Nigeria requires N348trn to address infrastructure deficit -ICRC D-G
Infrastructure
By Rita Iliya7
Minna, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Mr Michael Ohiani, Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), says Nigeria requires N348 trillion to address infrastructure deficit in the country.
He said this during a presentation at the 2nd Quarter 2024 Nigeria PublicPrivate Partnership Network (NPPN) meeting in Minna on Wednesday.
The theme of the meeting was ‘Using PPPs in Infrastructure Delivery in the States to ensure National Food Security and Economic Growth’.
Ohiani disclosed that going by the Medium-Term Development Plan, the country required over N348.1 trillion investment in infrastructure.
He said the private sector would be able to provide the chunk of this investment to the tune of about N298.3 trillion while the sub-national governments can provide N49.7 trillion.
“This goes to show the importance of the private sector in infrastructure development,” Ohiani said.
He added that the revised National Infrastructure Investment Master Plan for the next 23 years envisaged that the country would require $2.2 trillion to bridge the infrastructure deficit in the country.
Ohiani said the various options available through which the government can raise funds were through borrowing, further repatriation of national funds and seeking further foreign intervention.
Other options, he added were to raise more bonds, Sukuk, tax credit schemes, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), both through solicited and unsolicited proposals.
In his keynote address, Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), commended state Governors for embracing the benefits and opportunities of PPP as an alternative procurement method.
Akume, represented by Simon Tyungu, a Director in his Office, said the meeting was timely given the infrastructure deficit in the country and government’s efforts to invest in renewal and modernisation.
In his remarks, Gov. Umaru Bago, said his administration was focusing on farming, thereby taking advantage of the vast arable land in the state.
Bago, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Salisu, Head of Service, added that the state would continue to partner with the Federal Government and international agencies in respect of agricultural development. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
RIS/BRM
Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, other dignitaries at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Wednesday in Abuja
Support
By Salif Atojoko
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged more support for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, in its fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
The President made the pledge as Special Guest of Honour, at the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, otherwise known as World Drug Day, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,” President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, enjoined all and sundry to support the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative launched by NDLEA three years ago.
“I commend and urge everyone to redouble their efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking in the country.
“On this score, I wish to reassure you of this administration’s support. The Renewed Hope Agenda places the youth at the centre of its focus. Therefore, we ensure that our young people are protected from anything that could derail their future or destroy their potential,” he said.
He noted that illicit drugs and substances had wreaked havoc on individuals, families, communities and countries worldwide.
“In the face of such a formidable challenge, prevention is the most potent weapon that we can deploy. Prevention not only saves lives; it also saves resources that would otherwise be spent on treatment and rehabilitation.
. “It empowers individuals to make informed choices, promotes healthy lifestyles and creates resilient communities capable of withstanding the pressures of drug abuse.
“Investing in prevention is not merely a moral imperative, a prudent way of safeguarding our future.
“By allocating resources towards evidence-based prevention programmes, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse and protect our youth from falling prey to the menace,” said Tinubu.
He stated that, “the assignment before us as a country requires that we prioritise evidence-based prevention strategies, allocate adequate resources and foster partnerships for greater impact.
“This government will support NDLEA to build on the success recorded in the past few years. We shall work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that we have positive statistics from the next national drug use survey that will be conducted in the country.”
He urged all Nigerians to join hands in this noble cause, saying it is an assignment for all patriotic citizens, including religious leaders, traditional leaders, educational institutions, opinion leaders, and civil society organisations.
“NDLEA has created a formidable platform for cooperation vis-à-vis its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy initiative,” he said.
Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, said the ‘Save Our Families’ social advocacy campaign launched at the ceremony by the President, was designed to prevent and tackle drug use through early detection and intervention.
He said the newly produced special drug test kits was a necessity in every home, school and workplace, and that the Drug Integrity Test initiative would metamorphose into an anti-drug culture for every Nigerian.
“The test is intended for secondary school students, students seeking admission into tertiary institutions and returning students, workers in government and private offices and individuals seeking political offices as well as prospective couples before taking their marriage vows.
“The drug test will serve as a tool for the prevention of drug use and early detection of the individual’s status of drug use for the purpose of appropriate intervention including treatment and rehabilitation.
