Category: General News

Borno govt approves N521.4m for pilgrims BTA, sacrificial animals 

Approval

Maiduguri, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has approved the release of N521.4m for the purchase of sacrificial rams and payment of the differential balance recorded in pilgrims Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).

Sen. Kaka-Shehu Lawan, Chairman of the state Amirul Hajj Committee, made this known on Wednesday in Maiduguri while briefing newsmen. 

Lawan said the measure was to ensure that Borno pilgrims were properly mobilised to perform the Hajj exercise with ease.

According to him, the sum of N261m was for the purchase of sacrificial animals, while 260.4m was for the BTA differential.

“For the BTA, each gets 500 dollars,” he said. 

While reiterating the commitment of the state Government to the welfare of pilgrims, he urged the pilgrims to pray for leaders, more peace and prosperity of the state and nation in general.

According to him, the initial arrangement was for each pilgrim to receive 415 dollars instead of 500 dollars, adding that providing the balance was a big relief to many pilgrims in the holy land.

He thanked the Governor for his support to the committee towards ensuring a smooth exercise. 

He said that all pilgrims from the state were hale and hearty and ready to commence the Hajj rituals starting on Friday. (NAN) 

YMU/ETS 

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Stability

By Funmilayo Adeyemi
Abuja, June 12, 2024 (NAN) The National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) has commended Nigerians’ resilience for making great strides for 25 years of uninterrupted democracy.

The National Speaker of the assembly, Amb. Usman Shagari, said this on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja.

Shagari called on government to ensure.economic stabilisation through industrialisation and agricultural development.

The theme of the conference titled “Unlocking the Power of Youth: Leveraging Nigeria’s Demographic Dividend for National Progress”

Shagari recalled that over the last 25 years, Nigeria’s democracy had achieved some notable milestones, including consolidation of democratic institutions, expansion of political participation and improvement in human rights and rule of law.

“Significant strides have been made in enhancing national security, although challenges persist.

“Through collaborative efforts between government agencies, security agencies, and communities, tangible progress has been achieved in safeguarding the lives and properties of all citizens,” he said.

He said that alongside these achievements, there had been the existing non-achievements of democracy, including persistent challenges such as the issue of minimum wage.

“Addressing such socio-economic disparities remains imperative to fostering inclusive growth and ensuring the well-being of all Nigerians.

“We also acknowledge that our democracy still faces other challenges, including corruption, inequality and ethnic sentiments, unemployment and insecurity, among others,” he said.

The speaker advocated enhanced nationwide security, promoting the spirit of unity, diversity and harmony, and stronger democratic institutions as ways to address these challenges.

He also called for the implementation of the minimum wage to ensure a living wage for all workers, urging members of the National Assembly to uphold the principles of democracy.

He reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the youth assembly to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

He, therefore, called on Nigerian youths, government institutions, civil society organisations, and private sector to unite in their collective pursuit for prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
FAK/ADA

