths and Sports Centre, Lagos, as well as interested individuals in charge.

“They engage the delinquent children in different vocations, even as they still encouraged them to go to school.

“Some other ministries too used to engage them in the past but they suddenly stopped such caring venture, so I advise them to go back into the practice.

“In those days, if a child was wayward, the parents or guardians could take him or her to any of those centres for training or guidance,’’ he said.

Also speaking, the Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, urged parents to always be responsible by providing adequate care for their children.

“Government should make it a priority to educate parents in giving birth to the number of children that they are capable of taking care of.

“Government should encourage parents to give education, accommodation to their children and provide food for them as responsible citizens, otherwise they could be sanctioned”. (NAN)
ECO/IKU/YEMI
Edited by Tayo Ikujuni/Yemi Idris-Aduloju

NAN-H-111

Ports

By Kola Adeyemi

Lokoja, Dec. 21, 2016 ( NAN) The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) says that works on the N10 billion inland ports under construction in Baro, Lokoja and Ogoja will be completed in 2017.

The Managing Director of NIWA, Mr Boss Mustapha, disclosed this in Lokoja on Wednesday while addressing newsmen.

Mustapha said that works on the ports at Baro, Lokoja and Ogoja had reached 98 per cent, 57 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.

He put the contract sums of the ports at Baro, N3.5 billion; Lokoja, N4.1 billion, and Ogoja, N2.7 billion.

He said that all the ports would be completed in the 2017 fiscal years, adding that the they would be provided with other auxiliary facilities.

The NIWA managing director also said that the augury port in Imo had reached 70 per cent completion stage while the Onitsha port had been completed and was ready for use.

According to him, NIWA has received a certificate of compliance from the regulator, saying that the process of concessioning the port to a private operator will commence soon.

When completed,  the port will service the entire market in the South East while 10 other jetties are also being constructed across the country.

Mustapha expressed the hope that the ongoing process to amend the law establishing the organisation by the National Assembly would enable it to resolve problems of overlapping of responsibilities and other conflicts within the maritime sector.( NAN)
KKA/IA

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman
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Ibori
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2016 (NAN) Former Gov. James Ibori of Delta has been released from prison in the United Kingdom.

Reports say he was released on Tuesday, having agreed to be deported after serving half of his 13-year prison sentence.

But it has now emerged that the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd did not intend to deport Ibori to Nigeria until he handed over £18 million of “proceeds of crime.”

A High Court judge said attempts to detain him were “quite extraordinary.”

Ordering Ibori to be immediately freed from prison, Mrs Justice May said: “You don’t hold someone just because it is convenient to do so and without plans to deport them.”

A Home Office application that Ibori be electronically tagged and subjected to strict curfew conditions was also rejected.

The judge accepted arguments that the home secretary was attempting to misuse her immigration and deportation powers.

Ibori, a former London store cashier, was jailed for fraud totalling nearly £50 million in April 2012.

He evaded capture in Nigeria after a mob of supporters attacked police but was arrested in Dubai in 2010 and extradited to the UK, where he was prosecuted based on evidence from the Metropolitan Police.

On Wednesday, the Home Office’s barrister said the government was concerned that Ibori might “frustrate confiscation proceedings” and wanted him kept in jail or subjected to strict controls on his movement.

But it emerged in court that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is pursuing the confiscation proceedings, was “neutral” about Ibori’s release and possible deportation.

Ian MacDonald, QC, representing Ibori, said: “The Secretary of State has taken it upon herself. There is no objection from (the CPS) for release.

“This is extraordinary”, Mrs Justice May said. They (the CPS) don’t care.

“Why doesn’t the Secretary of State just send him back?” she asked. “He wants to go. She wants him to go.”

The conviction of James Ibori followed a government anti-corruption campaign led by the Department for International Development (DfID) 10 years ago.

In court on Wednesday, Ibori’s barrister, Ivan Krolic, explained how another defendant in the fraud case had appealed against conviction on the grounds that “police officers in the investigations had been corrupt.”