“Let me also add that our drug integrity test, which has been adopted by some government institutions and tertiary institutions in the country, is a preventive mechanism,” said Marwa.
He said the Agency had produced tens of thousands of special test kits capable of detecting 15 different substances, which were available in all its commands across the country.
“This is for use in homes, schools, workplaces and others. Apart from helping in early detection of drug abuse especially by our youths so that we can get them help in form of treatment, this will also create some deterrence effects,” he said.
Speaking on the theme for this year’s World Drug Day, Marwa said drug use prevention lied at the heart of NDLEA’s strategy in addressing the drug problem because it was far more effective and cost-efficient to prevent drug abuse than to deal with its consequences.
“In this regard, we have used our WADA social advocacy initiative to campaign vigorously at the grassroots and create awareness for our people to shun illicit substances.
“WADA is a sensitisation and advocacy initiative that employs the whole of society approach to engage all stakeholders including the government sectors, institutions, and Non-Governmental Organisations.
“This is with emphasis on youths in and out of school, community gatekeepers including traditional and community leaders, as well as religious leaders among others.
“I am proud to state that the programme has been a tremendous success as an effective tool of advocacy for social action and an awareness driven vehicle for public engagement and collaboration against the drug scourge,” he explained.
He stated that between 2021 and 2024, the Agency embarked on 6,423 sensitisation and education programmes targeting young people in school and 987 programmes for Out of School youths in order to create awareness on the dangers associated with drug use.
“This is in addition to the millions of homes reached with our anti-substance abuse messages through our aggressive and impactful media campaigns using various traditional and new media platforms,” he said.
The outgoing United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Country Representative, Dr Oliver Stolpe, also made a number of recommendations.
“After the exceptionally successful testing of the school-based drug prevention programme UNPLUGGED involving half a million secondary school children in Nigeria, the programme should be rolled out to all 28, 000 public and private secondary schools.
“We need to enhance the resilience against drug use among the millions of out-of-school children, for example through sports-based initiatives such as Line Up Live Up (LULU).
“Furthermore, we need to strengthen families in their ability to recognise and address drug use in effective and constructive ways,” he said.
Stolpe further said: “Most importantly, there is an urgent need to repeat the 2018 national drug use survey. Without up-to-date data, there is no way in which we can assess whether our collective efforts have long-term impact and address the actual priorities.”
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, who emphasised the importance of testing in schools expressed the ministry’s support for NDLEA drug test campaign.
According to him, the most important place where this prevention fight should start is the education sector.
“And we will do our own part, even last week, it was something we considered and promised to review the existing policies so that we can work with NDLEA to take it to secondary schools and primary schools.
“To establish at all levels compulsory and sustained testing, it has to be compulsory and sustained, right through the years and period of their education,” he said.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Rep. Abass Adigun, called for more budgetary provisions for NDLEA in the face of its multi-faceted mandate.
“We at the national assembly are ready to work with the NDLEA and we need the federal government to look into this,” said Adigun. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Queen Solomon distributing educational materials to the students of FCT
Group seeks more campaign on menstrual hygiene in schools
Hygiene
By Ibironke Ariyo
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A NGO, Improved Child Education in Africa, has called on wealthy individuals, charitable organisations and religious institutions to embark on aggressive advocacy campaigns in primary and secondary schools on menstrual hygiene and climate change .
Ms Queen Solomon, the Executive Director of the NGO gave the advice while distributing sanitary Pads and writing materials to Pupils of Government Junior Secondary School,(GJSS) Apo Legislative Quarters, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Solomon said the aim of the event was to enable girls have sound knowledge on how to live a better life, check outbreak of diseases and prevent unwanted pregnancies.
She said that most challenges facing girls in the society was how to manage themselves during menstrual period.
She also appealed to government to ensure functional infrastructure in all public schools.
The executive director pledged to carry the campaign to all schools across the country to compliment government’s effort at ensuring clean environment and improve girl child education in the country.
“We are here today to educate students on menstrual hygiene. Girls need to understand that good hygiene is necessary and paramount.