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
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Wage
By Ibukun Emiola
Ibadan, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Nigerians have commended President Bola Tinubu for his promise to send an executive bill on the new national minimum wage (NNMW) to the National Assembly, asking him not to dash the hope of the workers.
They stated this on Wednesday while reacting to the president’s national broadcast to commemorate the 25 years of uninterrupted democracy in Nigeria.
A former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, noted that the presidential address highlighted the significance of the June 12, 1993 presidential election believed to have been won by the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
Olayinka said that the election was adjudged to be the freest and fairest election in the history of in the history of Nigeria.
“That election was held some 31 years ago, and in the nature of things, most Nigerians who are currently under 40 may not recollect what happened before and immediately after that event.
“It is gratifying that the president paid deserving tributes to all the heroes of June 12, many of whom are no longer alive today,” he said.
The former vice-chancellor also stated that the promise by Tinubu to transmit an executive bill to the national assembly on a new minimum wage as soon as possible would douse the tension among Nigerian workers.
According to him, the bill is in order since it is widely accepted that workers in both the public and private sectors of the economy deserve a living wage for survival.
Also, a financial expert, Mr Tunji Adepeju, described the presidential address as good, noting that it recognised those who sacrificed their lives, time and resources to take the country out of the quagmire of that time.
“Like the president said, some of them were in exile for some time, while some lost their lives during the period, but here we are today enjoying democracy continuously for 25 years,” he said.
Adepeju expressed happiness with the president’s statement that there had been some agreement with organised labour on the new minimum wage.
“What that portrays is that labour leaders might not be telling us the truth. At the end of the day, all the N250,000 and N494,000 that were being thrown on the papers were just demands that they themselves did not believe in.
“The figures were just being paraded to satisfy the wishes of their members.
“Now, the president has tactically disclosed to Nigerians that they an agreement had been reached and fortunately, the labour leaders and others were part of the tripartite committee that look into the issue,” he said.
The financial expert described as a thing of joy the assurance given to Nigerians by Tinubu that with his administration’s policies and programmes, Nigerians would be better off at the end of the day.
Adepeju noted that the president said that he would do all within his powers, even as he sent warnings to those who were out to destabilise the progress being made by his administration.
“I want to believe that those people, whether they are politicians, bureaucrats or businessmen, would exercise some caution, going forward,” he said.
However, a Professor of Education Evaluation, Adams Onuka, said he was not impressed by the contents of the presidential speech, aside acknowledging the roles played by some heroes of the democracy which the country is enjoying now.
Onuka said that the speech only made a veiled acknowledgement of the harsh economic condition currently being experienced by Nigerians.
“The president could not tell us in his speech exactly what the minimum or living wage agreed upon. No concrete amount was agreed as minimum, not even a living wage was stated. This, to me, smacks of not being transparent enough.
“The speech would have highlighted in concrete terms the steps being taken to bring the nation’s economy country to a prosperous path, the timelines for realising it and how it will be realised,” Onuka said.
He stressed the need for the president’s economic team to sit down and articulate ways out of the present quagmire.
“For me, so much was left to be desired in the speech and it is quite below my expectations,” the don said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
IBK/KOLE/WAS
Edited by Remi Koleoso and ‘Wale Sadeeq

Leadership

By Nefishetu Yakubu
Benin, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Former President Goodluck Jonathan says visionary leaders will always prioritise the welfare of its workforce to boost governance.

Jonathan said this on Wednesday when he inaugurated the Edo State Civil Service Secretariat Complex on Sepele Road, Benin.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, Jonathan also performed the foundation laying ceremony of a 1,500-capacity auditorium for civil servants within the premises of the secretariat.

“Listening to the history of the secretariat complex, I now know the power of vision. It takes somebody who wants to give his best to his people to do that.

“Where you are working needs to be clean. Human beings need to work in a comfortable environment.

“Thank you for providing this befitting secretariat. You do not have this setting so common in Nigeria.

“This is one of the best. It takes someone with vision to provide this type of edifice,” he said.

The former president, who also commended Edo governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, for giving automatic employment to first class graduates in the state, thanked him for encouraging the best brains in the state.

“In some states, governors are busy encouraging criminals because of politics, people that will rig election for them, carry ballot boxes, carry knives and cutlasses to pursue people. But, you are encouraging the best brains in Edo.

“The brains you have provided automatic employment to didn’t come from one political party, the brains come from all the political parties,

“The brains came from those who are supporting all the candidates. You are not supporting these brains because you want to win election

“But because you want to build a state, and for you to build a state, you have to build the people,” he said.

He also thanked the governor for improving the welfare of the civil servants.

“Before now, civil servants have been going home with salaries that couldn’t take them home.

“Initially, when I read in the papers that you proposed to pay N70,000 minimum wage, I was also worried if this my good friend will be able to pay.

“To be a leader, especially a political leader, you must be somebody who has vision.

“If you have vision, no matter how challenging it is, you will find a way to do well,” he said.

Jonathan, however, called on undergraduates in the state to become more serious with their academics to be able to come out with first class and secure an automatic employment in state.

“Those who are undergraduates should struggle to make First Class degrees instead of going to join cult gangs, drinking alcohol and raping women.

“You should try to make good grades. So, if you have opportunity to go to school, take your school seriously”, he added.