“The Court of Appeal rejected that after counsel for the Crown indicated that there was nothing to support the allegation”, Mr Krolic explained.

Ordering Ibori’s release, Justice May said: “The Secretary of State appears to have taken it upon herself that Ibori does remain in this country, in apparent contradiction of the order served earlier this year to deport him.

“The position of the Secretary of State, as very candidly set out by Birdling (representing the home secretary), is that she accepts that there is an argument that she has no power to detain him.

“I have decided that the balance of convenience falls heavily in favour of his immediate release. I am not prepared to impose conditions involving tagging or curfews.”

The judge said the matter of Ibori’s deportation should be heard before the end of January.

News Agency of Nigeria in Oghara, the home town of Ibori, has been agog over his release.

A source close to the flamboyant politician, who remained a political force in his native Delta state throughout his years of travail, however, said it was not comprehensible whether Ibori would fly to Nigeria.

“This is in view of legal proceedings concerning the confiscation of his assets worth tens of millions of dollars, still up in the air.’’

Ibori, who ruled Delta from 1999-2007 was one of the most influential governors during his time and he established a political dynasty that produced his successor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and the incumbent Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa.

Despite the legal entanglements and the prospect of Ibori taking his case to the Court of Appeal, the mood among his kinsmen and politicians in the state, especially Peoples Democratic Party faithful is that he should return.
Reports say Oghara is wearing a new look with banners bearing pictures of the ex-governor strategically displayed at different roundabouts within the town.

Associates and loyalists are also catching up on the event to pledge their loyalty to Ibori as they adorn the banners with their pictures side by side the former governor.

Some of the banners, which were placed at the Market Roundabout, Ibori Roundabout and entrance of Oghara, have inscriptions such as: “Welcome back home, our national leader”, “The political messiah and his kinsmen” and “The resource control living legend.

“His ordeal, God’s plan to fortify him.’’

Former DESOPADEC Commissioner representing Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe, Henry Ofa, told Vanguard: “Without trying to be immodest, the world knows that there is great expectation in Oghara.

“Since he left, there had been lots of misgivings and backwardness in the area in the hope that when he arrives, so many things would change positively.”

“We are prepared to follow him and we are convinced that he is going to lead us to the Promised Land’’, some of his followers told Journalists.

“We have the belief that there is a plan for him by God,” Ofa, a key loyalist said. (NAN)

Edited by Julius Enehikhuere

Christmas: Traders complain of poor sales,  urge govt., organisations to pay workers’ salaries

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Workers
By Kudirat Ogunyemi
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2016 (NAN) Traders at the Dutse Main Market in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed regrets about the low patronage of their goods, due to the prevailing economic situation in the country.

They had there for appealed to the three tiers of government and other corporate organsations to pay workers salary to enable them shop for Christmas and the new year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that business activities were at a low ebb on Wednesday, as some traders discussed the delay in payment of workers`December salaries.

A fashion designer, Mr Oladele Joseph told NAN that the economic recession in the country was affecting many business activities, resulting in low level of patronage.

Joseph explained that due to the economic situation, the numbers of people interested in sewing new clothes had decreased compared to what obtained during past festivities.

“We are really experiencing low patronage and our customers are complaining of no money with many of them saying they are yet to receive both November and December salaries.

“We can be in this market from morning till the time we close for the day, nobody will come pricing our goods let alone buying them, a situation that is becoming pathetic.

“I am sure if government pays workers’ salaries before the end of this week, sales will definitely improve,”he said.

A buyer, Miss Caroline Nonso, who came to buy food items, told NAN that she might not be able to purchase any clothes or other expensive things for her children during this Christmas celebration due to paucity of funds.

She said her concentration would be on spending money on foodstuffs.

“The situation of the country calls for caution, especially for those of us who are civil servants.

“The prices of all the commodities have gone up and there is no money, even the little you have cannot buy you anything.
“I have not received my November salary and what is the probability that December salary will be paid this year? We need to manage what we have wisely now,”she added.