“We will continue to advocate for this and ensure all the six geopolitical zones in FCT is reached, “she said.
Students of Government Junior Secondary Schools, Apo Legislative Quarters , FCT Abuja
Speaking, the Head Girl of the School, Miss Rejoice Chukwuka- Charles said that the campaign provided ample opportunity for girls in the school to ask questions on best ways to manage themselves during the menstrual period.
She said “knowledge impacted on the girls will go a long way in encouraging and building a better future for the younger generation.
In her goodwill message, Mrs Rebecca Alaku, Chief Education Officer, Universal Basic Education Commission,(UBEC) said that provision of writing materials and the sanitary pads would encourage young girls and increase child enrollment in FCT schools.
Also, the Vice Principal Administration of the school, Mrs Felicia Gyaube expressed gratitude to the philanthropist for considering the school in her Pet Project.
Gyaube called on parents not to shy away from their responsibility of educating their girls on effective management of sanitary pads.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Founder, Ms Yracy Solomon is the 2023 Miss Heritage International winner.
The campaign also featured talks on the need to avoid violence especially fighting between Students of different schools.
Over 3,000 exercise books, 500 sanitary pads and other instructional materials were given to the pupils.(NAN) (http://www.nannews.ng)
Lawyers threaten to sue I-G over alleged harassment of colleague
Suit
By Taiye Agbaje
Abuja, June 26, 2024 (NAN) A group of legal practitioners, under the aegis of Lawyers of Conscience, on Wednesday, threatened to sue the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged incessant harassment of their colleague, Mr Victor Giwa.
The lawyers, who called on the I-G to call his men to order, also urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to wade into the matter by calling Mr Egbetokun to refrain from such act.
Mr Maxwell Opara, while speaking to newsmen on behalf of the group, threatened to sue the I-G “in his personal capacity as Kayode Egbetokun, if he fails to act accordingly.”
Narrating how the issue started, Opara said a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mrs Asabe Waziri, who bought a multi-million naira property in the Maitama District of Abuja, led to series of litigations.
According to the lawyer, Waziri was alleged to be instigating the police to carry out unlawful acts in respect of cases pending before courts of competent jurisdictions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the purchase of the multi-million naira property by Waziri was said to have attracted several court cases before the FCT High Court.
The court had ordered her eviction from the property due to her alleged faceoff with other property owners in the apartment as well as financial dispute in the purchase of the assets.
Upon the order of the court, Waziri was evicted from the property by bailiffs of the Abuja High Court.
Dissatisfied with the order, she challenged her eviction in court, and the suit is still pending.
Meanwhile, Opara accused Mrs Waziri of resorting to self help with the alleged unlawful use of police to achieve what she could not achieve in the open court.
The lawyer said that the police had no business dabbling into a pure civil transaction of property purchase.
He added that the police as a law abiding institution should allow the matter to be fully determined by the court instead of acting as a court of its own.
Opara insisted it was wrong of Mrs Waziri to use the police to harass Victor Giwa, who was counsel to the property developer, Abbey Signatures Ltd.
The lawyer warned the I-G and his officers to desist from taking laws into their hands.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Ekiti Governor’s wife seeks stakeholders’ collaboration to curb drug abuse
Drugs
By Bolanle Lawal
Ado-Ekiti, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, the wife of Ekiti Governor, has called for stakeholders’ collaboration on prevention strategies to curtail the menace of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
Oyebanji made the call on Wednesday at the commemoration of the 2024 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Ado Ekiti.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Day, with the theme “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention,’’ is observed annually on every June 26.
Speaking in her capacity as the state champion against drug abuse and the state ambassador of War Against Drug Abuse (WADA), the governor’s wife urged the stakeholders to take action for a healthier and safer future.
She said that drug abuse and illicit trafficking had become a global menace, emphasising that education, awareness creation and early prevention remained the powerful tools in the fight against the scourge.
“Drug abuse and illicit trafficking pose significant threats to our society, affecting our youth, families, and communities.
“Evidence shows that investing in prevention will not only reduce the prevalence of drug abuse but also foster healthier, more resilient societies. Education, awareness, and early intervention are powerful tools in this fight.
