AWARD 2020 - Aljazirah Nigeria Newspaper

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NIGERIA DECEMBER28 – Jan. 3, 2021N200...first in breaking the news www.aljazirahnews.com Vol. 2 No. 163

2023 PRESIDENCY

PAGE 10Buhari signed law in 2018

CONTINUE ON PAGE 5

In 2004, the pension reform initiative was set in place, given rise to the Contributory Pension Scheme. This move was intended to correct the perennial nightmare of the ills and anomalies that retired workers had to undergo in order to access their retirement benefits and also as a drastic measure to bring to

bear, a paradigm shift from the status quo ante with regards to the Federal Government’s pension administration in Nigeria.

Since its initial take-off, the pension assets have witnessed a sustained increase in the last 15 years. According to the National Pension Commission, a July 2020 update of the Contributory

Pension Scheme was put at N11.34 trillion, a larger percentage of which has been placed in various investment platforms to earn returns by the various Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in whose custody this funds have been kept, in line with the laid down rules guiding the Pension Act.

The bulk of pension assets totaling N7.45 trillion are invested in Federal Government’s securities. These include, FGN bonds, treasury bills, agency bonds, sukuk and green bonds.

N11.34trn Pension Fund: What Hope For Retirees?editorial

Plot To Impeach Gbajabiamila, Deputy Thickens

AWARD 2020HEALTH WORKERS’

PERFORMANCE

(In recognition and appreciation to their effort and commitment to service in fight against COVID-19 )

PAGE 9

Dogara stages comeback, Hon. Onuh to replace Wase

Bill Disqualifies Jonathan, Others

PAGE 11

Despite Suspension Of Strike, Varsities Remain ShutdownbY CHIKA MEFOR

Students in Nigerian public universities who were hoping to resume academic work after the Yuletide following the suspension of a strike by lecturers will have to wait longer.

This is because the National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a directive to all universities to suspend academic activities due to the spread of COVID-19.

Nigeria is currently experiencing its second wave of COVID-19, with the country experiencing more new cases than ever. The over 5,000 new cases recoded last week was the highest weekly figure ever.

A l j a z i r a h N i g e r i a reported how lecturers in public universities, ASUU, on Wednesday, suspended their nine months strike after an agreement with the government on university funding and other matters.

ASUU also said its members were ready to work as soon as the government puts COVID-19 protocols in place in the universities.

“As far as we are concerned, we are ready to resume work. Let the government do what is needed to ensure safety. We insist that the COVID-19 protocol should be observed,” ASUU president Biodun

Ogunyemi said.While the government has

not spelt out clear COVID-19 protocols for the universities, it had announced that all schools should remain shut till at least January 18.

The latest directive stopping physical academic activities, including in private

bY JOEl AJAYI

Not less than 20 Nigerian doctors died of Coronavirus complications within the past seven days, according to the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

Enema Amodu, chairman of NMA in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said this during a press briefing on Friday, December 25.

Amodu stated that medical personnel are in need of personal protective equipment (PPEs) as the second wave of infections in the country has been “catastrophic”.

“Everywhere around the world at this time, we are facing a second wave, and this second wave is so overwhelming and more catastrophic because a lot of people have gone back to the way of doing things thinking that the virus is over, and it is

universities not affected by the ASUU strike, thus means that until a counter directive by the NUC, universities will not resume academic activities.

The NUC called on vice-chancellors of universities not to allow any form of academic activities involving

gone and they have let their guards down.

“For those of us in the health sector, we have lost quite a number of colleagues in the last week alone. Across the nation, we have lost professors, consultants, residents (both senior and junior), very senior medical officers and nurses – some of them you may not hear of and some you may hear depending on the circumstances and whatever positions they are occupying. This goes to show that this virus is very much with us and they call it a second wave, but it is actually a continuum because it never really left us.

“I am here this afternoon on Christmas Day to solidarize first with the families of our members that have lost loved ones. I want to make it public that we are with you in this very trying and grieving

large crowds to be organized or hosted on their campuses.

Details of the NUC directive was contained in a circular by Chris Maiyaki, Deputy Executive Secretary (Administration), and obtained by a news agency, PRNigeria.

According to PRNigeria, the

moment of sadness over the loss of our colleagues who most likely are the breadwinners of their families. We also want to use this opportunity to talk to our patients; when you come to us in the hospitals and clinics, please oblige us and wear your mask. Tell us the truth about your past medical condition and don’t hold any information back.

The figure of the number of our colleagues that have died is evolving every day but as I am standing here, I got a call from a colleague who is in an isolation center, and he is not sounding very good. I can give you a figure now that by evening it will change. But I can tell you from the top of my head across the country, we have lost not less than 20 doctors in the last week.

By the grace of God, I am standing here today as a survivor because as an ENT

NUC said classrooms, hostel accommodation, conferences and seminars should be suspended.

It further directed that universities should remain closed during this intervening period, pending further directives by FG on the reopening of schools.

consultant, I inadvertently saw a patient that I did not know had COVID-19 and she did not tell me, and she knew. I was exposed and contracted the virus; I developed symptoms but by the grace of God my colleagues rallied around me and I survived.

Our patients need to follow the laid-down rules and we are not degrading or insulting anybody. As you enter the hospital premises, most hospitals now have facilities for you to wash your hands and ensure that you wear your mask – please comply. Also, when you sit with a doctor, ensure you keep a safe distance.”

On hazard allowance, Amodu added; “The President of the NMA, Prof. Innocent Ujah, has not rested on his oars since this pandemic broke out. I was privileged to be part of a team that went to

Vice-Chancellors are to please note that the directive is part of the measures approved by Mr. President to mitigate the second wave of Coronavirus infections in the country. The affected officers are expected to perform their duties from home while those on GL 13 and above should strictly adhere to the extant preventive measures, including maintenance of physical distancing, regular washing of hands and/or sanitizing of hands, wearing of face masks and reducing the number of visitors to offices,” it said.

see the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Femi Gbajabiamila. The President put forward the issue of our hazard allowance. There is no need to hide anything anymore. I can tell you that our hazard allowance is N5, 000 per month. The Speaker of the House of Representatives has assured my President that they will do something about it and we believe he will do something about it because he is a legislator that believes that the health sector is key to development.

“Our members are dying and my colleagues are suffering and angry. But we have taken an oath and that is why we are still providing services, and we will continue to provide services. We just asked the government to do their own bit and help us so that we can change the narrative of the health sector.

20 Doctors Die Of Covid-19 In One Week – NMA

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From left: Former Rivers Governor, Mr Celestine Omeha; Gov. Seyi Makinde Oyo State; Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Former Ondo State PDP governorship aspirant, Mr Eyiayo Jegede; and Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, at the inauguration of Woji Road, Obagi Street in the GRA in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, December 23. PHOTO: CHiddi OHaleTe/BJO/NaN.

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The Kaduna State Government has imposed new restrictions on churches and mosques following increased cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said his only regret is that Nigerians have failed to appreciate that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is doing so much for them.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu on Thursday, reeled out fresh instructions and security measures targeted at peaceful Christmas and new year celebrations by Nigerians.

Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, stated on Monday that academic activities in the country universities will resume January 2021.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed on behalf of the nation to play an expected role in moving Africa forward.

A former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, has died at the age of 68.

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PAGE 31

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Ekiti PDP Crisis Tears Party In South West

PAGE 22

politics & policy

Declining Revenue Raises FG’s Deficit To N1.3trn In Q3’20

PAGE 20

Kaduna Imposes Fresh Restrictions On Religious Centres, Others

My Only Regret As Buhari’s Minister – Lai Mohammed

IGP Issues Fresh Orders, Bans Flaunting Of Wealth On Social Media By Nigerians

ASUU To Reopen Universities January 2021 – Ngige

President Buhari Makes New Promises To Africa On Behalf Of Nigeria

Former Akwa Ibom Military Administrator, Idongesit Nkanga Dies Of COVID-19

Monday, December 21, 2020

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Friday, December 25, 2020

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Thursday, December 24, 2020

Saturday, December 26, 2020

“People making last-minute purchases at Madalla market in Niger Sate on

Thursday, December 24.

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December 28 – January 3, 2021




editorial

AljazirahNigeria has gathered that the growing size of the pension fund appears to be gaining the status of the cynosure of all eyes for governments at all levels, especially at a period when government revenue is on a steady decline.

Reports in the media space suggest some key stakeholders are eyeing pension assets to borrow with a view of deploying same to the defraying infrastructure deficit in the country.

Following reports by the Pension Commission; about 72.5 percent of the fund has been borrowed by the Federal Government and invested in FGN securities totaling N6.16 trillion during the period under review.

According to the reports, Pension Fund Administrators also invested 6.87 percent amounting to N584.321 billion of the fund in domestic ordinary shares, while 0.71 percent amounting to N60.529 billion was invested in foreign ordinary shares.

The Acting Director- General of PenCom, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar has noted that in an effort to promote a stable and sustainable pension industry, the Commission adopted zero tolerance for non-compliance and consultative supervisory philosophy in the issuance of guidelines and the review of existing

ones to further promote sound corporate governance in the industry and ensure the security of the pension assets

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Socio Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and other concerned stakeholders have lend their voices in raising a red flag in order to forestall the situation where governments at all levels will have to fritter away the money in the fund in the guise of borrowing for infrastructural development, as this will put the lives and sustenance of retiring workers in jeopardy at a period when the current administration may have left office and there will be no one to hold accountable in a situation where the borrowed money is not refunded.

It is of concern to AljazirahNigeria that pension assets are the collective sweat of years of employees across strata. The law is explicit on its non-borrowing, lending status. The sanctity of pension assets should be upheld as it represents the very life-line of Nigerian workers and should not in any guise toyed with.

Nigerian retirees must be accorded their esteemed status having served meritoriously in their various callings to have earned respectable status of ‘senior citizens’ and hence their entitlements must not be violated in any form.

mission statementOur mission is to create hard-breaking national and international news, as it unfolds. We deliver unparalleled perspectives across multiple categories including politics, health, entertainment, education, classy, judiciary, parliament, foreign affairs, business, sports and more.

vision statementTo operate a world class print media

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WhoSAIDWhat?In the neWS

“The Nigerian public has for long lost confidence in the ability of the President and his men to tell even simple things as the truth.”

– Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman.

frOm cover

n11.34trn Pension Fund: What Hope For Retirees?

By Alyiu GAlAdimA

The All Progressives Congress, Akwa Ibom State, has accused Governor Udom Emmanuel of sharing COVID-19 palliatives as Christmas gifts to members of Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

APC In a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Nkereuwem Enyongekere on Friday, the party said the COVID-19 food items were donated in July by a coalition of private sector players led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

According to the statement, ”Another end-of-year folly from the administration is its decision to share, as Christmas gifts, the truck loads of COVID-19 food items sent to the state since July by the nation’s private sector coalition led by Dangote Group and other donors.

”The sight of these food

By mOHAmmEd GORONyO

Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has signed the state’s 2021 budget of more than N142.7 billion into law, pledging to ensure accountability, and prove to the world that his administration was transparent.

Matawalle assented to the bill on Friday in Gusau.

According to him, the budget, which is IPSAS (International Public Sector Accounting Standards) compliant, has captured all citizens’ interests, including those at the grassroots.

APC Accuses Udom Of Sharing Covid-19 Palliatives As Christmas Gifts

Matawalle Signs N142.7bn Zamfara 2021 Budget Into Law

items being shared in the country home of the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Ephraim Inyangeyen, to PDP members as Christmas gifts is galling. How selfish, mean and wicked could these people be to have hoarded these items since July, deny Akwa Ibom people of its use during the lockdown, and now turn around to share it to their party members only.

“We also recall that the federal government had sent a truckload of rice to the state earlier in the year. The governor had claimed in a radio interview then that the rice didn’t appear good for consumption, and that he was going to send it for laboratory tests. Is the test result out? We are sure that the rice has been surreptitiously distributed to PDP members in the state.”

But, the commissioner for information and strategy,

He therefore, assured people of the state of timely release of the funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to enable them carry out various projects for the development of the state.

Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasiru Magargaya, said the budget of N145.4 billion presented to the house, was reduced to N142.7 billion.

Magargaya said that as a result of the amendments, the recurrent expenditure was cut down from N64.3 billion to N63.1 billion, while

Comrade Ini Ememobong in reaction said the sharing of the palliatives has nothing to do with the yearly Christmas gifts.

In a press statement made available on Friday, Ememobong said, ”The State Government had earlier in November this year intimated on the arrival of palliative materials from CACOVID (Coalition Against COVID) which is a private sector driven corporate social responsibility contribution to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. It was also announced that when the full consignment from the donors berths in our state, distribution will commence.

”The structure for the distribution of these palliatives at the LGA level is very inclusive, having representation from people living with disabilities,

the capital expenditure was reduced from the governor’s proposed N81.0 billion to N79.6 billion.

He explained that the reduction of N3 billion was to ensure the passage of a realistic budget that would reflect the current economic reality in the country.

“We decided to downsize the budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic, inadequate IGR and other factors, in order to make it realistic.”

The speaker commended the governor for his efforts in managing the state in spite of inadequate resources.

women, youths, religious organizations, professional bodies and opposition parties under the platform of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee.

”This committee supervises the distribution of these palliatives to the people passing through the intermediary ward distribution structure. The distribution, which is largely decentralized to conform to COVID-19 protocols, has started and is ongoing.

”The focus of this batch of palliative distribution apart from the LGAs are media, orphanage homes, medical workers, security personnel, traders, Labour, entertainers and students.

”This distribution of palliative is clearly different from the usual end of year goodwill gift of rice to different categories of people.

“Despite the economic recession, Zamfara State government has not failed in the payment of workers’ salaries, other entitlements and obligations in the state,” he added.

According to him, the house speedily passed the budget into law so that it would take effect from January 2021 in line with IPSAS regulations.

The speaker appealed to the executive to adhere strictly to provisions of the budget, and ensure timely release of funds to MDAs to enable them meet the yearnings of the people.

Hon. Sergius Ogun (left) and Deputy Chairman House committee on NDDC, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi after plenary on Monday, December 21 at the National Assembly. PHOTO: TyOzenda TyOakaa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are bitter over the sterling performance of its governors.

PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said APC was envious of PDP governors because their performance has endeared Nigerians to the party.

Ologbondiyan said APC whose structures have collapsed, has been discomfited by the stability and unanimity within the PDP platform as well as the resilience of its leaders, despite the attempts to plant seeds of discord in their fold.

A statement by Ologbondiyan said: “Nigerians can see the frustration in the APC leadership, which has now resorted to a vicious smear campaign and media attacks on our governors and leaders, having failed in all their sneaky plots to lure them to look the way of the defunct APC.

“It is therefore not strange to us that the Secretary of APC’s illegal national caretaker committee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, has been detailed, as new APC spokesperson, to commence a coordinated attack on our governors.

“We are aware that this is part of the desperate bid to distract and drag down our performing governors to the level of their APC counterparts, who have become a collective symbol of failure in our contemporary political history.