Mrs Kate Kingdavid, a shoe seller, said that previous years, businesses would had peaked and everyone happy and be in festive mood.

“We are not seeing enough customers and again, the products are very costly in view of the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar.

“Traders are witnessing one of the worst business downturns in recent history and many have closed their shops.

“Some of us that are still in business, are just hoping that things will get better and our business will come back as it used to be,” Kingdavid said.

Mr Yahaya Umaru, a foodstuff dealer, urged all tiers of government to end the current recession and pay workers’ salaries on time to allow them shop for the period.

“The business is not moving as expected in view of the season we are and the reason is quite obvious.

“The prices of food items have gone up and the people’s purchasing power is low due to the prevailing inflation.

“I am appealing to the government to urgently address the galloping inflation being witnessed now,”he said.

He explained that a measure (mudu) of rice which previously sold at N500 now costs between N700 and N800, while a small paint bucket of beans which previously sold at N1,200 now costs N2,500.

She attributed the increase in prices of foodstuffs and other commodities to the galloping inflation in the country. (NAN)
ROK/MOL/
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(Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Julius Enehikhuere)
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19 killed in Kinshasa protests, UN says in Congo

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Protest
Boma, Congo, Dec. 21, 2016 (dpa/NAN) No fewer than 19 people have been killed in anti-government protests in Congo’s capital Kinshasa, the UN said on Wednesday.

They were killed Tuesday as demonstrators clashed with police to protest President Joseph Kabila staying in power after his second mandate expired Monday at midnight, said Jose Maria Aranaz, UN human rights director for the Central African country.

About 45 people were injured and at least 200 arrested, Aranaz said in Kinshasa.

He did not give figures for protests in the entire country. Human Rights Watch researcher Ida Sawyer tweeted earlier that 26 people had been killed in Kinshasa, Lumumbashi, Matadi and Boma.

Sporadic gunfire was heard in Kinshasa on Wednesday, though the city appeared generally calm.

Clashes between demonstrators and police were reported in the second-largest city Lumumbashi, while the pro-democracy group La Lucha said 18 of its activists had been arrested in Goma in the east.

Kabila would normally have relinquished power Monday at midnight, but the elections due in November were postponed to April 2018, citing logistical problems.

Most of the opposition regards the postponement as a ploy to allow Kabila to stay in power beyond the two terms allowed by the constitution.

Negotiations were due to restart Wednesday between the government and the main opposition parties, which reject a transitional government, formed by the ruling coalition and smaller opposition parties.

The Congolese embassy in South Africa’s administrative capital Pretoria meanwhile announced that it would close until next year after being stoned by Congolese demonstrators on Tuesday, news reported.

Several protesters were reportedly injured by rubber bullets fired by South African police.

Pope Francis renewed his earlier appeal to the Congolese, expressing hope that “in this delicate moment of their history, may they be artisans of reconciliation and peace.”

“May those who are in positions of political responsibility listen to the voice of their conscience, learn to see the cruel sufferings of their fellow citizens and have at heart the common good,” the pontiff added.

Observers fear increasing unrest in Congo, which has been unstable since the fall of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in 1997, with dozens of armed groups currently vying for power in the mineral-rich east of the country. (dpa/NAN)

(Edited by Julius Enehikhuere)

N-power: 8,500 beneficiaries listed in Taraba, Kogi
NAN-H-18
Recruitment
Jos, Dec. 21,2016 (NAN) Eight thousand and five hundred unemployed youths have been registered in Taraba and Kogi States by the Federal Government under the N-power employment programme.

The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN ) reports that the youths were recruited in the N-Health,  N-Agro, N-Community Education and N-Teach categories.

In Taraba State, 4,000 youths were registered, while 4,500 were registered in Kogi State.

Some of the beneficiaries told NAN in Jalingo that the scheme would raise the income level of youths and improve their living conditions.