Mr Sunday Aina, the Ekiti State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that the war against substance abuse should not be left to NDLEA alone.
Aina called for more vigorous involvement of governments, educational institutions, corporate bodies and civil society organisations for the preservation of the future generation.
“Ekiti is among the states in Nigeria where cannabis sativa, known as Indian hemp, is cultivated in commercial quantity, hence the need to support the agency to arrest and prosecute producers and sellers of the drug.’’
The NDLEA commander disclosed that the state command discovered and destroyed cannabis plantations in locations including Efon Alaaye Forest, Ara Forest reserve, Ise Forest, Isinbode Forest, Ijesa Isu Forest and Okatedo Forest in Imesi Ekiti.
He called on members of the public to always offer NDLEA information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of suspected drug abusers, traffickers and growers of drug plantations.
Dr Adedotun Ajiboye, a resource person at the event, solicited the support of traditional rulers, religious leaders, leaders of thought and other influential persons to save the young generation from abuse of psychoactive substances.
Ajiboye, a clinical psychologist, also canvassed the regulation of sale of pharmaceuticals in open shop and the implementation of evidence based programmes deliberately primed to curb abuse of drugs in the society especially among the youths.
Present at the event were the representatives of Nigeria Correctional Centre, Department of Security Service and Nigeria Police force.
The event also attracted students, teachers, health professionals and officers from the nation’s security agencies, civil society organisations and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). ( NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Climate Change: Agency moves to restore water within Wamako, environs
Water
By Abigael Joshua
Abuja, June, 26, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on Wednesday in Abuja promised to restore water availability within Wamako area of Sokoto and its environs.
Mr Clement Nze, Director of NIHSA made the promise at a workshop on improving Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) knowledge -based management and governance of the Niger Basin and the Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer Systems (NB-ITTAS).
The Iullemeden-Taoudeni/Tanezrouft Aquifer System (ITTAS) is a trans boundary groundwater resources shared by seven countries of Ageria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria.
Nze was represented by Mr Stephen Jabo, the Director Department of Hydro Geophysics NIHSA.
He said that several intervention measures were going to be taken in the course of the project, to restore water balance in Wamako, so that the water balance and sustainability would be restored to that area.
He reiterated that it had been observed that this remote Sokoto river had been drying up and only flowed during the rainy season, which he said was due to the impact of climate change.
“Ideally this has been a river that is perennial in nature over the years but suddenly due to impact of climate change and human activity has affected the water resources.
“NIHSA is charged with the responsibility of assessment and management of the country’s water resources and has in accordance with its mandate been implementing the project,” Nze said.
According to him, the project is being implemented by 11 countries, namely Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Nigeria, Niger, Mali and Mauritania.
“It is under the central coordination of an agency called Sahara and Sahel Observatory (SOS) based in Tunisia, the project is majorly funded by Global Environment Facility GEF and the project is about both surface and groundwater resources.
“The Niger basin is about surface water, which mainly focuses on the river Niger, which is the largest transboundary River in Nigeria.
“Now, this project has identified a particular water resources problem in the sokoto river basin,”he said.
Dr Thomas Adebayo, Communication Consultant on the project, noted that communication was essential on implementing the project, looking at how they could address issue of water quality.
“Now the water quality is actually hampered by some activities that people do.
“These are problems of drilling of boreholes, some practices by farmers, drainages pattern, indiscriminate waste disposal experienced in sokoto, Katsina, and its environs.
“The issue of communication comes into place because we need to actually address Nigerians, the communities, stakeholders on processes that affect water quality and areas we should help government ensure that water quality is maintained,” he said.
Adebayo advised that legal frameworks should be put in place to create more opportunities for feedback system.
He added that with this, indiscriminate borehole drilling would be addressed as well as the use of water actually prioritised.
“So communication cuts across every activity of this project because we need to actually be informed of what the project is all about,’’he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Death
By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko
Ibadan, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has described the death of Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of Oyo State High Court as a rude shock to its members.
Chairman of the branch, Mr Ibrahim Lawal, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ibadan.
NAN reports that Gbolagunte, a senior judge in the state judiciary, died on Monday at the age of 64, after a protracted illness.