“It is laughable that the APC caretaker secretary is challenging the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to name APC leaders attempting to lure our governors, whereas he, Akpanudoedehe, is aware of how the APC leadership, to which he belongs, have been going around our governors and leaders genuflecting for audience, only to receive mere photo opportunities.”

APC, Bitter, Envious Of Our Governors – PdP Alleges The President Muhammadu

Buhari-led federal government has disclosed that the country would be needing a whooping sum of N400 billion naira for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for Nigerians.

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, stated this before the leadership of the national assembly on Tuesday.

While stating the government is prepared to save lives with the vaccine, the minister said that the proposed amount vaccinate 70 percent of Nigeria’s over 200 million population, at $8 per person.

The minister added that N156 billion will be needed in 2021 while N200 billion will be used for vaccination in 2022.

On the issue of storage, the minister explained that the COVID-19 vaccines will be stored in the same storage facilities (cold chains) used to store the polio vaccines.

Ahmad Lawan, the president of the senate promised the full support of the national assembly to fund the vaccine.

He, however, expressed concern about the storage of the vaccine when it is acquired, adding that more needs to be done by the ministry of health.

“I have not been convinced with your presentation that we are ready to bring in the vaccines,” he said.

“You have to do much more to convince me that we are ready.”Nigeria is currently experiencing a worrisome surge in numbers of recorded cases across the country following a decline in October and November.

According to data by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the country recorded 5,176 new cases in last week which is the highest since COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

As at Wednesday morning, the number of recorded cases from Sunday morning has risen to 1856 making the country’s overall cases to 79789 with 1231 deaths and 68879 recoveries since its outbreak in the country.

The new variant of COVID-19 announced in the United Kingdom in September has been reportedly discovered in Nigeria by scientists at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), at the Redeemers University in Ede, Osun state, on Monday.

Nigeria Needs N400bn To Procure Covid-19 Vaccine



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By Ruth GBaka

A socio-political organization known as Nigerian Continuity Progressive (NCP), has summoned former vice president of Nigeria and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 Presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to an FCT High Court holding in Abuja over an alleged N500,000,000 campaign debt.

According to the Writ of Summons signed by Danmusa Williams, Registrar of the court in a suit number CU/2065/200, the former vice president alongside the Director-General of his campaign organization, Dr.

Court Summons Atiku Over N500m Campaign DebtNat Yaduma are to appear before the court for failing or refusing to pay NCP their engagement fee for about two years of the contract agreement.

The court further affirmed that should Atiku and Yaduma fail to respond to the summon at stipulated time, the claimants would be awarded the sum of money in question as well as other damages the alleged debt would have caused the claimants.

The summon reads: “You are hereby commanded that within fourteen days after the services of the writ on you, inclusive of the day of such services, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit

of Dr. Lawan Sambo Ismaila and Nigerians Continuity and Progressives (NCP), and take notice that in default, the claimants may proceed, and judgement may be given in your absence.”

On his part, council to the claimant - Morris O. Osakwe Esq. made the following claims before the court: “The claimants aver that they carried out their own part of the contract in arranging, organising and making of rallies on behalf of the 1st Defendant, which the 2nd Defendant, being the Director-General of the 1st Defendant was monitoring and evaluating the job been executed by the Claimants and the Nigerians Continuity and Progressives (NCP), until

the election was conducted.The Claimants aver that

at the time election was to be conducted for the presidential poll, the 1st Defendant appealed to the claimants and members of the NCP to be patient with him that he will ask the 2nd Defendant to deliver the payment to the bank account of the NCP, but the Claimant have waited endlessly without receiving the payment of N500,000,000.00 until date”.

He further prayed that the court should declare that the defendants have violated the contract entered into with his clients when the defendants failed, refused or neglected to pay the claimants their entitlements.

Hon. Usman Ibrahim Alyiu (left) exchanging views with Hon. Muhammadub Gudaji Kazaure after the passage of the 2020 budget on Monday 21 Dec 2020 at the National Assembly. Photo: tyozenda tyoakaa

By Joel aJayi

The Federal Government has urged religious leaders in the country to refrain from stoking the embers of hatred and disunity, warning that resorting to scorched-earth rhetoric at this time could trigger unintended consequences.

‘While religious leaders have a responsibility to speak truth to power, such truth must not come wrapped in anger, hatred, disunity, and religious disharmony,’’ the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday.

He said it is particularly graceless and impious for any religious leader to use the period of Christmas, which is a season of peace, to stoke the embers of hatred, sectarian strife, and national disunity.

Calling for a violent overthrow of a democratically-elected government, no matter how disguised such a call is, and casting a particular religion as violent is not what any religious leader should engage in, and certainly not in a season of peace,’’ Alhaji Mohammed said, adding that instigating regime change outside the ballot box is not only unconstitutional but also an open call to anarchy.

He said while some religious leaders, being human, may not be able to disguise their national leadership preference, they should refrain from stigmatizing the leader they have never supported anyway, using well-worn and disproved allegations of nepotism or whatever.

The Minister said whatever challenges Nigeria may be going through at this moment can only be tackled when all leaders and indeed all Nigerians come together, not when some people arrogantly engage in name-calling and finger-pointing.

FG Urges Religious Leaders To Preach Peace

By Dickson Pat

The Kaduna State Government has earmarked the sum of N970 million for rural feeder roads projects in 2021, under its Ministry for Local Government Affairs.

This is contained in the breakdown of N1.9 billion allocated to the ministry for capital projects in the 2021 approved budget document.

The document obtained by the AljazirahNigeria in Kaduna on showed that N71 million was allocated for rural electrification, and N578 million for purchase and installation of transformers.

The budget further showed that N173.9 million was allocated for Kauru local government’s special rural electrification intervention, and N111.9 million for the construction and renovation of Emirs and Chiefs palaces.

The state government also allocated N14.3 billion to the Kaduna State Road Agency

for capital projects in 2021, of which N7.6 billion was allocated for township roads projects, and N3.4 billion for state trunk roads.

The document also showed that N1.9 billion was allocated for the ongoing construction of Kawo bridge, N94.7 million for the construction of box culvert, and N94 million allocated for road signages and markings.

Also, N147.8 million was earmarked for the beautification of Bus Rapid Transit lanes and road pavement phase II, while N132.9 million was allocated for the design and construction of double coat surface dressed roads.

A total of N775.5 million was allocated for the provision of Infrastructure at new layouts, and N141 million for the purchase of plants and equipment.

Similarly, N13.9 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure for capital

projects, out of which N61.1 million would be spent on light rail transport project.

The document showed that N3.9 billion would be spent on the construction and rehabilitation of roads as well as consultancy services and N2.0 billion on the provision of infrastructure at new layouts.

It also indicated that N3.1 billion would be spent on the provision of solar perimeter lighting at Zaria 150 million litre a day Water Treatment Plant, and N24 million on Infrastructure Master Plan.

It equally showed that N2.5 billion would be spent on the provision of integrated solar powered streetlights in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan, and N75.2 million on provision of solar powered traffic signal control systems in the same locations.

Also, N564 million was earmarked for the purchase of water treatment chemicals and other consumables, and N282 million for the

Kaduna Earmarks N970m For Rural Roads In 2021

By ahmaD iBRahim

The Delta State government has announced a partial lockdown across the state following fears of a second wave of COVID-19.

The government warned residents to adhere strictly to all protocols and guidelines such as the mandatory use of face masks, hand-washing, use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and social distancing.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chiedu Ebie, who made the announcement on Friday, December 25, said the measure was as a result of fears over the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic following the recent deaths recorded and spike in some areas of the country.

The statement added that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, acting on superior advice from medical experts, ordered the immediate shutdown of all night clubs with effect from December 25, while all government staff members below grade level 12 are to proceed on extended Christmas holiday till further notice.

The statement signed by Ebie read:

“The state government wishes to remind all of the exigencies that have been imposed on the world at large by the COVID-19 pandemic for several months now. And based on the advice of medical experts on the resurgence of a second wave of the pandemic which is reportedly more virulent, there have been serious health concerns across the globe.

“In view of this development, and in line with the recent Federal Government advisory, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has directed the general observance of a number of COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, which include the mandatory use of face masks, hand-washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers and social distancing.

“In the meantime, all night clubs are closed with effect from December 25, 2020. All informal and formal festivity events including weddings, burials, conferences, congresses, office parties, concerts, seminars, end of year events shall be restricted to not more than 50 persons. All persons above the age of 60 and/or with comorbidities are to be encouraged to stay at home and avoid crowds.

Delta Imposes Partial Lockdown Over Covid-19

rehabilitation and retrofitting of water works and selected networks extension.

The document further showed that consultancy services for Greater Kaduna Water Supply Expansion Project got N188 million, while N23.5 million was allocated for the upgrading, repairs, and rehabilitation of the Central Mechanical Workshop Skills Acquisition centre.

It equally showed that N1.0 billion was allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of dams and N50 million for consultancy services and engineering design for Birnin Gwari and Kachia Water Supply Projects.

The budget document also showed that N6.3 billion was allocated to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development of which N3.1 billion was for the construction and acquisition of new State Government administrative buildings.

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By WISDON ONyEISI

Workers at Ondo State Oil Producing Development Commission (OSOPADEC) recently marched to the office of Laolu Akindolire, the state’s accountant general to protest the non-payment of their three months salaries.

The workers were seen carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “Obey Arakunrin directive,” “Arakunrin, Save OSOPADEC From AG,” “OSOPADEC Is Not An appendage Of AG’s Office,” “AG Release Our Money Now,” “Laolu Misrepresenting Aketi’s Administration,” “Laolu Akindolire Enemy of Development Laolu Proceed On Leave Now.”

The workers noted with concern that despite approval by the state government, the accountant general has refused to pay them their October, November and December salaries.

Despite being told that the accountant general was not available, they adamantly demanded that he must come out from wherever he had gone to and address them and state the reasons why they were yet to be pay their salaries.

Laolu, who admitted to the claims upon his arrival, told the protesters that though the salaries had been approved, there was no cash backing the approval and his office could not facilitate the payment of their salaries.

“Approval for salaries, vouchers are all inside here, but there’s no cash backing. You can only pay if there is cash backing. The commissioner of finance is there; he can confirm this,” he said.

He was reportedly shouted down while he was explaining to the angry workers all the intricacies that go with the payment of salaries.

There was indeed an attempt by workers to attack him when they forced their way into his office but was prevailed upon by their leaders.

Oyesanmi Ilesanmi, the state chairman of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations and Civil Service, Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), who led the protesters, said Laolu was responsible for the delay in payment of his members’ salaries.

He said the protest became an option after letters written to the accountant general’s office to seek clarifications were ignored.

Ondo Workers Protest Non-Payment Of 3-Months Salaries

By AMEH GEORGE, ABUJA

Following its handling of the Covid-19 disease in a much better way than the U.K. and U.S, China’s economic outlook is apparently set to overtake that of the U.S even quicker than projected by experts.

According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research Saturday, the two leading world economies are out to switch positions in dollar terms in 2028 which is five years quicker than last year’s expert projection.

The Centre for Economic and Business Research in its World Economic League Table has speculated that the Chinese economy could become a high-income one as early as 2023. It also speculated that the economic growth in Asia may impact India positively thereby pushing it up the notch to becoming the world third biggest economy by 2030.

According to the Chinese President Xi Jinping in November, it was “entirely possible” for his country’s economic standing to grow into twice what it is presently by 2035, going by his administration’s new Five-Year Plan, whose goal is to attain a “modern socialism” in 15 years.

Al jazirahNigeria recalls that, at the advent of the Coronavirus disease in Wuhan, China at the close of 2019, its economy was the first to take a hit, however, it has quickly rebounded going by China’s official document. This according to reports from economic experts should prod the U.K. and U.S. economic handlers to borrow a leaf from the Asian model.

According to experts report, “Typically, we compare ourselves with other western economies and miss out on what often is best practice, especially in the rapidly growing economies in Asia.”

Chinese Economy Set to Overtake U.S. Amidst Covid-19 FalloutBy AMEH GEORGE, ABUJA

The Yuletide season with its attendant beehive of activities which usually impacts positively on most economies the world over, appears to be in recession this year owing to the prevalence and indeed the reported outbreak of a new variant of the coronavirus pandemic and receding economies across the world.

In Bethlehem, the native birth place of Jesus, the pandemic lockdown has left a gloomy atmosphere over Christmas festivities. This is the same with the same low-key celebrations in most cities across the world as the usual festive family get-togethers and crowded prayer sessions that typically attend the holiday season were scaled back or out rightly cancelled.

In Australia, worshippers had to book tickets online

to attend socially distanced church services. The Philippines prohibited mass gatherings and barred extended families from holding traditional Christmas Eve dinners. Traditional door-to-door children’s carols were cancelled Greece.

On Christmas Eve in Italy, church bells rang earlier than usual. The Italian government’s 10 pm curfew prompted pastors to move up services, with “midnight” Mass starting Thursday evening in some churches as early as a couple of hours after dark. Pope Francis, who has said the people “must obey” civil authorities’ measures to fight the spread of Covid-19, fell in line. This year, the Christmas vigil Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica was moved up from 9:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Christmas festivities

either out rightly cancelled or seriously scaled down as the virus spreads across the continent and a new strand that may be more contagious has been detected.

In Athens, Christmas Eve was eerily silent. Usually, voices of children singing carols while tinkling metal triangles could be heard all day during the season. The decades-old tradition of children going from house to house receiving some gifts was also banned this year.

While many other churches in New York have resumed in-person services, St. Peters have continued to offer its Masses online. The Schedule for Christmas Eve and Christmas day Masses were done in Both English and Spanish Languages and a bilingual jazz vesper service.

According to Mayor Anton Salman, “Christmas is a

By JOEl AJAyI

As Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, let us celebrate with moderation, especially at this trying moment of COVID-19 pandemic, said Princess Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator, African Union Development Agency- New Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Peer Review Mechanism (AUDA-NEPAD/APRM), Nigeria.

In a statement issued by Media Assistant to NC/CEO, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria Abolade Ogundimu in Abuja.

Akobundu in her Christmas message while wishing Nigerians a happy Christmas

AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Urges Nigerians To Be Optimistic Of Better Daysimplored Nigerians not to be deterred by the challenges posed by the Corona Virus which had affected the economy of the country but to take solace in government efforts to ameliorate and mitigate the consequences of the pandemic.

According to her, the birth of Jesus Christ which brings joy to the world calls for a celebration.

“Jesus came to liberate the world, His birth was a great gift to humanity, hence the need for the world to celebrate but as we celebrate, let us be cautious of the COVID-19 pandemic by adhering to the safety protocols as a recent report shows increases in

cases recorded in the country,” she said.

Princess Gloria Akobundu equally urged Nigerians to be optimistic of a better country as the present government of President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) had been working assiduously to improve the lot of the citizenry.

Akobundu commended President Muhammadu Buhari for various efforts of government to reflate the economy despite the pandemic.