Earlier in his address, Obaseki said it became important to upgrade the workplace, personalities and capacity of public servants and the public service for maximum productivity.

“That is why we have damned all consequences to upgrade our public infrastructure to global standard.

“When we started the project of these buildings, many people did not see the big pictures.

“I am very, very confident, that wherever Brig, -Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia of blessed memory is today, he will be proud that his dreams of building a secretariat complex such as this has been realised today, ” Obaseki said.

According to Obaseki, the buildings have been provided with 24-hour daily power supply from Osiomo power plant and high-speed optic fibre Internet connectivity.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
NY/KOO/KAY
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Kayode Olaitan

Connectivity

By Aderonke Ojediran

Lagos, June 12, 2024 (NAN) In a bid to boost intermodal transport system, Lagos State Government is determined to connect roads to jetties across the state.

The Special Adviser to the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Daramola, said this when he led other officials to inspect roads and other strategic projects on Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Old Ojo Road.

Other roads inspected include Mumuni Adio Road, Buba Maruwa Road, Navy Town-Ijegun-Egba Road and Orile-Irede-Iyana Iba Interchange.

“At present, we are on Old Ojo Road, it is a four-kilometre road.

” The progress of work is very commendable. We have the contractor here, Messrs CCECC, and we envisage that in another two months, we will deliver this project. Mr governor will deliver this to residents of Lagos.

” It has also offered us an opportunity to look at other road projects in the axis. We have been able to look at the Buba Maruwa Road which is a 3.2km road that takes us to Ijegun-Egba Jetty,” he said.

Daramola said the inspection tour was to check the level of progress and have more detailed information about challenges to some of the projects.

He said that blockage of drains  was identified at  the Orile section of the Lagos Badagry Expressway.

“We will link up with our counterparts in the Office of Drainage Services to prevent flooding in the axis,” he said.

On how the network of roads will impact the state, Daramola said the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Old Ojo Road would be  alternative roads while the Navy Town Road,  Mumuni-Adio Road and Orile-Irede-Iyana Iba Interchange would link all the tank farms.

He said the road projects, when completed, would improve traffic and make  distribution of petroleum products from tank farms faster.

” The jetty is over there, we have products that we have to move from one place to the other,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

OAF/IGO

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Edited by Ijeoma Popoola

Inmates

By Abiodun Lawal

Abeokuta, June 12, 2024 (NAN) As part of activities to celebrate Democracy Day, Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has directed the release of 41 convicts currently imprisoned across different correctional facilities in the state.

Abiodun announced this on Wednesday in Abeokuta during the commemoration of the country’s 25th democratic governance.

The governor explained that he had also signed warrants converting the death sentences of 45 inmates to prison sentences.

Abiodun stated that the gesture signals a break from past grievances and a move towards a more inclusive and compassionate society where merciful second chances are granted to deserving offenders.

He added that all convicts who had received the gesture had shown remorse for their crimes, acquired skills and certifications in prison, with several of them receiving university degrees from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).

“They have also demonstrated verified good conduct during their imprisonment,” he said.

Abiodun explained that the democratic ideals of the late M.K.O. Abiola should be guarded jealously towards attaining a just and progressive nation.

“Unfortunately, his life was cut short in prison a few months before the benevolent government of the day released political prisoners like him.

“The circumstances surrounding M.K.O. Abiola’s death emphasised the need for a timely intervention through pardons and amnesty, ensuring that individuals were not unjustly deprived of their liberty.

“The government has a duty to uphold democratic values by consistently applying principles of mercy, justice, and the rule of law,” he said.

The governor urged Nigerians to continue to support President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying that he had promised to walk his talk to the benefits of Nigerians.

He added that the state government remained resolute in its resolve to move the state forward in the face of the economic reality of the country.

In his keynote address, Mr Richard Akinnola, a public analyst, noted that June 12 would continue to resonate as a continuous reminder about the imperative of improving Nigeria’s democracy.

Akinnola spoke on the theme: “June 12: Defining Moment in the Democratic Development of Nigeria”.