The NBA chairman said that with Gbolagunte’s death, the state judiciary had indeed lost a courteous judge.
“Lawyers who appeared before my lord always have good reports about his reverence for the bar. We pray the Almighty to repose his soul,” he said.
Lawal said that the death of the judge was a reflection of the kind of difficult terrains judges were passing through in rendering their services to the country.
According to him, judges have so much to contend with, saying the cases an average judge in Oyo state has to adjudicate upon at every given time are too many due to inadequate number of judges.
“In Oyo state, we are supposed to have 40 judges to man our courts but in the last four years, we have only 21 judges, and with the demise of Justice Gbolagunte, we now have 20.
“Imagine the pressure on those judges to discharge their duties faithfully and speedily,” he said.
The NBA chairman, therefore, renewed the call for appointment of more judges and improvement in the conditions of service of the serving ones.
“This is not limited to judges; our Magistrates and President of Grade A Customary Courts too should not be left out. There should be proper funding of the judiciary, going forward,” Lawal stated.
Also, a former NBA Chairman, Ibadan branch, Mrs Folasade Aladeniyi, described the late Gbolagunte as a brilliant and astute jurist.
“As a judge, he extended professional courtesies to all legal practitioners who came before him.
“Before he took ill, his lordship was a very diligent judge, who sat early and went through his case list, dispensing justice without fear or favour.
“He demonstrated the right candour, while litigants leave his court with the satisfaction that justice had been done in their cases.
“May the soul of the well-respected jurist rest in peace,” Aladeniyi prayed.
Similarly, a former Publicity Secretary of the branch, Mr Tobi Fatoki,
said the late judge always ensured that justice was done to the cases brought before him.
“His death came to me as a rude shock; he really battled with the illness that led to his death.
“However, he left a legacy behind as an erudite judge, who did his best on the bench.
“His records are there; he delivered sound judgments which would forever speak for him. His death is indeed a great loss to the bench and the bar” he said.
Fatoki prayed God to uphold the family, the judiciary, the bar and the well-wishers left behind by the deceased. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
CC/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
Tinubu not discriminating against North —- Shettima
Tinubu
By Aminu Garko
Kano, June 26,2024 (NAN) Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is not working against the interests of Northern Nigeria.
Shettima spoke on Wednesday in Kano while receiving a Federal Government’s delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Bajabiamila, on a condolence visit over the death of his mother-in-law. Hajiya Maryam Abubakar.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent in Kano quoted Shettima as praising Tinubu’s goodwill toward the region.
The vice-president cited the appointment of the two Ministers of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Chairman of Police Service Commission, among others, all from the North, as evidence of the president’s commitment to the region’s growth.
He, therefore,urged Nigerians to support Tinubu’s efforts to make Nigeria great, emphasizing that governance transcends political party affiliations.
Shettima stressed that the country’s unity and progress were more important than party differences.
He cited the support he received from the Kano State Government, led by Gov. Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), during his time of bereavement.
Shettima said that the country has moved beyond politics and was now in the act of governance, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to achieve greatness.
He reminded that Nigeria’s greatness was a collective responsibility, and that political party affiliations should not be a yardstick for division and destruction.
The vice-president called for unity and cooperation among all the political parties, saying that ensuring Nigeria’s greatness was a collective responsibility.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Lagos, June, 26, 2024 (NAN) The former speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiiji, says his acquittal from money laundering related charges and prosecution that spanned over 12 years was a harrowing experience.
The speaker said his joy knew no bounds, describing the experience as a “rebirth of sorts”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, cleared the former speaker of 54 charges brought against him by the EFCC.
Justice Mohammed Liman dismissed the charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ruling that the prosecution did not meet the legal burden of proof required.
Addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos, Ikuforiji said: : “I am a very happy man. It feels so great to be free after 12 and half years of prosecution and persecution.
“It is a long story. Since 48 hours that I am free, I am extremely grateful to God. When I got out of the court, I called my wife Mayowa, because I did not tell her while going to the court that day.
“I was even joking with my friend, when the Judge came, that if I had seen a Black Maria, I will have to run away.