“Aside from increased funding in the health sector, the Government of President Buhari has done a lot by introducing and supporting

various Social Investment Programmes to cushion the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.

“I urge everyone not to allow the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic to dampen our morale. As Nigerians, we are known for our resilience and doggedness. Let us keep hope alive, pray for the Nation and its economic development and growth as we celebrate,” she said.

“AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria is facilitating The Initiative to strengthen small holder farmers in Nigeria amid COVID-19 pandemic while also conducting Second Peer Review of the Country.

holiday that renews hope in the souls.

“Despite all the obstacles and challenges this year due to corona and due to the lack of tourism, the city of Bethlehem is still looking forward to the future with optimism.”

“Despite the restrictions and limitations we want to celebrate as much as possible, with family, community and joy,” said Pizzaballa, who was to lead a small Midnight Mass gathering later in the evening. “We want to offer hope.” He added.

AljazirahNigeria recalls that the Cronavirus pandemic has pushed a number of countries into a declining economic growth as a result of the shutting down of many businesses due to the necessitated lockdown in order to stem the tide of the growing number of the spread of infections and deaths.

Low-key Yuletide Amid New Covid-19 Strand, Declining Economies

L-R: Hon Usman Zannah, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Hon Muktar Aliyu Betara and Deputy Chairman House Committee on Defence, Hon. Makki Abubakar Yalleman during the passage of 2020 Budget at the National Assembly on Monday, December 21. photos: tyozenda tyoakaa



@aljazirahnewsng






A ljazirahNigeria in its culture of celebrating excellence has decided to give its 2020 Health Workers’ Performance

Award to all Health Workers in the nation for their unflinching effort in combating the Corona Virus, Covid -19, pandemic. Their resilience and towering effort was unequalled amid daunting fears of being caught in the ‘cross fire’.

We celebrate you in the face of the unbelievable stories making the rounds globally that many of your colleagues out there had become victims of the pandemic. While standing tall, we are comforted that you did not give in to the fearsome nature of this pandemic. We further celebrate your resolve by the following short report by an anonymous writer:

“In late July, the World Health Organization announced that over 10,000 healthcare workers in Africa had tested positive for COVID-19. This raised concerns about the ability of countries like Nigeria — which only has 0.4 doctors per 1,000 people to begin with — to successfully control a

pandemic that has overwhelmed even better-resourced health systems. As the pressure increased on a handful of key health facilities across the country, so too did the risk of infection for the health professionals working there.

When clusters of infections emerged at a factory and a call center, the premises were temporarily closed.

But this is not a practical option for health centers, where social distancing is also difficult to implement. That means health workers are not only more likely to contract the virus, but also to pass it on to their colleagues. In Ibadan, one of Nigeria’s biggest cities, the emergency department of the country’s leading teaching hospital is a hub of activity. Prior to the pandemic, University College Hospital, which has 850 bed spaces, had an occupancy rate peaking at 60%. But since the pandemic hit, emergency patients are sometimes left waiting hours for a bed.

Dr. Collins Elumelu, who works in the emergency department, said the hospital is so overwhelmed because it is seen as a reliable option for emergency cases requiring special care in a city of over 6 million people. So when doctors, nurses, and other workers began testing positive for COVID-19, shutting it down was not an option.

Elumelu continued going to work when he started to feel ill, failing to realize it was the virus. “It took me a while before suspecting it was COVID-19 because, normally, I don’t

fall sick. Until the body pains now increased and it became severe, the headache became very bad, even to get up from bed became a problem. I couldn’t eat again. I lost my appetite. My taste disappeared”, he told Devex.

When he became critically ill, Elumelu was admitted to the same emergency unit where he works, receiving drugs to treat his symptoms and a test for COVID-19. But before he left the ward for isolation, a number of his colleagues also tested positive.

“While I’m not sure of how I got it, I’m so sure that those that came in contact with me [while I was working], all of them tested positive ... For my group members, out of six of them, and four became positive. The other two refused to do the test”, he said.

One doctor who refused a test said they believed most health workers at the hospital likely had the virus. A positive test would mean being sent home, but the hospital needs some staff to keep working”.

This is our story and resolves to honour the Nigerian health worker who has been faithful in the face of the daunting scenarios.

One doctor who refused a test said they believed most health workers at the hospital likely had the virus. A positive test would mean being sent home, but the hospital needs some staff to keep working”.

“





AwArd 2020HEALTH wOrKErS’

PErFOrMANCE

(In recognition and appreciation to their effort and commitment to service in fight against COVID-19 )

by ameh george

The unending permutations and enormous insinuations that former President Goodluck Jonathan would be favoured by certain forces to take over the reins of the country’s political leadership may have been overtaken by some legal formalities. President MuhammaduBuhari had indeed signed a bill prohibiting former Vice-Presidents and Deputy Governors who take over from principals from contesting a second term. From the details of the bill, such political appointees have the latitude to contest only once after completing the tenures of their bosses who may have left office unceremoniously.

Such abrupt exit of such principals could be precipitated by resignation, death or any other exigencies. That was the case of former President Jonathan who had taken over from his boss, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua who died in office as President. Upon Yar’adua’s exit, Jonathan served out his tenure and won another term as President, but lost out while seeking a second term to President MuhammaduBuhari.

President Buhari had signed a Constitution Alteration Bill Number 16 on June 7, 2018, disallowing any vice-president or deputy governor who succeeds his boss on account of death or resignation from seeking a second term in office.

The bill was then believed to have been orchestrated by the experience of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who after succeeding the late President UmaruYar’Adua contested elections twice.

The outcome of his crave for a second term sparked an unprecedented political divide across the two major contending personalities and their respective parties even as it heated the polity like a furnace as it marked the first time an incumbent president was defeated. Some interested parties went beyond the realm of politics to beat the drums of war as a result of suspicious inclinations that they had been cheated in the election which eventually produced Buhari.

The then National Assembly Liaison Officer, Ita Enang, while highlighting the essence of the bill noted that contesting and winning elections the second time would amount to taking an oath of office the third time.

Enang further highlighted that Buhari signed Constitution Alteration Bill Number 21 which authorises the conclusion of disputes arising from the nomination of candidates for elections before the general election.

However, what is taking up the political space is the proposition from certain

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forces including some influential persons from the North for Jonathan to return as President. This move many believe would appease the South which at the time, was seen as not being allowed to complete a second term when Jonathan was eased out of the Presidency in 2015.

Another issue that further fueled speculations that Jonathan was being put in line to take over from his successor, Buhari is his frequent visits to Aso Villa where most times he is captured behind closed doors with the President. He is also believed to have received the tacit endorsement of the President given his various diplomatic shuttles in and outside Africa. Particularly, as he has been active in the ECOWAS sub-region, mediating in conflicts and enhancing national

prominence in the area. Although no particular group has openly

endorsed the ‘Jonathan for President’ move, political observers have made comments that there were underground overtures made to Jonathan to accept the option of returning to power.

Another concern however is, if Jonathan would have to cross carpet from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC. He ran alongside the late Yar’adua when he was elected the Vice-President and subsequently the President when Yar’adua died. The other question that may confront him is his acceptability in APC by many party bigwigs from his zone among others who also have been angling to take a shot at the Presidency using the party’s flag.

Many have argued that it appears the APC may not have it difficult in receiving Jonathan who has been addressed somewhat as having the ‘body of PDP but living the soul of APC’. At a time, he was accused of working behind the scenes for APC in Bayelsa State. He has not come clear on any of these allegations.

It is indeed going to be a herculean task for those angling to prosecute a fresh tenure for Jonathan besides the clog already put by the bill stopping him from contesting after having served a first term when he took over from his principal Yar’adua. It is the issue of zoning which is a crucial factor in the two main political parties who have been sharing power at the centre since the emergence of democracy in 1999. Would the APC jettison its own power rotation formula to pick someone outside its accepted radar?

One scholar noted that zoning policy has

really caused a lot of political instability in the country as a result of disagreement among politicians but in spite of that it still brings about development of democracy.

He noted that, “Recent pieces in the Economists highlights the system of zoning that Nigeria employs to alternate power between the North and South of the country”. According to the Economist’s, “Candidates are picked alternatively from the North and South behind closed doors and presented to voters in rigged polls. For many decades, presidential politics in Nigeria has been saddled with ethnicity or tribal politics, religious intolerance and more recently electoral malpractices, well meaning and patriotic elements in the polity had wrestled with the idea of the best formula that will guarantee peace and stability in the country. This was made possible by subsequent military regimes whose brand of leadership has no space for democratic systems. The zoning formula was therefore envisaged to enable northern and southern Nigeria to have an equal chance at producing the president during an eight year presidential cycle.

“The zoning formula was first adopted by the second civilian administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Dr. Alex Ekwueme in 1979, during the first quarter of President Shagari’s second term, the military led by General Buhari truncated that regime, thereby making it impossible for southern Nigerian to experience the plan. During the consecutive 15 years of northern dominated military governance, the zoning formula was forgotten for the past ten years, beginning with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s civilian regime 1999-2007, and the administration of Umaru Musa Yar’dua and President Goodluck Jonathan in 2007 which saw Jonathan transmitting to president and contesting in 2011 as president.

The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) had started dangling the carrot of the presidential zoning between the southern and the northern sections of the country. Advocates of presidential zoning often cite peace and stability in the policy as the main reason, but Nigerians must seriously ask themselves how zoning both presidential, down to even gubernatorial elections have been able to bring peace and stability (development), can zoning or a quota system produce the best leadership material suitable for development desperately needed at this critical time?”

However, given the antecedents of Goodluck Jonathan, who was born on November 20, 1957 and has earned two prestigious national honours, the GCFR, GCON. He served as President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to former military Head of State, General MuhammaduBuhari, marking the first time inNigeria’s political history of an incumbent president losing re-election and conceding defeat. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010 and asGovernor of the oil-rich Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007 haven taken over from his boss, DSP Alameisiyagha while serving as deputy governor, does he command the clout to return to office as president in the face of the daunting socio-economic and political realities that attends us as a country in a deft rebuttal of all the aforementioned constitutional and political roadblocks?



@aljazirahnewsng



One scholar noted that zoning policy has really caused a lot of political instability in the country as a result of disagreement among politicians but in spite of that it still brings about development of democracy

“

Buhari Jonathan

2023 Presidency: Bill Disqualifies Jonathan, Others

Buhari signed law in 2018




From LateeF BamgBose

Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of House of Representatives and his deputy Idris Wase, might have been granted temporary relief occasioned by the Christmas and New year break.

AljazirahNigeria reliably gathered that on the agenda of the Pro-Buhari lawmakers in the House is the change of leadership of the House of Representatives came with a sense of déjà vu, as Gbajabiamila, who rode on the support of the pro- Buhari’s lawmakers has lost favour in the executive arm of the government following the series of resolutions from the House which the source claimed were designed to embarrass the Presidency .

Specifically, our sources who pleaded anonymity pointed at the recent resolution to invite the President to address the House on the insecurity in the country and the call for the sack of the service chiefs.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, alluded to this much when he belated the House for summoning the President to saying that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to summon the President to appear before it.

The row over call by the PDP’s Hon. Chinda and others to impeach President Buhari for refusal to honour the House’s summons over worsening insecurity in the country, took a turn recently with Majority Leader, Aminu Doguwa threatening sanctions.

Leader of the House Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PPD, Kingsley Chinda, had called for the impeachment of President Buhari for failing to stick to his earlier promise to appear before the House and address the issue of rampant insecurity in the country.

Doguwa said Chinda’s position was an embarrassment to members and that the caucus leader acted alone and without clearance from his party.

He said the leadership of the House was in contact with the leaders of the opposition party to know that Chinda was pursuing a personal agenda to drive a wedge between the House and the Presidency.

He said; “We are in touch with the PDP members in the House and that he, (Chinda) does not represent their views. He has embarrassed the House with his comments. There was never a time that the PDP met to take that decision. It was because of Chinda’s statement that the

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President became embarrassed and decided to cancel the invitation. He felt that if he honoured the invitation, he may be embarrassed. He would be punished for embarrassing the House”.

In his reaction, Chinda said he too was embarrassed by Doguwa’s position and asked; “Is Dogowa a member of the House caucus of the PDP? Is he the spokesperson of the executive to give Nigerians reasons Mr. President must not honour the House invitation? The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami said the House has no legal powers to invite the President. Which one do we believe”.

Recall that on Tuesday, December 8, the House acting on the global reaction to the murder of 101 rice farmers in Zarbamari village in Borno State, resolved to invite Buhari to give explanations to the lawmakers over worsening insecurity in the country.

On December 13, Chinda issued a statement that Buhari had failed in his primary duty to protect live and property in the country and Nigerians should compel their representatives in the National Assembly to start impeachment proceedings against him. Chinda also called on the Federal Executive Council to declare Buhari incapacitated.

In his reaction, the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, described Chinda’s stand as illogical and said it was a distraction to members who were eagerly awaiting Buhari’s coming to the House.

Attorney-General of Federation and Minister

of Justice, Abubakar Malami later said the members had no legal rights to invite the President

Senator Adamu Abdullahi representing Nasarawa State in the Senate , a former Governor of Nasarawa State , at the wake of the #EndSARS protest categorically pointed at some southern politicians for sponsoring the protest that it was a coup to overthrow the Buhari Government

While Bola Ahmed Tinubu , was not mentioned, the former governor of Lagos state told the press he was the target of the whole brouhaha.

When the House resumed from its two weeks recess after the #EndSARS protests. Also Speaker, Gbajabiamila’s position according to AljazirahNigeria sources in the House further infuriated the Pro-Buhari members, rather than toeing the part of Northern elders led by Senator Adamu, Gbajabiamila had called for the compensation of the victims of the protests.

The Speaker has said that the House will make provision in the 2021 budget to pay compensation to families of those who died during the nationwide EndSARS protest.

The Speaker also said that the resolve of the House to ensure that a comprehensive reforms is carried out within the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to make it people friendly.

Addressing his colleagues at the plenary, the Speaker said: “The people that we represent have spoken, and the government has listened. The President has unequivocally dissolved SARS. The House had reached some resolutions on the issue. It shows that we’re on the same page with the Nigerian people”.

Also speaking when he received a delegation led by popular Nigerian singer, David Adeleke (Davido), who came on a courtesy visit to convey to the Parliament deep grief of the Nigerian people over police brutality, the Speaker said the House identified with the need to reform the police and had taken steps to address the situation, such as the recent Police Reform.

Among the victims were Ahmed Tinubu whose Television Continental, TVC and the Nation Newspapers were vandalized .

“ I have been a defender of the president and would continue to do so. But our fault is that we are too trusting. The average northerner is too trusting and submissive to constituted authorities. We are not subversive to constituted authorities by nature, tradition and attitude. That

is why sometimes we are taken for fools, but we are not foolish. It is a matter of loyalty; we are too loyal to think about sabotaging constituted authorities. We are too loyal to do so because it is not in our character”, Senator Adamu told AljazirahNigeria.

In fact, Yakubu Dogara, a former Speaker and Hon. Blessing Onuh have been penciled down to head the leadership of the House.