He said that June 12 was now more than a date on the calendar, saying it had become a symbol of resistance, resilience and unyielding spirit of democracy.

He urged Nigerians never to call for military incursion to terminate the nation’s democracy in spite of many challenges confronting the country.

“Moreover, the symbolism of June 12 extends beyond mere commemoration, it serves as a reminder of the values and principles that underpin democracy,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

LKA/OIF/KAY

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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Kayode Olaitan

Packaging

By Sunday John

Lafia, June 12, 2024 (NAN) The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), an NGO has trained 45 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) on modalities for safe packaging of food products in line with global best practices.

The MSMEs drawn from four Local Government Areas (LGAs) each of Nasarawa and Benue States, included  farmers, processors and producers of various types of food products.

Speaking at the training on Wednesday, in Lafia, Mr Kefas Musa, Lead Consultant, Herald Consultants and facilitator, said that the participants were taught safe food packaging, marketing and how to run successful businesses.

He said that the training had exposed the participants to the rudiments of  packaging vitimin-A maize, cassava and orange-flesh sweet potato into finished and highly nutritional products.

Musa noted that despite the nutritional values of Vitamin maize, cassava and orange-flesh sweet potato, products from their value chain were not readily found in the market.

He said that GAIN and many partners were supporting MSMEs with funds and technical know-how to encourage the massive production of products from crops with Vitamin A.

“We taught them how to package their  products without destroying the Vitamin A in the process of production, storage and transportation to the market,” he said.

The consultant explained that packaging improves the shelf life of a product, and  protect its quality and safety against  damage and contamination.

He tasked the MSMEs to carve a niche for themselves with their identity and register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to enable them to access support from government and partners.

“Without packaging, your products will be vulnerable to hazard during distribution and storage thereby making it unsafe for consumption.

“Packaging serves as an identification of the product as it is package in a special size and colourful container to keep it unique from competitors’ products,” he added.

Also speaking, Mr Orngu Africa-Orngu, Junior Associate Strengthening Nutrition in Priority Staples of GAIN, said the training was aimed at ensuring food nutrition security.

He added that the organisation was supporting farmers and businesses to strengthen value chain, thereby improving nutritional products.

Orngu said that nutrition security was one of the most pressing challenge for sustainable social and economic development in the country.

“Meeting this need is our target in order to tackle malnutrition because many Nigerians are living on poor diets.

“Many Nigerians are currently experiencing vitamin and mineral deficiencies leading to severe health outcomes including premature and preventable death of children under five,” he said.

Mr Ehada Isa, from Nasarawa State and Nguveren Ukange from Benue, who spoke on behalf of other participants, expressed gratitude for the training.

They promised to use the knowledge gained to improve their businesses and package their products to ensure its safety. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng).

SDJ/NCI/IU

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Edited by Nkiru Ifeajuna / Isaac Ukpoju

A cross section of participants at democracy day anniversary at Eagle Square, Abuja.

25th Democracy Anniversary:  Nigerians repose confidence in democracy

C’River: Police corporal detained over abandonment of duty

Detention

By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

Calabar, June 12, 2024 (NAN) The Police Command in Cross River says it is currently detaining a corporal, Buba Adamu, who refused to report to duty after being transferred in 2015.

The command’s Spokesperson, SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed Adamu’s detention while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday.

She said that Adamu had been receiving his salaries for about nine years despite not reporting to his place of posting in Kaduna State.

“The said officer was transferred from Cross River to Kaduna State since 2015, but no one knew that he didn’t report to his new station.

“There are allegations that he has been carrying out criminal activities around Bakoko Nassarawa area of Calabar, all this will be investigated,” he said.

The police spokesperson said that the officer would remain in detention while investigation was ongoing.

“The image of the force is important to us. We shall not allow anyone to spoil our image,” he said.

NAN gathered that Adamu had been operating around Bakoko Nassarawa, a Hausa/Fulani settlement in Calabar Municipality.

Some residents of the community told newsmen that Adamu had been using his police uniform to terrorize them.

They said that many of them had been bullied and intimidated by the detained officer.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

ESI/AZU

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Edited by Azubuike Okeh