“As a strong believer, I always believed in what Almighty Allah decreed. But there are some things as a man in flesh that you begin to ask second questions.
“I was at the House of Assembly for 12 years; 10 years, I was speaker and there was no time the lawmakers fought. The Lagos assembly was the best because of the harmonious relationship.
“But if after 10 years of being speaker and leading a progressive house, making progressive laws, even the National Assembly came to learn some things from us, we passed the FOI Act before them even the Child Rights Law. “
Ikuforiji, who served as Lagos speaker from 2005 to 2015, said he was wrongly prosecuted but would not sue the EFCC for that.
“I suffered for 12 and half years over wrongful allegations, I suffered unnecessarily for that period, what was my offence and what did I do?
“A faceless petitioner wrote to the EFCC that the assembly arm twisted the Lagos state government to pay N500 million to it monthly and later, I was accused of embezzling the money, amounting to N7 billion.
“Is that not ridiculous that the members did not do anything that I allegedly made away with N500m for 14 months?
“I got a call from the director of EFCC while going to Umrah, I told him I will honour the invitation when I come back. I called him when I returned and he said I should come, I went there that Friday morning and I spent the weekend on the floor of EFCC cell.
“They showed me the petition and I faulted it, the person that wrote it, no telephone number.
They asked for the other members and I told them that I don’t need to get others because I was in charge.
According to him, I spent the weekend there and was released on bail, EFCC came to the house, combed the books for three months and saw nothing.
“I suffered the agony for over 12 and half years. Many sleepless nights. I thank my Family, colleagues, friends and the media for standing by me.
“The EFCC started with 200 charges and trimmed it to 54 and no one said embezzlement.
“Today we are grateful to God that at the end of it all, we have been vindicated. The honest thing is that in the Quran, even in the dark, there is always an element of light.
” I am now a Barrister at Law. This case was what pushed me toward reading law. I was doing well as speaker, My lawyers came up with other things and I felt it was time for me to be learned.
“That is something good, if this trouble was not thrown at me, I won’t be a lawyer today. My family suffered a great deal. Members of the house stood by me. Most of them followed me to court on court day, I am grateful to them.
” Lots of our leaders who were praying with me, I salute them. My wife is a Christian and they have been praying for years. God was really merciful to me and gave me people who supported me.
“Today I am a free man, June 24, 2024 remains a second birthday to me because that is the day of my independence, , the day I smelt freedom.
“In 2014, the Federal High Court said I had no case to answer and it went to the Supreme Court and the case was reassigned and here we are today,” Ikuforiji said.
He, however, said the charges might have been politically or socially engineered but what mattered the most was that as a politician, stuff like that was expected.
On whether he planned to contest for elective position in 2027, the former speaker said it is God that would determine that. (NAN)
Kwara Utd
By Olayinka Owolewa
Ilorin, June 26, 2024 (NAN) Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin has announced end of the season break, as the club plans early preparations for the 2024/2025 Season.
The General Manager of the Club, Bashir Badawiy, who announced the break after a management meeting on Wednesday, added that the players and officials would soon be communicated on the resumption date after due consultation.
Kwara United on Sunday defeated Heartland FC 4-0 in their last match of the 2023-2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Season, to end their campaign in the 13th position.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team won 12 matches out of 38 in the series, drew 15, lost 11, scored 38 goals altogether, and conceded 37.
The team also lost out of the President Federation Cup competition after losing to finalists, Abia Warriors 4-3 on penalties, after playing out a 1-1 draw in the regulation time, at the Round of 16 stage.
The team won the State Federation Cup trophy after beating Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC, also of Ilorin, to qualify for the national finals.
The Chairman of the Club, Kumbi Titiloye had on Sunday said that preparations for next season’s NPFL will commence immediately, going by the lessons learnt from the just concluded season.
He said that the team started preparations relatively late in the just concluded season, coupled with the fact that the players were just adjusting to playing on grass pitch, as they were used to the synthetic pitch, especially at home.
The club commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support to the team.
They also thanked the Kwara State Sports Commission, Kwara Football Association, Kwara Referees, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Supporters and Fans of the Club as well as other stakeholders, for their support and understanding.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