Recalled that Hon. Dogara and Hon. Blessing Onuh recently decamped from PDP and APGA respectively recently to the APC.

Acording to an insider Dogara has told the APC leaders that he would rather shop for a candidate for the leadership, but sources close to Dogara told AljazirahNigeria, that Dogara may spring a surprise by accepting to lead the House again.

The choice of Hon. Blessing Onuh, according the source will enjoy the support of female members in the House.

A pro Buhari supporter in the House confided in AljazirahNigeria, that the group felt Gbajabiamila is playing the spoiler because of Tinubu’s presidential ambition; to stabilize the House ‘Dogara’ will put an end to the leading roles of the opposition in the House.

Indeed the leadership of the House who are aware of the development has been trying to douse the fire stoked by Hon. Kingsley Chinda . Benjamin Kalu, pro spokesperson for the House of Representatives, has said the invitation extended to President Muhammadu Buhari was not aimed at ridiculing him over security matters.

Hon. Kalu, while speaking with journalists on Thursday in Abuja, said the president was rather invited for engagement with the House on ways to address security challenges in the country.

He said the idea of the invitation was to have a feedback mechanism on the security situation in the country, adding that the partnership established by the 9th Assembly with the Executive will be sustained.

He, however, said that since Nigeria was operating a democracy hinged on party supremacy, the president can decide to follow the advice of his party on any issue.

“The president is not more powerful than the party, but if he took a decision and his party took another, he must oblige with the party”, he said.

Hon. Kalu said the House did not act in error by inviting the president, adding that the House had the right to investigate issues bothering the country.

President Buhari was slated to address a joint session of the National Assembly after he had initially accepted to honour the invitation extended to him by the House of Representatives.

The president, however, declined to honour the invitation after he was advised by the APC NEC following a motion moved by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and seconded by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Mr. Akeredolu had prevailed on the president to decline the invitation, saying honouring such invitation could instigate State Houses of Assembly to begin inviting their governors to speak on sundry issues.

While some lawyers and analysts have sided with the Attorney General’s position but some of the senior lawyers like Femi Falana and Mike Ozekhome ,however, disagreed with him, saying the lawmakers have the powers to summon the president to appear before them

On his own part, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, argued that the National Assembly has no constitutional powers to summon the President to appear before it.



@aljazirahnewsng



President Buhari was slated to address a joint session of the National Assembly after he had initially accepted to honour the invitation extended to him by the House of Representatives.

“

Gbajabiamila

Plot To Impeach Gbajabiamila, Deputy ThickensDogara stages comeback, Hon. Onuh to replace Wase





By ABdul lAteef BAmgBose

The National Assembly rounded up the 2020 in a melodrama after series of vacations, recesses with the passage of the 2021 budget to climax its activities.

The 9th National Assembly has been described in many quarters as a rubber stamp a position that it has variously decried.

On Wednesday, August 28, 2019, Ahmed Lawan, the President of the Senate and leader of the 9th NASS declared at a town hall meeting in his Yobe North Constituency that the 9th NASS would not fail Buhari, thus pledging allegiance to the president and not the people who elected him, at whose pleasure he serves. This aberration is the very first of its kind. No leader of the legislature has ever declared open allegiance to the executive which the legislature exists to put in check, since 1861 when the history of the legislative council began in Nigeria. It’s important to note that those ones were appointed, not elected yet none felt they need to pledge and prove their subservience to the executive, as their benefactors. No president of the senate since its inception in 1959 has even committed such a serious blunder before Lawan did such last year.

The 8th NASS resolved that clearing ministers for appointment in 2015 that henceforth, executive lists of ministerial nominees should come along with their portfolios for better confirmation hearings. In the 9th NASS, Lawan repudiated that senate resolution in order to please Buhari by accepting a ministerial list without portfolios. This has in part been responsible for confirming the worst set of ministers in the country’s history.

Two years after the relationship between the executive and the legislatures have been rancorous and on a free fall.

The highlight of the legislative activities ending on December 23, bears testimonies, the passage of the 2021 budget estimate did not come without its own drama, as the passage was delayed when it became obvious they were closing the year without salary and the usual Christmas and New Year hampers.

The 2021 budget estimate was eventually passed on Monday last week raising the proposed estimate of N13.082 trillion to N13.588 trillion.

This is an increase of N505 billion from the proposed figures presented by the executive.

This budget was passed on Monday by both the Senate and the House of Representatives during their special plenary held mainly to pass the budget ahead of the Christmas and New Year break.

The lawmakers are sticking to the $40 per barrel benchmark price of crude but asked President Buhari to send a supplementary budget because of the increase in oil price in the international market which is hovering between 47-50 dollars per barrel.

This supplementary budget is expected to fund critical areas in the country.

Key assumptions in the 2021 budget include:

Statutory transfer- N496.528 billionRecurrent expenditure- N5.641 trillionCapital expenditure- N4.125 trillionDebt servicing- N3.324 trillion

GDP growth rate – 3.00%President Muhammadu Buhari had

submitted an N13.082 trillion budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on October 8th, 2020.

The 2021 budget was christened the budget of economic recovery and resilience aimed at accelerating the pace of Nigerian economic recovery, promote diversification, enhance competitiveness, and ensure social inclusion.

Before the passage of the 2020 budget estimate, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on penultimate Tuesday, swore in four senators recently elected through bye-elections in states across the country.

The new Senators include Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (Lagos East), Senator Henry Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West), Senator Cleopas Moses (Bayelsa Central), and Senator Nora Ladi Dadu’ut (Plateau South).

Meanwhile, four of the six senatorial bye-elections seats became vacant due to the death of their former occupants from Cross River North, Imo North, Lagos East and Plateau south.

CONTROVERSIESAgainst the permutations that the 9th Assembly which leadership was imposed by the Executive with the leadership toeing

the paths of the executive, the relationship between the Executive remarkably took the worse path with the invitation of President Mohammadu Buhari by the House of Representatives to address the rising insecurity in Nigeria.

Indications were rife that President Muhammadu Buhari could renege on his promise to appear before the House of Representatives to explain the country’s security challenges.

The President had opted to speak to a joint session of the National Assembly (the Senate and House of Representatives) after he was summoned by the House in the wake of Boko Haram’s beheading of scores of rice farmers in Zarbamari village, Borno State. The House had, after a rowdy session on December 1, passed unanimous resolution to summon President Buhari to render account of his effort to tackle the spate of insecurity in the polity.

Following the invitation, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila had visited President Buhari in Aso Villa and announced that the President was ready to appear before the House of Reps members to answer crucial questions on the Federal Government’s anti-insurgency war, considering yearly budget approvals for defence.

Considering his subsequent communication with the National Assembly, President Buhari was scheduled to address the joint session today (Thursday) but Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had issued a statement saying that the National Assembly had no constitutional power to summon President Buhari on operational use of the Armed Forces.

Already, the sudden change of position by the Executive arm of government, as announced by AGF Malami, has tore the legislatures apart, with the Senate distancing itself from the invitation.

Malami noted that the management and control of the security sector was exclusively vested in the President by Section 218 (1) of the Constitution as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, including the power to determine the operational use of the Armed Forces.

“An invitation that seeks to put the operational use of the Armed Forces to a

public interrogation is, indeed, taking the constitutional rights of lawmaking beyond bounds.

“As the Commander in Chief, the President has exclusivity on security and has confidentiality over security.

The indication that Buhari might not be appearing before the lawmakers became rife , after Speaker Gbajabiamila, who presided over the plenary of the House of Representatives deliberately skipped the issue relating to the admittance of President Buhari as listed in the Order Paper of the House.

The issue as listed on the order paper reads: “Admittance into the Chamber: Hon. Garba Alhassan Ado: “That the House, pursuant to Order 19, Rule 8 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders, do admit into the Chamber, the Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Service Chiefs and other dignitaries for the purpose of receiving an Address by the President and Commander–In –Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the Security situation in the country”.

The Speaker did not offer an explanation as to why he skipped the issue, which required the endorsement of the 360-member lower legislative chamber.

It was learnt that the decision was to shield the President from any form of embarrassment from the ranks of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House.

THE Senate said that it was not concerned about whether, or not, President Buhari appeared before the House of Representatives because it never invited him.

The Upper legislative chamber also said that it would respond to claims by the Attorney General of the Federation Malami that the National Assembly lacked powers to invite the President after it had fully reviewed the statement.

“See Section.88 & 89 of the Constitution. Note the difference between invitation and a summons. The AGF’s argument is placed on a very wrong foundation and another circus show.”

Gbillah (PDP: Benue) described Malami’s explanation as an affront to the 1999 Constitution. “We have already done what the Constitution specifies. The President is not above the law. The Constitution makes it very clear in section 88 that, by resolution (which was what was taken last week), we have the power to direct, to investigate and to invite.

“The legislative powers and privileges Act also gives us the power to summon anybody to the House or Committee of the House. So, it is unfortunate that somebody like the Attorney General can issue such a shameful statement referring to certain provisions of the Constitution and ignoring others to give a defence as to why the President is not going to appear.

THREAT TO IMPEACH PRESIDENT MuHAMMADu BuHARIThe People’s Democratic Party, PDP, caucus in the House of Representatives said it will commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari if the “calculated blackmail” against the National

National Assembly 2020: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The President had opted to speak to a joint session of the National Assembly (the Senate and House of Representatives) after he was summoned by the House in the wake of Boko Haram’s beheading of scores of rice farmers in Zarbamari village, Borno State.

“

Gbajabiamila Lawan

continue on page 13

special report e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng






Assembly and insecurity in the country is not checked.

The caucus, in a statement issued on Monday by its leader, Kingsley Chinda, gave a four-week ultimatum to the Executive “to provide security to Nigerians and commence proper cleaning of the embarrassing and notorious corruption cases (EFCC and NDDC).”

It said if not, “We shall revert to the relevant sections of the constitution and commence impeachment proceedings in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

To impeach a sitting president will require the assent of two-thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly. Both Houses have 469 combined lawmakers.

The National Assembly website shows that the PDP is in the minority in both Houses with 174 lawmakers (House, 134; Senate, 40), while the APC has 274 (House, 210; Senate, 64).

Nonetheless, the opposition caucus said it will instigate the impeachment process due to the “the behaviours of appointees of the Executive arm…. who continue to show disrespect for the constitution”.

FESTUS KAYEMO WALKED OUT ON THE JOINT SESSION“Recall three of several events of the 2020. On Thursday, July 16, 2020, a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour walked out on the House Committee on Diaspora

Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour, who appeared before the Joint Ad-Hoc Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity walked out on the Committee over disagreement that arose between him and the Committee on two specific questions.

The NDDC PROBE The Ag Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Daniel Pondei, walked out on the Committee of the House of Representatives charged with the responsibility of investigating the financial scandal that has rocked the Commission. Again, regardless of his reasons, a walkout on the Parliament is inexcusable”.

The caucus said while the three arms of government should work as one, no one arm is superior to the other.

The opposition lawmakers also accused the Executive of taking the legislature and judiciary as prisoners in order to hijack them, supplant them into obsequious rubber stamps arms, thereby subverting the constitution.

They also bemoaned the spate of killings of Nigerians by both state and non-state actors.

THE EXECUTIVE IGNORES NASS CALL FOR SACK OF SERVICE CHIEFSA session of the senate and House of Representatives have called for the change

in the security architecture of Nigeria, the house specifically in its resolution stated that the

Security is at its lowest ebb. Terrorists, kidnappers and bandits have taken over vast ungoverned swathes of our country. Katsina, the home state of the Commander-in- Chief is on its knees. In fact, everywhere is unsafe in our country.

“The internal security of the country has been compromised as Boko Haram continues to inflict violence and death on Nigerians, while President Buhari continues to sound like the broken record.”

In spite the reverberating calls by the NASS the executive has vehemently refused to sack the service chiefs whose tenures have long expired and were said in many quarters to have run out of ideas.

BILL SPONSOREDOf the 9th National Assembly (NASS) with only 7 women (representing 6.4% one of the lowest in the world — with only 1 woman out of 57 senators from the 19 states of the entire northern Nigeria) 2 women are among the 10 best performing senators by number of bills sponsored. The 2 incidentally are from Anambra, Stella Oduah (Anambra North) with 26 bills, and Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) 16 bills.

In the House of Representatives with 360 members, and only 11 females, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha from Abia is number 7 on the list of top 10 with 19 bills. The women are clearly making a point. Incidentally, all of them are from the South-east.

This 9th NASS also has by far more proposed bills than previous National Assemblies. For instance, Nkem Abonta (Abia) who is third on the list of top in the House of Representatives already has 30 proposed bills in this first year, whereas he had 65 in the entire 8th NASS. Abbas Tajudeen (Kaduna) who is currently top on the list has 59 proposed bills.

Plateau appears to have the most hard working legislators in this regard, with 3 in the top 10 in both the Senate and the House: Simon Mwadkom, is the 6th in the House with 22 bills; Dachung Bagos, 4th with 27; and Istifanus Gyang, 4th on the list of the top 10 in the Senate, with 11 bills, with this 9th NASS that’s positive.

ECONOMY OF LOCKDOWNThe 9th NASS has failed to pass any COVID-19 legislation at all, which would have, among other things, provided clear guidelines to navigate this trying season and provided funds to cushion its effects also for research for vaccines and other scientific solutions to it. It would have stated who is eligible to access the various funds and how, along with accountability mechanisms for them. It would have included a stimulus package to keep the economy afloat, bonuses for essential workers like health workers, journalists, etc. Every serious country has COVID-19 legislation, others have more than 1.

Rather, they preferred the lazy way of passing motions (which are non-binding) asking the government to release monies piecemeal, including 15 billion naira to Kano, which by the way had denied having issues with COVID-19, in the first place. Despite being taunted by the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, on behalf of the executive to come up with COVID-19 legislation, they failed. It should be noted that nothing has stopped the executive from sending an executive bill to NASS. Many COVID-19 legislations around the world originated from the executive arm. The Emergency Economic Stimulus Bill passed by the House has not been ratified by the senate for assent by Buhari to become a law. It’s lying somewhere fallow.

More than half of the proposed bills in the 9th NASS are establishment bills.

...The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

We shall revert to the relevant sections of the constitution and commence impeachment proceedings in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

“

FROM page 12

special report e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng







By yahaya Umar

At a time many Nigerians are grumbling about the increase in electricity tariff, commissioners and members of the board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), illegally paid themselves billions as salaries, severance entitlements and to purchase exotic cars, which were allegedly registered in their names.

The decisions of the commissioners are in clear violations of the extant regulations such as the Procurement Act 2007 and the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005.

NERC was established in October 2005 after the enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005. The commission’s mandate includes licensing, determining operating codes and standards, establishing customer rights and obligations and setting cost reflective of industry tariffs.

The agency, by law, is funded through 1.5 percent of charges paid to the distribution companies by electricity customers. But since its establishment, the agency has been mired in financial scandals.