One of them, Alliyu Nasiru, who registered under N-Teach, said he had since commenced teaching at Wuro-sembe Primary School in Jalingo after his documentation in Jalingo Local Government Council.

Nasiru said the State Universal Basic Education Board later posted him to the primary school.

He appealed to the Federal Government to redeem its pledge of paying each of the volunteers N30,000 monthly.

Ibrahim Mohammed, a beneficiary in N-Health category, said he and 79 others in the category were ready to be posted to various health centres in the state by the state Primary Health Care Development Agency.

He said that their recruitment would augment the manpower in the sector for improved service delivery.

Priscila James, a beneficiary in N-Agro, said that she was posted to the state College of Agriculture to teach students crop cultivation.

NAN also reports that the successful candidates from the northern senatorial zone did their documentation in Jalingo

Those from the central zone were screened in Bali, while those from the southern zone were screened in Wukari.

NAN gathered that immediately after the verification, appointment letters were issued to the recruits to present same at their places of assignments.

In Kogi State, government said it had concluded verification, authentication and deployments of 4,500 beneficiaries of N-Power project across the 21 local governments areas of the State.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral, Donor Agencies and Special Projects/Focal Person on Social Investment Programme, Mr Adoga Ibrahim, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lokoja

Ibrahim told NAN that the physical verification, which began on Dec. 1, had been concluded and deployment of beneficiaries to their various places of assignment had been done.

He said that the verification exercise was carried out by their staff in collaboration with the NYSC members, while the authentication was done by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

He said the exercise was inaugurated by Gov. Yahaya Bello  in Lokoja  for both Koton-Karfe and Lokoja local governments, while the subsequent ones were done in each senatorial zone of Kabba for Kogi West, Anyigba for East and Okene for Central.

“As we speak, Kogi State has finished all the verification and deployments; we have contacted the beneficiaries through SMS for their various places of assignment.

“Those who are yet to receive SMS for their deployments are as a result of some issues that we need to correct in Abuja.

“Those of them whose names appeared on the list and are not residents of Kogi and those who do not show up for verification would not be deployed.

“We have carried out a transparent exercise in terms of verification, authentication and deployment in Kogi and that is why we did not have any issue,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim explained that the deployment for N-Teach was done by Kogi SUBEB/Kogi Ministry of Education, while that of N-Agro was done by Kogi ADP/Kogi Ministry of Agriculture.

He said that that of N-Health was done by Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with Kogi Ministry of Health.

NAN reports that a total number of 4,521 beneficiaries were selected from Kogi State for first phase of the Federal Government N-Power programme.

In separate interviews with NAN, some of the beneficiaries in Kogi, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to fulfill his electioneering campaign promises to the people.

Cecilia Eleojo, told NAN that she was happy that the N-Power programme by the FG to assist the unemployed youths had finally come into reality.

“I am grateful for being part of the beneficiaries;  I have been verified and deployed to my place of assignment,” Eleojo said.

Loveth Adeleye, a beneficiary of N-Power Teach, told NAN that she was overwhelmed when she finally received SMS for her deployment.

“I am grateful to God for this opportunity because I have finished my youth service since 2015 without a job,” Adeleye said.

Matthew Ogwu, another beneficiary,  said: “I thank God Almighty for giving me a job,  in the past  seven years that I have been without a job; may God bless our president.

“I promise to put in my best so that I can be retained by the state government as our governor has promised us during the flag-off.”

Another beneficiary, John Obadara, expressed joy for the privilege given him to be part of the first set of youths to benefit from the N-Power programme in Kogi.

“This will go a long way in cushioning the adverse effects of the present economic recession and improve the well being of all of us who are beneficiaries,” he said.

Mrs Oyiza Saka, a mother of two, commended the government for the reality of the programme, saying she would be able to support her husband in the upkeep of their family.

“We thank our President for his fight against corruption, insurgency and for his integrity in living to his word,” she said. (NAN)
Reporters/AK/TA

Edited by Akin Makanjuola/Tajudeen Atitebi