Its first board, led by Ransome Owan, was dissolved in 2008 over an allegation of corruption. An administrator was appointed to head the commission until 2010 before a new board led by Sam Amadi was constituted.

However, the Mr. Amadi-led board was also accused of illegally allocating huge sums as severance packages for the board members, among other allegations. The allegations were denied.

According to the petitioner, the seven commissioners of NERC recently paid N75 million each to themselves amounting to a total sum of N525 million for the purchase of exotic cars. The cars were also registered in their names.

Earlier in 2018, the board, through its supervising ministry, submitted a memo to President Muhammadu Buhari through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to seek approval for the purchase of sport utility vehicles (Toyota Land Cruiser) for its seven commissioners to the tune of N450 million.

Irritated by what was described as an insensitive request, the FEC rejected the request and advised the agency to patronise Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Limited, a local vehicle manufacturing company that is based in Anambra State.

Dissatisfied with the president’s decision, the board circumvented the directive by paying each of the commissioners N75 million.

According to our sources, the money was then used by the commissioners to import sport utility vehicles from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while other sedan vehicles were purchased from other unidentified sources.

The petition reads in part; “From these monies, six exotic and expensive jeeps were bought from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and seven utility vehicles from various sources with each commissioner having one SUV jeep and another sedan vehicle, while the chairman only bought a car, having inherited upon resumption, a newly acquired SUV as his operational vehicle.

All procured vehicles were registered in the names of these commissioners despite the fact that they had, from inception, allocated to

themselves, the best of the commission’s SUV and other cars as operational vehicles, fully maintained by the commission, inclusive of attached drivers by the commission for close to 42 months.”

The petitioner added that the vehicles were bought less than 16 months to the end of the tenure of the commissioners as that the process did not follow the Public Procurement Act.

Severance PackageIn a manner similar to its predecessor, the current board of the agency also allegedly approved the payment of huge sums to the commissioners as severance packages even while its tenure is far from ending.

According to the petition, the illegal increase in the salaries of the commissioner amounting to about 200 per cent of the approved scale by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, has further increased what each of the commissioners budgeted for themselves as a severance package.

The current remuneration of the commissioners of NERC is also against the directives of the house committee on power as shown in the attached report. The commissioners also approved and paid themselves a humongous sum as Covid-19 palliative and special duties allowance with total disregard to the same section of the Act,” the petitioner wrote.

According to the report referred to by the petitioner, the chairperson of the NERC board currently earns an annual income of N83.4 million as against N59.9 million approved by the wages commission.

The commissioners also jerked up their salaries and emoluments in total disregard for Section 42, Subsection 1 (a) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act 2005. The act recommends that payments of salaries and emoluments to the commissioners and staff of the agency must be approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

According to the petition, the commissioners allocated more than N320 million as severance packages to each of themselves. Their aides and those of their predecessors, who were said to have been appointed illegally, were also beneficiaries of the severance largesse.

In violation of the federal government’s circular referenced B63833/73 of January 7, 2000, which pegs political appointees capable of appointing special and personal assistants to ministers and special advisers

to the President, the board is said to have consistently approved the appointment of personal assistants and special advisers to all the commissioners.

Meanwhile, a 2013 audit report from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation on the agency, frowned on such appointments, and demanded retrieval of all the financial benefits enjoyed by such appointees from their principals.

However, rather than heeding the caution of the auditor general, the incumbent board of the commission allegedly went on to pay severance packages of up to N12 million to each of the former aides to the ex-commissioners.

The auditor general’s report, which is contained in a memo dated April 30, 2013 and referenced DCS/MUC.189/CORP/5, listed nine “illegal” aides appointed by the then commissioners.

The memo reads in part; “These appointments, however, contravenes the provision of Circular Ref. No. B.63833/73 dated January 7, 2000, which implied that only Hon. Ministers and Special Advisers to Mr. President are entitled to and can appoint one SA and one PA each from outside the service. Therefore, the appointment of SA and PA by political office holders such as chairman and commissioners of the commission who are not in the category identified in the circular was wrong and improper.

More so, the various sums paid to these assistants in the form of salaries, allowances, DTA, estacode, etc, are viewed as illegal disbursement of public funds since their appointment clearly violates the provision of extant circular.”

The memo, therefore, recommended official disengagement of the assistants, and that “amounts so far paid to each of these assistants in form of salaries, allowances, duty tour allowances and estacodes allowances, etc, should be ascertained and recovered from each of the commissioners who enjoyed their services and evidence of recovery should be forwarded to my office for confirmation.”

aljazirahnigeria cannot ascertain whether the refunds were made, but further findings revealed that the circular referenced by the auditor general has not been vacated by the government.

BudgetS n2Bn For oFFice PartitioningIn its 2021 budget proposal, the agency allocated N2 billion for the partitioning and furnishing of its eight-storey headquarters’

building.This angered the House of Representatives’

committee on power, especially following the failure of the then chairperson of the commission, Mr Momoh, to give details of the budgetary allocation.

The lawmakers threatened to delete the allocation from the agency’s proposal if they could not be provided with contract sum and other details.

But in less than 24 hours after the lawmakers’ decision, the agency, on November 5, posted a statement on its website, denying what was contained in its budget proposal submitted to lawmakers.

The statement, which was simply credited to the management of the agency, stated that; “The Commission further clarifies that no contracts in the sum of NGN2bn (Two Billion Naira) have been awarded to any person or company for the purpose of renovating and/or furnishing of the head office complex in Abuja. The ONLY capital project included in the 2021 budgetary appropriation is a request for the provision of a sum of NGN294,064,276 for the partitioning and furnishing of the head office complex in Abuja. This project is being implemented in phases in alignment with the projected cash flows of the Commission and in accordance with the approval granted by the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of July 11, 2018.”

Speaking on the phone with our reporter, the immediate past chairperson of the commission, Mr Momoh, confirmed that the EFCC had earlier raised similar queries with the commission and that responses were already submitted to the anti-graft body.

He, however, declined further comments on the matter, saying he had already stepped down and that his successor and former deputy, Sanusi Garba, was in the best position to answer the questions.

aljazirahnigeria had reported Mr. Momoh’s appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to be granted an exception to continue his term in office. But the president instead nominated Mr Garba, an engineer from Katsina, to take over as the chairperson.

Even though my appointment was for five years, it is the prerogative of Mr. President to allow me to continue as chair. That was not done, so a new chair is in place. He is Sanusi Garba. My appointment was terminated based on age since they said the Act says so. But the Act also forgets to state that when you are given an appointment for a five-year term, you are meant to serve out your term. But unfortunately, they didn’t follow my appointment letter,” he told our reporter on the phone.

commiSSion reFuteS allegationSWhen contacted, the new NERC chairperson neither picked calls to his two telephone lines nor responded to both text and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

But the agency’s spokesperson, Michael Faloseyi, said though he does not attend the board meeting of the commission, he could confirm that the allegations are false.

Speaking on the phone with our reporter, Mr Faloseyi said; “The commission is a credible organization; we don’t engage in anything without following due processes. And as far as I’m concerned, all the issues raised are considered rather spurious. There is no truth in all the issues raised. But you must know that I don’t attend board meetings. However, the commission has been transparent enough to communicate most of its decisions appropriately. So most of the issues being raised are considered non-existent and spurious. They are a figment of some people’s imagination.”

NERC Mired In Scandals, Officials Allegedly Share Billions As Severance Packages

The lawmakers threatened to delete the allocation from the agency’s proposal if they could not be provided with contract sum and other details.

“

Commission refutes allegations



@aljazirahnewsng


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وحول موضوع العدادات الوطنیة قال إن البرنامج یسیر باطراد في منطقة

امتیازه ، كما أكد على استعداد الشركة لعداد جمیع العمالء الذین یقومون حالیا لیس لدیك عداد أو

عداداتھا معطلة.

في AEDC ومع ذلك ، لن تترددفصل العمالء الذین یفشلون لتسویة فاتورة الكھرباء الخاصة بھم بدقة

وفي الوقت المناسب ".

غیر المنقطعة ، یجب أن یلتزم العمالء أیضا بتقلید دفع مقابل

الكھرباء التي یستھلكونھا ألن ھذا ھو أحد العوامل الحاسمة للبقاء على قید

الحیاة للصناعة." "ولھذا السبب أنشأنا فریق االستجابة

السریعة الخاص الذي سیستجیب للشكاوى بسرعة من أجل توضیح أي

خطأ من ذلك "بینما تتمنى للعمالء عید میالد مجید وعام جدید مزدھر ،

على القدوم AEDC حثتھم شركةإلى ھناك بشكل صارم مع

بروتوكوالت السالمة المرتبطة باستخدام الكھرباء ومقاومة الرغبة

في اللجوء إلى االستخدام غیر القانوني للكھرباء. سلعة من قبل

العمالء.

األعیاد تماما ألن العمالء ال یتسامحون مطلقا مع االنقطاعات كما ھو الحال دائما.

"تماما كما نلتزم بإمدادات الطاقة

أكدت شركة توزیع الكھرباء في للعمالء في منطقة (AEDC) أبوجااالمتیاز الخاصة بھا توفیر إمدادات ثابتة للطاقة خالل عید المیالد ، وقد

كشف السید أویبود فادیبي ، مدیر عام عن ، AEDC اتصاالت الشركة في

ذلك في مدینة أبوجا.

نحن ندرك حقیقة أن الطلب على الكھرباء یزداد دائما خالل موسم

وقال فادیبي یوم األربعاء إنھ من أجل ضمان ثبات اإلمداد خالل الفترة ، تم

تشكیل فریق خاص لالستجابة السریعة لتعزیز وتقویة الھیكل الحالي

، مشیرا إلى أنھ تم تشكیل الفریق للرد على شكاوى العمالء.

یولیتیدي: شركة توزیع الكھرباء في أبوجا تطمئن العمالء على توفیر إمدادات ثابتة للطاقة

یوقع الحاكم أوماھي 2021میزانیة

، ویشید بدعم بخاري القائم على النوع االجتماعي

سلطان یحث دعاة المجتمع على القضاء على العنف

أطلق ناما ``عملیة عیون النسر'' ، ویحذر من

القیادة المتھورة

"لم تفضل أي إدارة في البالد إیبوني في جمیع التشعبات مثل إدارة محمد

بخاري." إن خطوات البنیة التحتیة في الدولة لیست نتاج التخصیص من

الحساب الفیدرالي أو اإلیرادات المولدة داخلیا ، ولكن األموال

المخصصة التي قدمھا الرئیس لتطویر نیجیریا.

"یشمل الدعم المقدم من الرئیس: استرداد البنیة التحتیة لجمیع الوالیات

التي أعادت بناء الطرق الفیدرالیة ، وأموال اإلنقاذ ، ودعم المیزانیة ، والقروض الزراعیة ، والصغیرة

والمتوسطة وقال: "صندوق المشاریع ، الدعم اإلعالمي ، من بین أمور

أخرى" مجلس النواب بالوالیة لضمان سرعة تمریر المیزانیة

وتعھدت بضمان تنفیذھا الحكیم. "أشكر قیادة الحكومات المحلیة للوالیة على ضمان تنحي سیاساتنا وبرامجنا على المستوى الشعبي وقد أدى ذلك

إلى تعزیز رفاھیة الشعب. لقد حدد رؤساء المجالس وتیرة العمل

في البالد من خالل إنشاء ثالثة كیلومترات من الطرق الخرسانیة في

مناطقھم ، وتمكین شعبنا بشكل كبیر ، وإنشاء المدارس من بین مشاریع أخرى من شأنھا النھوض بالحیاة.

وقد وقع الحاكم دیفید أوماھي من إیبوني على میزانیة ٢٠٢١ البالغة ١٢٣ ملیار نایرا في قانون ینسب

تحول البنیة التحتیة للوالیة إلى دعم اإلدارة التي یقودھا الرئیس محمد

بخاري ، وقال الحاكم إنھ على عكس الوالیات األخرى ، سیقدر إبوني لفتة

الرئیس ، مشیرا إلى أن الدولة اعترفت بعمق مثل ھذا الدعم.

أعطى السید سیغون أفوالیان ، رئیس العملیات في ناما في والیات إیكیتي وأوسون وأوندو ، التحذیر في أدو-

إیكیتي عند إطالق "عملیة عین النسر" لتوعیة مستخدمي الطریق بالحاجة إلى تبني تدابیر السالمة

خالل یولیتیدي .

ووفقا لھ ، فإن معظم الحوادث على الطرق النیجیریة یمكن تجنبھا ، على ھذا النحو یجب مواصلة الجھود للحد من اإلصابات والوفیات على الطرق ، وقال أفوالیان إن العملیة التي بدأت في البالد األسبوع الماضي ستستمر

حتى ٣١ دیسمبر ٢٠٢٠ وما بعده.

موضحا أن العملیة بالتعاون مع أصحاب المصلحة اآلخرین تھدف

إلى الحد من الحوادث وحاالت الطوارئ األخرى على الطرق

النیجیریة ، في أعقاب االزدحام المروري المرتبط بموسم األعیاد.

أفادت الجزیرة نیجیریا أن العملیة كان لھا مسؤولون من الھیئة

االتحادیة للسالمة على الطرق (FRSC) ، دائرة اإلطفاء الفیدرالیة

، فیلق األمن والدفاع المدني والشرطة (NSCDC) النیجیري

والصلیب األحمر النیجیري

قال أفوالیان إن المدیر العام لـ ناما ، قال في ، (rtd) أ بي أم محمد محمدوقت سابق إنھ كان ھناك الحاجة إلى أن یعمل أصحاب المصلحة معا في

تثقیف الناس وخاصة سائقي

حذرت الوكالة الوطنیة إلدارة سائقي (NEMA) الطوارئ

السیارات من القیادة المتھورة خالل احتفاالت عید المیالد ورأس السنة

الجدیدة.

مقطع عرضي لبعض المؤمنین المسیحیین خالل قداس عید المیالد في دیسمبر.25ي یوال یوم الجمعة كنیسة اإلیمان الحي ، خیمیتا

األمیر یحث حكومة زامفارا على تقلیص العجز السكني

وناشد أھالي الدولة بالصالة لمواجھة التحدیات األمنیة التي تواجھ الدولة

والبالد بشكل عام. دعا المدیر الوحید ، حكومة تاالتا مفارة المحلیة الحاج

أبو بكر موسى ، إلى مشاریع إضافیة في جمیع القطاعات في المنطقة.

وحث الحاج أبو بكر ماكاو ، المدیر الوحید للحكومة المحلیة في باكورا ، في االجتماع ، الحكومة على النظر في المنطقة في عام ٢٠٢١ المقترح

إنشاء إمارات جدیدة.

المجتمعات حول المیزانیة قبل إقرارھا النھائي.

كما قال أحمد بالعربي ، المدیر الوحید للحكومة المحلیة في أنكا ، إنھ یرید میزانیة ٢٠٢١ لمواجھة التحدیات

األمنیة وتوفیر فرص العمل من خالل قطاع التعدین.

أفادت قناة الجزیرة النیجیریة أن االجتماع تم تنظیمھ باالشتراك بین

وزارة المیزانیة والتخطیط االقتصادي ومجلس النواب الستطالع آراء

قال محمد بارمو أن اإلمارات ستدعم وتتعاون مع اإلدارة الحالیة في الدولة

لتقدیم مشاریع ذات مغزى للشعب. وحث المواطنین على االستمرار في

الدعاء ضد التحدیات األمنیة في الدولة. وشكر األمیر حكومة الوالیة على االجتماع الذي قال إنھ سیجعل

الناس على مستوى القاعدة یشاركون في الحكم.

بیطري حدیث في المنطقة. وقال: "الحظنا في میزانیة ٢٠٢١

مخصصات إلنشاء مستشفیات بیطریة في منطقتي كاورا-نامودا وغوساو ،

نرید أن تستفید منطقة تاالتا مافارا من ھذا المشروع".

حث أمیر تالتة-مفارة الحاج بیلو محمد بارمو حكومة زامفارا على

تقلیص العجز السكني الذي یواجھ بلدة تالتة مفارة.

نحن على درایة بخطة حكومة الوالیة في میزانیة ٢٠٢١ لتوفیر ١٠٠٠٠

منزل في جمیع أنحاء الوالیة.

كما دعا األمیر إلى إنشاء مستشفى

أجرى محمد بارمو المكالمة في تالتة-مفارة یوم الثالثاء ، في اجتماع مجلس المدینة في غرب زامفرا بشأن

مشروع قانون التخصیص للوالیة لعام .٢٠٢١

نرید أن تضم الحكومة بلدة تاالتا مفارة ضمن المستفیدین من ھذه

المشاریع. قال: "لدینا تحدي اإلسكان بالنظر إلى المؤسسات العلیا الموجودة

في مدینة تالتة-مفارة ، مثل جامعة الوالیة والبولیتكنیك.

مشروع مبادرة بقعة ضوء ھو الراعي للبرنامج الذي یدعمھ االتحاد األوروبي واألمم المتحدة ، بالشراكة مع حكومة نیجیریا االتحادیة ، والذي

یھدف إلى القضاء على العنف ضد النساء والفتیات.

قال المدیر العام للمؤسسة ، الدكتور أمینو إینوا ، إن التدریب یھدف إلى

تحدید ومناقشة االنتشار المرتفع للعنف ضد النساء والفتیات ، وكذلك تطویر استراتیجیات لتعزیز معاییر

المساواة بین الجنسین واالستجابة الفعالة لقضایا العنف القائم على النوع

االجتماعي في المجتمع.

دعا سلطان سوكوتو الحاج سعد أبو بكر الثالث المدافعین عن المجتمع لدورة تدریبیة ضد العنف الجنسي

والعنف القائم على النوع االجتماعي لیكونوا دعاة جیدین للقضاء على جمیع أشكال العنف في المجتمع.

أفادت الجزیرة النیجیریة أن الجھد كان یھدف إلى منع العنف ضد النساء

والعنف ، (VAWG) والفتیاتالجنسي والعنف القائم على النوع

، (SGBV) االجتماعيوالحق ، (HP) والممارسات الضارة

في الصحة اإلنجابیة الجنسیة (SRHR).

قالت إنوا إن المشاركین تبادلوا الخبرات في التعامل مع ضحایا

العنف الجنسي والعنف القائم على ودعمھم (SGBV) النوع االجتماعي

ومناصرتھم ، باإلضافة إلى تدریب المدافعات على إشراك القادة

المجتمعیین والدینیین بشكل أفضل على جمیع المستویات.

ودعا السلطان ، الذي مثلھ أمیر أرغونغو الحاج سمائیلة میرا ، المشاركین إلى نشر الفھم الجید

للقضایا المكتسبة من التدریب لصالح المجتمع.

أجرى أبو بكر الثالث الدعوة في نھایة دورة تدریبیة استمرت أربعة

أیام لـ ١٦٠ من المدافعین عن المجتمع ضد العنف القائم على النوع

االجتماعي والممارسات الضارة (HP) التي نظمتھا مؤسسة سلطانللسالم والتنمیة ، وھي منظمة غیر حكومیة ، یوم الثالثاء في سوكوتو.

تم تصنیف البرنامج على النحو التالي: "ورشة عمل لتدریب ١٦٠

امرأة وفتاة من المدافعات عن الحقوق على المھارات ذات الصلة لتحسین

التفاعل مع القادة الدینیین والمجتمعیین إلنھاء العنف ضد

النساء والفتیات والممارسات الضارة".

وأشار إلى أن المؤسسة عملت بجد لضمان أن جمیع أحكام قوانین حمایة الطفل تتماشى مع المعتقدات الدینیة ،

مؤكدا أن حاالت العنف القائم على النوع االجتماعي أصبحت مقلقة

والناس قلقون من عدم وجود أحد في مأمن من الجناة.

news in arabic e-mail: [email protected]


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Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddiq Abubakar (middle); Air Officer Commanding, Air Training Command, AVM Musa Mukhtar (left); Emir of Borgu Kingdom, Alhaji Halliru Dantoro and other military officers, during the commissioning of Nigerian Air Force, NAF’s married officers flats and 1.3 Kilometres road in preparation for the expected arrival of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft to the 401 Air Combat Training Group, NAF Base at Kainji in Niger on Wednesday, December 23. PHOTO: IbraHIm bIsHIr/

STORIES BY MARIAM SANI

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has announced the extension of Exercise Sahel Sanity to March 2021 to completely knock out bandits from the North West.

Exercise Sahel Sanity is a real-time military operation inaugurated by Buratai in July to decisively deal with the menace of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling and other criminal activities in Katsina, Zamfara and Sokoto States.

Buratai disclosed this while briefing newsmen during an operational visit to the Special Army Super Camp 1V Faskari in Katsina State.

He said that Nigerian Army had been able to stabilize the security situation in the North West since the commencement of Ex Sahel Sanity in July.

He said the exercise was initially planned to terminate by the end of 2020, adding that the troops had displayed a high level of professionalism, loyalty and commitment.

“As you all know, we initially had the conception to run it for just a month or two but because of the exigencies of the situation, we extended it to end of this year.

“The situation determines our line of action and having accessed the level of successes, we realised that if we call off the exercise at this point, there is likelihood of resurgence because the bandits and other criminals are determined,” he said.

According to him, they may lie low for now and then come up when they see that troops have withdrawn.

Banditry: Nigerian Army Extends Sahel Sanity To March

Author Presents Story Book On Buratai

COAS Inaugurates New Artillery Guns, Artillery Headquarters’ Complex

“We understand the situation and surely we are proceeding again to see how this exercise will be sustained further to the next three months that is from January to March 2021.

“This is the plan but if things stabilize before March 2021, we are likely to call it off but for now, we are going on to the first quarter of next year.

“We hope to reinforce this exercise in terms of personnel and equipment and we will ensure that we carry this important task to its logical

conclusion,” he said.The COAS said that the military had

made tremendous progress through the exercise, adding that the high point of their success was the rescue of the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School Kankara, Katsina State.

He commended all the services and other security agencies in the fight against banditry in the zone, saying the security agencies would not give room for enemies to destabilize the peace and security of the country.

An author, Brain Onu has presented a book entitled: “Buratai, the Biu Boy Warrior” to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.

Onu, while presenting the book on Friday in Abuja, said that the book was a role model and story line

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Kachia, Kaduna State, inspected and inducted a new set of artillery guns and equipment to be deployed for operations in the North East.

Buratai also inaugurated the new Headquarters complex for the Nigerian Army School of Artillery (NASA) as well as inspected several ongoing projects in the school and the barracks’ community.

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Defence, procured

character, dedicated to children of army personnel to inspire them to aspire high.

He said that the book was also designed to support and encouraged children to pursue their dreams to reality.

the brand new artillery guns and equipment.

The guns are field artillery pieces and some of the equipment are vehicle ultra-light carriage for artillery and self propelled light gun series whose identity and specification would not be published for security reasons.

Speaking to journalists after the commissioning ceremony; Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig- Gen. Sagir Musa said the COAS was in NASA to inspect and test fire

He gave assurance that the military would continue to deal with the criminals mercilessly through collaboration with other security agencies and communities to ensure timely intelligence sharing and timely reaction to threats.

According to him, everybody has a responsibility to ensure that the activities of the criminals are checkmated because there must be timely information sharing from the community, the police and the last point is the military.

According to him, the story book is designed to consciously create awareness and inspiration in the minds of the children that they have seeds of greatness in them.

Onu said that his target was the Nigerian Army command schools to

the guns, in line with his vision of ensuring a conducive working environment for officers and men of the Nigerian Army.

“It was in this vein the COAS commissioned the ultra-modern NASA Headquarters here in Kachia today which you just witnessed.

“Given the quality of work done, that singular act is commendable and will help in enhancing the productivity of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery”.

encourage them to see greatness in themselves. Receiving copies of the book on behalf of Buratai, the Chief of Civil-Military Affairs (Army), Maj.-Gen. Hamza Bature, commended the author for his insight in writing the fiction book.

Bature said the effort was aimed at igniting the minds of young ones to observe core values of life to be able to optimize their lives’ potential. He said the author’s effort is a good concept in nation building, adding that the author’s target would go beyond barrack children.

According to him, if you are able to direct a particular number of children to the right path, they will ultimately influence others to follow the right path.

“Children are ornaments of life and the chief of Army Staff is very passionate about the welfare of Nigerian Army personnel and their wards.

“It is not strictly a military task but more of a civil police and civil authority task and this must be very well known to those that have that responsibility.

“The civil authorities have their own responsibility because kidnapping in towns and villages does not require military action.

“First, it requires the civil populace to see how they would alert the police quickly and when the police access the situation and they require our help then the military comes in.

Nigerian Army newsMotto: Victory is from God alone e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng






‘Yan Bindiga: Sojojin Nijeriya Sun Tsawancin Atisayen Sahel Zuwa Watan Maris

Shugaban hafsan sojojin sama, Air Marshal Saddiq Abubakar (M); Kwamandan Sojan Sama, Kwamandan Horar da Sama, AVM Musa Mukhtar (L); Sarkin Masarautar Borgu, Alhaji Halliru Dantoro tare da sauran hafsoshin soja, yayin kaddamar da gidajen hafsoshin sojojin sama na Najeriya da hanyar Kilomita 1.3 a shirye-shiryen isowar jirgin saman A-29 Super Tucano mai zuwa 401 Air Combat Rukunin Horaswa, NAF Base a Kainji a Niger a ranar Laraba, 23 ga Disamba. PHOTO: IbraHIm bIsHIr/bJO/NaN

Babban hafsan sojojin, Laftana-Janar. Tukur Buratai, ya sanar da tsawaita atisayen Sahel zuwa watan Maris na 2021 don fatattakar ‘yan ta’adda daga yankin Arewa maso Yamma. Atisayen Sahel Sanity aiki ne na zahiri wanda Buratai ya buxe a watan Yuli don magance matsalar ta’addanci, satar mutane, satar shanu da sauran ayyukan ta’addanci a jihohin Katsina, Zamfara da Sokoto. Buratai ya bayyana hakan ne lokacin da yake zantawa da manema labarai yayin ziyarar aiki da suka kai wa runduna ta musamman ta Super Camp 1V Faskari a Jihar Katsina.

Ya ce sojojin Nijeriya sun sami damar daidaita yanayin tsaro a yankin Arewa maso Yamma tun lokacin da aka fara aikin San Sahel a watan Yuli. Ya ce da farko an shirya fara atisayen ne zuwa qarshen shekarar 2020, ya qara da cewa sojojin sun nuna qwarewa sosai, da biyayya da kuma jajircewa.

“Kamar yadda ku ka sani ne, da farko mun sami tunanin da za mu tafiyar da shi na tsawon wata xaya ko biyu amma saboda yanayin da ake ciki, sai muka tsawaita shi zuwa qarshen wannan shekarar.

“Halin da ake ciki ya nuna yadda za mu yi aiki da kuma kai wa ga matakin nasarorin, mun fahimci cewa idan muka dakatar da atisayen a wannan lokacin, akwai yiwuwar sake farfadowa saboda ‘yan fashi da sauran masu laifi sun kaddara faruwar hakan,” in ji shi. A cewarsa, suna iya yin qasa-qasa a yanzu sannan su zo idan suka ga sojoji sun janye.

“Mun fahimci halin da ake ciki kuma tabbas muna sake ci gaba don ganin yadda wannan aikin zai ci gaba har zuwa watanni uku masu zuwa daga Janairu zuwa Maris 2021.” Wannan

Buratai Ya Kaddamar Da Sabbin Hedikwatar Bindigogin Artillery

Marubuci Ya Gabatar Da Littafin Mai Suna ‘Buratai The Biu Boy Warrior’

shi ne shirin amma idan abubuwa sun daidaita kafin Maris 2021, muna iya kira shi a karshe amma a yanzu, za mu ci gaba zuwa farkon kwata na shekara mai zuwa.

“Muna fatan karfafa wannan atisayen dangane da ma’aikata da kayan aiki kuma za mu tabbatar da cewa mun gudanar da wannan muhimmin aiki zuwa ga kammalawar da ta dace,” in ji shi.

Tawagar ta COAS ta ce sojojin sun samu ci gaba matuka ta hanyar atisayen, inda ta kara da cewa babban abin da ya sa suka samu nasarar shi

ne kubutar da daliban da aka sace na Makarantar Sakandaren Kimiyya ta Gwamnati da ke Kankara, Jihar Katsina.

Ya yaba wa dukkan jami’an tsaro da sauran jami’an tsaro a yakin da ake yi da ‘yan ta’adda a yankin, yana mai cewa jami’an tsaro ba za su bai wa makiya damar bata zaman lafiya da tsaron kasar ba.

Ya ba da tabbacin cewa sojoji za su ci gaba da magance masu aikata laifuka ba tare da nuna kauna ba ta hanyar hadin gwiwa da sauran hukumomin tsaro da al’ummomi don tabbatar da

Babban hafsan sojan kasa (COAS), Laftanar-Janar Tukur Buratai, a Kachia, Jihar Kaduna, ya duba tare da shigar da sabbin bindigogin atilare da kayan aiki da za a tura domin gudanar da aiki a yankin Arewa maso Gabas.

Wani marubuci, Brain Onu ya gabatar da littafi mai taken: ““Buratai, the Biu Boy Warrior” ga shugaban hafsin sojan kasa, Laftana-Janar Tukur Buratai. Onu, lokacin da yake gabatar da littafin a ranar Juma’a a Abuja, ya ce littafin ya kasance abin koyi da layin labari, wanda aka sadaukar da shi ga yaran ma’aikatan soji don kara musu kwarin gwiwa don samun ci gaba.

Ya ce an kuma tsara littafin ne don tallafa wa da karfafa gwiwa ga yara don biyan burinsu zuwa ga gaskiya. A cewarsa, an tsara littafin labarin ne don samar da wayewa da tunatarwa a zukatan yara cewa suna da kwayar girma a cikinsu. Onu ya ce abin da ya sa

Buratai ya kuma bude sabon katafariyar hedikwata ta makarantar Sojojin Nijeriya (NASA) tare da duba ayyukan da ke gudana a cikin makarantar da kuma ‘yan barikin.

Gwamnatin Tarayya, ta hannun

gaba shi ne makarantun kwamandan Sojojin Nijeriya don karfafa musu gwiwa don ganin sun girmama kansu.

Karbar kwafin littafin a madadin Buratai, Shugaban Sashin Hulda da Jama’a (Soja), Manjo Janar Hamza Bature, ya yaba wa marubucin kan yadda ya fahimta game da rubuta littafin. Bature ya ce kokarin an yi shi ne da nufin kawar da hankulan matasa don lura da muhimman dabi’u na rayuwa domin samun damar inganta rayuwar su.

Ya ce kokarin marubucin tunani ne mai kyau a gina kasa, ya kara da cewa burin marubucin zai wuce yaran bariki. A cewarsa, idan har za ku iya

musayar bayanan sirri a kan lokaci da kuma martani a kan barazanar.

A cewarsa, kowa yana da aikinsa na tabbatar da cewa an binciki ayyukan masu aikata laifuka saboda dole ne a samu musayar bayanai kan lokaci daga al’umma, ‘yan sanda kuma abu na karshe shi ne sojoji.

“Ba lallai ne aikin soja ba amma ya fi na ‘yan sanda farar hula da kuma ikon hukuma kuma wannan dole ne ya zama sananne ga wadanda ke da wannan nauyin. “Hukumomin farar hula suna da nasu alhakin saboda satar mutane a cikin garuruwa da kauyuka

Ma’aikatar Tsaro, ta sayi sabbin bindigogin atilare da kayan aiki. Bindigogin wasu manyan bindigogi ne kuma wasu daga cikin kayan aikin motoci ne masu dauke da manyan bindigogi da kuma kananan bindigogi

jagorantar da wasu adadin yara zuwa hanya madaidaiciya, a karshe za su yi tasiri ga wasu su bi hanyar da ta dace. “Yara kayan ado ne na rayuwa kuma babban hafsan hafsoshin sojan yana matukar son walwalar ma’aikatan sojojin Nijeriya da kuma unguwanninsu.

“Ina so na fada da gaske cewa wannan son zuciyar dole ne ya ba ku kwarin gwiwar yin wannan kirkirarren labari da kuma wasu batutuwa kamar‘ Buratai Cares ’da muka gani a baya. “Hasashenku game da littafin labarin kirkira ne, mai hankali ne kuma mai ma’ana ne zuwa ga mabukata wadanda ‘ya’yan bariki ne.

masu sarrafa kansu wadanda ba za a buga asalinsu da bayaninsu ba saboda dalilai na tsaro.

Da yake magana da manema labarai bayan bikin kaddamarwar; Kakakin rundunar sojin Nijeriya, Birgediya-Sagir Musa ya ce COAS din ta kasance a NASA don dubawa da gwada harba bindigogin, daidai da hangen nesan sa na tabbatar da samar da yanayi mai kyau na aiki ga hafsoshi da sojojin na Nijeriya.

“A cikin wannan yanayin ne COAS ta kaddamar da Hedkwatar NASA ta zamani a nan Kachia yau da kuka gani yanzu. “Dangane da ingancin aikin da aka yi, wannan aikin na kadaici abin yabawa ne kuma zai taimaka wajen habaka kwazon hafsoshi da sojoji na Makarantar Koyon Aikin Soja ta Najeriya”.

“Za a shigar da sabbin bindigogin atilare da COAS ya duba a cikin gidan sansanin Arewa maso Gabas na Operation Lafiya Dole a Arewa maso Gabas”, in ji Musa.

ba ya bukatar daukar matakin soja.“Na farko, yana bukatar jama’a su

ga yadda za su fadakar da ‘yan sanda da sauri kuma lokacin da ‘yan sanda suka sami damar lamarin kuma suna bukatar taimakonmu sai sojoji su shigo.”

A kowane matakin rashin tsaro akwai matakai daban-daban na martani daga al’umma, ‘yan sanda kuma makoma ta karshe ita ce sojoji. “Wannan shi ne layin hadin gwiwar da muke son gani daga yanzu har zuwa karshen shekara da abin da zai biyo baya”, in ji shi.

Nigerian ArmyMotto: Nasara daga Allah kadai take news in hausa





Mai Alfarma Sarkin Musulmi, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, ya yi kira ga horar da masu kare al’umma daga keta haddin Jima’i da Jinsi (SGBV) da su zama masu bayar da shawarwari masu kyau don kawar da duk wani nau’in tashin hankali a cikin al’umma.

Abubakar III, ya yi wannan kiran ne a karshen horon kwana hudu na masu kare al’umma 160 da ke yaki da Cin zarafin Jinsi (GBV) da Harmful Practices (HP) wanda Gidauniyar Sultan for Peace and Development, mai zaman kanta ta shirya ranar Talata, a Sakkwato.

Sarkin wanda ya sami wakilcin mai martaba Sarkin

Kamfanin Rarraba Wutar Lantarki na Abuja (AEDC) ya bai wa kwastomomin da ke yankin ikon mallakar su tabbaci na samar da wutar lantarki a lokacin bikin Kirsimeti. Mista Oyebode Fadipe, Janar Manajan Kamfanin sadarwa na AEDC, ya bayyana hakan a cikin wata sanarwa da ya fitar a Abuja ranar Laraba.

Fadipe ya ce domin tabbatar da samar da wadatattun kayayyaki a lokacin, an kafa wata tawaga ta musanman na gaggawa don karfafawa da karfafa tsarin da ake da shi.

Ya ce an kafa kungiyar ne don amsa korafin kwastomomi tare da aikawa.

“Mun fahimci gaskiyar cewa bukatar wutar lantarki koyaushe

na karuwa yayin lokacin biki kamar yadda kwastomomi ke da rashin hakurin katsewa kamar koyaushe.

“Wannan shi ne dalilin da ya sa muka kafa tawaga ta musamman mai saurin amsawa wanda zai amsa korafe-korafe cikin sauri domin share duk wani laifi da aka ruwaito.

“Yayin da muke yi wa kwastomomi barka da Kirsimeti da kuma sabuwar shekara mai albarka, AEDC ta bukace su da su bi ka’idojin kare lafiya da ke tattare da amfani da wutar lantarki da kuma bijirewa bukatar yin amfani da wutar ba bisa ka’ida ba,” in ji shi.

Fadipe ya kuma ce biyan kudin wutar lantarki da kwastomomi ke

yi yana da matukar muhimmanci ga dorewar kamfanin kamar yadda kwastomomin ke amfani da kayan cikin aminci.

“Kamar yadda muka himmatu ga samar da wutar ba tare da yankewa ba, haka suma kwastomomi suma dole ne su jajirce kan al’adar biyan kudin wutar da suke amfani da ita kasancewar wannan mahimmin abu ne mai tabbatar da rayuwa ga masana’antu.

“Kamfanin na AEDC ba zai yi jinkiri ba wajen cire hadin kwastomomin da suka kasa daidaita lissafin wutar lantarki daidai kuma a lokacin da ya dace,” in ji shi. Dangane da batun taro na kasa, ya ce, shirin na ci gaba a hankali cikin yankinta.

Bukukuwa: AEDC Ta Tabbatarwa Kwastomomi Samun Wutar Lantarki

Sarkin Musulmi Ya Ba Da Shawarwari Ga Al’umma Game Da Kawar Da Tashin Hankali

Argungu, Alhaji Sama’ila Mera, ya yi kira ga mahalarta taron da su yada kyakkyawar fahimtar batutuwan da aka samu daga horon don amfanin al’umma.

Ya lura cewa gidauniyar ta yi aiki tukuru wajen tabbatar da duk wasu tsare-tsare na ayyukan kare yara sun yi daidai da abin da addini ya yi imani da shi, yana mai jaddada cewa shari’ar ta GBV tana zama mai tayar da hankali kuma mutane na nuna damuwar cewa babu wanda ya tsira daga masu aikata laifin.

An yi wa shirin lakabi da: “Taron karawa juna sani don horar da Mata da ‘Yan Mata Hakimai 160 a kan dabarun da suka dace don kyakkyawar

Mu’amala da Shugabannin Addini da na Al’umma don kawo karshen Cin zarafin Mata da’ Yan mata da Laifuffuka masu cutarwa ”. AljazirahNigeria ta ba da rahoton cewa an yi kokarin ne don hana Cin zarafin Mata da ‘Yan Mata (VAWG), Cin zarafin Jima’i da Jinsi (SGBV), Ayyukan Cutarwa (HP), Habakar Haihuwa na Lafiya Dama (SRHR).

Shirin Haske shine mai daukar nauyin shirin wanda Kungiyar Tarayyar Turai, Majalisar Dinkin Duniya, tare da hadin gwiwar Gwamnatin Tarayyar Nijeriya ke tallafawa, da nufin kawar da cin zarafin mata da ‘yan mata.

Fasto Yohanna Buru na cocin Christ Evangelical da kuma Life Intervention Church (M) na bikin Kirsimeti tare da wasu mata musulmai da yara a cocin Christ Evangelical da life Intervention Church da ke Kaduna a ranar Juma’a, 25 ga Disamba. HOTO: CallisTus EwElikE/NaN

Mai martaba Sarkin Talata-Mafara, Alhaji Bello Muhammad-Barmo ya bukaci gwamnatin Zamfara da ta rage gibin gidaje da ke fuskantar garin Talata-Mafara. Muhammad-Barmo ya yi wannan kiran ne a Talata-Mafara a ranar Talata, a wani zauren taro na Zamfara ta Yamma kan kudirin kason jihar na 2021.

“Muna sane da shirin gwamnatin jihar a cikin kasafin kudi na 2021 na samar da gidaje 10,000 a fadin jihar. “Muna son gwamnati ta sanya garin Talata-Mafara cikin wadanda za su ci gajiyar irin wadannan ayyukan. “Muna da kalubalen samar da gidaje duba da manyan cibiyoyin da ke garin Talata-Mafara, kamar Jami’ar Jiha da Polythecnic”, in ji shi.

Sarkin ya kuma yi kira da a kafa asibitin dabbobi na zamani a yankin. “Mun lura a cikin kasafin kudin na 2021, da samar da asibitocin dabbobi a shiyyoyin Kaura-Namoda da Gusau, muna son yankin Talata-Mafara ya ci gajiyar wannan aikin”. Muhammad-Barmo ya ce masarautun za su ba da goyon baya da hadin kai ga wannan gwamnati mai ci a jihar don samar da ayyuka masu ma’ana ga mutane.

Ya bukaci mutane su ci gaba da yin addu’a kan kalubalen tsaro a jihar. Sarkin ya godewa gwamnatin jihar kan wannan taro, wanda ya ce zai sa mutane daga tushe su shiga cikin harkokin mulki.

AljazirahNigeria ta rahoto cewa Ma’aikatar Kasafin Kudi da Tsara Tattalin Arziki da Majalisar dokoki ne suka shirya taron tare da neman ra’ayin al’ummomin kan kasafin kafin zartarwar ta karshe.

Alhaji Abubakar Makau, Kantoman mulkin na Qaramar Hukumar Bakura, a wajen taron, ya bukaci gwamnati da ta yi la’akari da yankin a shekarar 2021 da ake shirin kafa sabbin masarautu.

Haka nan, Ahmad Balarabe, Shugaban Gudanarwa na Qaramar Hukumar Anka, ya ce yana son kasafin kudi na 2021 don magance matsalolin tsaro da samar da ayyukan yi ta bangaren ma’adanai. Ya yi kira ga mutanen jihar da su dage da addu’o’i kan kalubalen tsaro da jihar da kasa ke fuskanta.

Shugaban Karamar Hukumar Talata-Mafara, Alhaji Abubakar Musa, ya yi kira da a samar da karin ayyuka a dukkan bangarorin yankin.

Musa ya ce yankin na bukatar karin ayyukan da za su ilimantar da mutane, musamman a yankunan karkara.

Sarkin Ya Roqi Gwamnatin Zamfara Da Ta Rage Givin Da Ake Fama Da ShiGwamna David Umahi na Ebonyi

ya sanya hannu kan kasafin kudi na 2021 na Naira biliyan 123 a matsayin doka inda ya ke bayyana sauye-sauye na jihar zuwa ga goyon baya daga gwamnatin shugaban kasa Muhammadu Buhari. Gwamnan ya ce ba kamar sauran jihohi ba, Ebonyi zai yaba da wannan ishara ta shugaban, yana mai lura da cewa jihar ta amince da zurfin irin wannan tallafin.

“Babu wata gwamnati a kasar da ta fifita Ebonyi a duk wasu matsaloli kamar gwamnatin Muhammadu Buhari. “Ci gaban abubuwan ci gaba a jihar ba kayayyakin da aka kasafta daga asusun na Federated ko kuma na cikin gida ba, amma kudade ne da shugaban kasa ya samar domin bunkasa Nijeriya.

“Tallafin daga shugaban kasa ya hada da: mayar da kayayyakin more rayuwa ga dukkan jihohin da suka sake gina hanyoyin tarayya, kudaden tallafi, tallafin kasafin kudi, rancen noma, Kananan da Matsakaitan Masana’antu, tallafin kafofin watsa labarai, da sauransu,” in ji shi.

Hukumar Ba da Agajin Gaggawa ta Kasa (NEMA) ta gargadi masu ababen hawa da su guji tukin ganganci yayin bukukuwan Kirsimeti da sabuwar shekara.

Mista Segun Afolayan, Shugaban NEMA na Ayyuka a jihohin Ekiti, Osun da Ondo, ya ba da wannan gargadin ne a Ado-Ekiti yayin kaddamar da “Operation Eagle Eye” don fadakar da masu amfani da hanyoyi kan bukatar rungumar matakan tsaro a lokacin Yuletide .

A cewarsa, mafi yawan hadura a kan titunan Nijeriya abin gujewa ne, saboda irin wannan dole ne a dage domin rage rauni da mutuwa a kan hanyoyi. Afolayan ya ce aikin, wanda aka fara a kasar a makon da ya gabata, zai ci gaba har zuwa ranar 31 ga Disamba, 2020 da kuma bayan nan.

Ya bayyana cewa aikin tare da hadin gwiwar sauran masu ruwa da tsaki an yi shi ne domin rage hatsari da sauran abubuwan gaggawa a kan titunan Nijeriya, biyo bayan cunkoson ababen hawa da ke hade da lokacin bikin. AljazirahNigeria ta ba da rahoton cewa aikin yana da jami’an hukumar kiyaye hadura ta kasa (FRSC), ‘Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ‘yan sanda da kuma Red Cross na Nijeriya.

Gov Umahi Ya Sanya Hannu Kan Kasafin Kudi Na 2021

NEMA Ta kaddamar Da ‘Operation Eagle Eyes’, Ta Yi Gargadi Game Da Tukin Ganganci

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DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has formally invited leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for the 41st group summit being held in Riyadh on January 5 next year.

The invitation was sent through GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, a statement from the group said. Among the first to receive the invite was UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,

King Salman Invites Gulf Leaders For Riyadh Summit

Tanaqqol App Helps 15K Pilgrims At Grand Mosque

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman has formally invited leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council for the January summit

with the invitation received by the Dubai ruler and Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum.

“The commitment by Gulf leaders to hold the summit on an annual basis, and especially in these exceptional times, is a testament to the strength of the GCC, to their belief in their duty to the people of the Gulf, and their

devotion to increasing cooperation and integration among member countries,” Dr. Al-Hajraf said in the statement.

“Today, as the GCC enters its fifth decade with a global pandemic in the backdrop, the institution’s mission to facilitate trade and economic integration among member states is more relevant than at any time in its history.

“The GCC remains focused on meeting the ambitions of the Gulf people, increasing integration, interconnectedness, and trade among member states and the international community. I am grateful to their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, for their tireless efforts to further strengthen Gulf cooperation.”

Digital Program Aims To Help Further Filmmakers’ CareersJEDDAH: The Saudi Film Commission is preparing to launch the Digital Filmmaker Program, which will provide learning and training opportunities in film production specialisms for professionals and amateurs.

It will be launched online, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan.

The commission also wants to give local film producers the knowledge and tools to help contribute to the improvement of the Saudi film industry and upgrade it to higher professional levels.

“The courses the ministry is offering to students for free is amazing,” said Danya Alhamrani, a film director and producer who has

20 years of experience and is the cofounder of Eggdancer Productions. “As soon as I received the link I forwarded it to all my students. There are courses we can even learn and gain from for professionals, which I appreciate, because we should forever be learning and improving. My advice to filmmakers would be to take advantage of any and all opportunities for learning that come their way, but realize that it is only the beginning and that just because they took a course or two or three doesn’t mean they know everything.”

The training program will be inaugurated in February once the candidates have been selected. It will focus on seven learning tracks: Producers’ program, foundations

MAKKAH: More than 15,000 people have benefited from the Tanaqqol app provided by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques since the Grand Mosque reopened its doors for Umrah. The application allows electric vehicles and carts to be re-served via smartphone to perform Tawaf and Saee.

Fahd Al-Maliki, director of the transport services department, said that pilgrims can use the app to reserve carts without buying tickets, reducing crowding at tick-et sales points and improving so-cial distancing among worshippers.

Services provided by the applica-tion are: Full Umrah, Tawaf, Saee, free driving service and free service for people with special needs.

l-Maliki said that the services are in accordance with the direc-tives of Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, with the fol-low-up of Mohammed bin Musleh Al-Jabiri, deputy president of ser-vices and technical affairs at the Grand Mosque, and aim to achieve the leadership’s aspirations in fa-cilitating all services for pilgrims.

of the film industry, marketing and distribution, audio engineering and production, scriptwriting, editing, and the film business market.

The first stage of the program includes three tracks through renowned educational institutions the British Film Institute, the School of Cinema-Television at the University of Southern California (USC), and the Creative Media Skills Institute (CMS) at Pinewood in the UK. The subjects are production, scriptwriting, animation, directing, audio engineering, visual effects, post-production, and other specialties related to the film industry.

There are six learning tracks with the USC — character development, short movies creativity, scenario

analysis, scriptwriting basics, animation, and film business.

Training at CMS will be six months long and it has nine tracks: Scenario development, story-building, character development, art production, film economies, production line, visual effects, post-production, in addition to career paths in films and production process.

The program aims to support specialist talent in cinema, and provide people with comprehensive practical experience in the movie production process, starting with the pitch all the way to post-production, marketing, and distribution.

news from saudi e-mail: [email protected]


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Reps Investigates N19bn 2011 Rail Contract To Ghost FirmbY YahaYa Umar

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate a contract awarded in 2011 for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt-Makurdi section of the Eastern Rail Line valued at N19.2bn.

The House is especially probing into the allegation that the contract was awarded to a ghost firm.

The Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu moved a motion of urgent public importance at the plenary on Monday, which was unanimously adopted by the House.

The motion was titled: “Need to Investigate the N19.2bn Railway Rehabilitation Contract Awarded to Eser Contracting and Industry Company Incorporated”.

Elumelu said, “The House notes that Eser Contracting and Industry Company Incorporated were awarded the contract to rehabilitate the 463km Port Harcourt-Makurdi section of the Eastern Railway Line for N19.2bn in March 2011. The

bY mariam Sanni

The Nigerian Investments Promotion Commission (NIPC) has said that Single Window Investors Portal (SWIP) that aimed to facilitate business and investments in the country would be available by the first quarter of 2021.

Mr Sabo Isiaku, Head of Corporate Services Division, NIPC, disclosed this on Monday, in Abuja, at the NIPC Media Retreat organised for Commerce and Industry Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (CICAN).

AljazirahNigeria reports that SWIP is the commission’s e-business facilitation portal, an e-government initiative, being put in place to facilitate business and investments in Nigeria.

Isiaku explained that the portal,

railway rehabilitation work was divided into three sections, namely 463km Port Harcourt-Makurdi track, 1016km Makurdi-Kuru track and 640km Kuru-Maiduguri track, and the three sections were awarded to three different companies.

“There are allegations that while carrying out due diligence on Eser Contracting and Industry Company Incorporated, it was discovered that

which was being programmed to serve in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, would have four components namely: e-OSIC, e-PSI, IRM and IP.

He said under the initiative, all services offered at the One Stop Investment Centre (OSIC) would be automated and there would also be an online business registration, payment, work flow-based review and tracking features.

The NIPC head of corporate services said it would also automate applications for incentives administered by NIPC, starting with Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI). Investor Relationship Management (IRM) and Investment Profiling (OP).

Isiaku called for a friendly business environment and more funding for the NIPC to execute its mandate because investment promotion

the company was not in existence, as it was not duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

“The House is worried that the Bureau for Public Procurement failed in its responsibility by issuing a Certificate of No Objection to clear the way for the Railway Corporation to award a job of such magnitude to a company without any legal status”.

depended on the provision of a conducive business environment and facilitation of strong macroeconomic conditions.

Mr Adeshina Emmanuel, NIPC Director of Investment Promotion, in a presentation, said the commission had recently launched a One Stop Investment Platform for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (OSIP RE/EE) developed within the framework of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP II).

NESP II is a Technical Assistance programme, co-funded by the EU and the German Government and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in collaboration with the Federal Government.

The OSIP digital platform was designed to provide easy access to

The lawmaker alleged that after the contract was awarded, the promoters of the firm devised a way to smoothen the irregularities by registering Eser West Africa Limited in June 2011, three months after the contract had been awarded.

He stressed that the new company had continued dealing with the present-day government officials without any form of questioning on the sudden change of name.

Elumelu said, “The House is disturbed that the contract is now considered failed and abandoned, and there are allegations that the government has gone far with plans to re-award the job to another company without certainties that anyone would be made accountable for the regulatory failures and corporate fraud that characterised the charade”.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations and report back in four weeks.

relevant information for investors in renewable energy and energy efficiency in Nigeria, as well as provide technical, regulatory, and economic information, aimed at de-risking projects and scaling up investments.

Adeshina also stated that the platform, built through a public, private and financial sector partnership, would be jointly manned by the NIPC, the Rural Electrification Agency and the Federal Ministry of Power.

He added that OSIP included an overview section about the Nigerian renewable energy and energy efficiency sector and investment opportunities, in addition to having a networking tool for investors to interact with public and private stakeholders, and an energy efficiency calculator for commercial, residential buildings and industries.

Gbajabiamila

NIPC To Implement Single Window Investors’ Portal In 2021

busin

ess &

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Butchers slaughtering chicken for customers at Aleita Market, in preparation for Christmas celebration in Abuja on Thursday, December 24. PHOTO: AnTHOny AlAbi/bJO/nAn.




For Nigerians, this budget that has been passed in the National Assembly today, is to ensure that the economy is supported fully through public expenditure, because the economy of our country depends largely on public expenditure.

“

By Cyril Ogar

The National Assembly, last week passed the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the tune of N13, 588, 027,886, 175 trillion as an aggregate expenditure.

The approval was done during an emergency session convened for the purpose of passing the budget.

The approved budget figure by the National Assembly comprises total Capital Supplementation of N1,060,751,051,650 and total Capital Expenditure of N4,125,149,354,222, Statutory Transfer stands at N496,528,471,273; recurrent Expenditure of N5,641,970,060,680 and Gross Domestic Product, GDP growth rate of 3.00 Percent.

The passed budget Bill by the National Assembly also provided the sum of N3,324,380,000 trn for debt servicing.

The passage of the Appropriation Bill was after clause by clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Appropriations as presented by the Chairman, Senator Barau Jibrin, All Progressives Congress, APC, Kano North.

The Appropriation Bill was read the third time and passed after the Senators went into the Committee of Supply.

The budget estimate was increased by the sum of N505, 607,317,942 from the estimate of N13, 082, 420, 568,233 presented to the joint sitting of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on October 8, 2020.

In his presentation, Chairman of the Committee, Jibrin Barau (APC – Kano North), while giving highlights of the bill, said out of the total sum of N13,588,027,886,175 for the fiscal year 2021, N496,528,471,273 is for Statutory transfers; N3,324,380,000,000 is for Debt Service; N5,641,970,060,680 is for Recurrent Expenditure; and N4,125,149,354,222 for Capital Expenditure.

According to him, the 2021 budget is predicated on the parameters approved by the National Assembly when it considered the Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper last week Thursday.

Benchmark Price of Crude Oil was fixed at $40USD Per Barrel; Crude Oil Production at 1.86mbpd; Exchange Rate at N379/US$; and Gross Domestic Production (GDP) Growth Rate at 3.00 percent.

The Budget Deficit of N5,196,007,992,292 will be financed from sale of assets and privatization with projected estimate of N205, 153, 707, 813 while N709, 685, 716, 725 is expected from multilateral/ bilateral project- tied loans.

For Capital Expenditure in the year 2021, the sum of N24,090,340,416 was budgeted for the Presidency; N127,850,984,984 for Ministry of Defence; N7,994,280,245 for Ministry of Foreign Affairs; N19,721,066,865 for Federal Ministry of Information and Culture; N38,846,293,565 for Ministry of Interior; N2,491,111,568 for Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; N218,432,074 for Auditor General of the Federation; N17,882,480,948 for Ministry of

Why National Assembly Passes N13.58trn Budget For 2021

Police Affairs; N17,664,285,343 for Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy; and N45,647,587,613 for the Office of the National Security Adviser.

According to the approved budget, others such as the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission had N353,678,953; Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation – N45,637,061,225; Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs – N8,872,787,424; Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development – N211,077,457,584; Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning – N376,359,450,498; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment – N64,760,781,172; Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment – N63,526,109,193; Federal Ministry of Science and Technology – N107,061,118,360; Federal Ministry of Transport – N209,736,113,910; Federal Ministry of Aviation – N70,189,215,332; and Federal Ministry of Power – N206,745,895,389.

Also, N3,340,140,120 was approved for Ministry of Petroleum Resources; N12,605,747,806 for the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development; N399,694,565,222 for the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing; N110,455,765 for the National Salaries and Wages Commission; N261,170,602 for the Fiscal Responsibility Commission; N159,745,000,315 for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; N5,097,558,027 for the Federal Ministry of Justice; N1,363,636,403 for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission; N37,330,762,421 for the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The sum of N22,024,592,197 was approved for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs; N10,639,249,276 for the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; N11,204,210,256 for Ministry of Women Affairs; N156,172,307,765 for the Federal Ministry of Education; N134,591,025,027 for Federal Ministry of Health; N24,554,710,490 for Federal Ministry of Environment; N4,839,951,093 for National Population Commission; and N75,768,539,782 for the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

In her contribution; Senator Stella Oduah, PDP, Anambra North described the 2021 budget as “well-intended and articulated” by the Executive arm of government.”

According to her, the 2021 Appropriations bill accorded special attention to poverty alleviation, security and health, adding that, “The budget is emphatic in addressing the country’s infrastructural decay”.

“This budget for a change is well focused on the people’s welfare, and that was prioritized.”

On his part, Senator Gabriel Suswam, PDP, Benue North East while calling for the unanimous passage of the Appropriations bill by members of the upper chamber, queried the omission of the deficit level of the budget by the Committee.

Also in his contribution, Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, APC, Niger East said, “Looking at

what has been appropriated, the Ministry of Defence; and the Armed Forces, most of what they would need has been considered in this budget.

“And, if there’s no security in this country, the whole of this budget is as good as nothing.

“So, this is a challenge to the Armed Forces of this country, that we at the National Assembly have done the needful. We must design a way to protect lives and properties,” Musa said.

The Senate, after approving the Votes and Proceedings for Monday, 21st December, 2020, adjourned plenary till 26th January, 2021.

In his remarks after the passage, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said that the National Assembly would not accede to another request from the Executive to extend the capital implementation of the 2020 budget.

Lawan who noted that the National Assembly’s approval granting extension for implementation of the capital component of the 2020 budget last week, should therefore be fully utilized by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government, said that the extension of capital implementation of the 2020 budget till 31st March, 2021; alongside the implementation of the 2021 budget starting in January 2021, would guarantee sufficient injection of funds into Nigeria’s economy.

The President of the Senate said, “For Nigerians, this budget that has been passed in the National Assembly today, is to ensure that the economy is supported fully through public expenditure, because the economy of our country depends largely on public expenditure.

“The budget extension period for implementation of the 2020 budget, which we did last year, is to ensure that the funds that are available for 2020 are not lost.

“So, there will be two budgets running; funds from 1st January, 2021, up to 31st March, 2021; and then the implementation of the 2021 budget itself to start from January. That is an absolute fight against the recession we are suffering from.

“With a projected 3 percent growth in our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the 2021 budget, we believe that the recession which Nigeria is in will be over before the end of the first quarter”.

Lawan, who urged the Executive arm of government to ensure the implementation of the 2020 budget till March 2021 as extended last week by the Legislature, however, warned that the National Assembly would reject any further extension request on the implementation of capital expenditure contained in the 2020 budget. He said, “I want to urge the executive arm of government, first to ensure that they implement the 2020 budget that will last up till 31st March, 2021.

“There will be no extension after March 31. Everyone must be on their toes in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure they implement the budget 2020.

“And for 2021, we have to do everything and anything possible to ensure that we implement the budget like we tried to do in 2020. I believe that the economy of Nigerians will receive the right kind of boost from the implementation of the two budgets”.

Lawan

Debts servicing gulp N3.32trn Budget increased by N505bn from the original estimated sum

business & economyDecember 28 – January 3, 2021




2020: A Year Of Political Jigsaw

Akeredolu

Yakubu

Diri

Oshiomhole

Obaseki

By Mustapha suleiMan

As the year rolls to an end, major political events of the year will remain evergreen among both politicians and citizenry alike. The year 2020 was indeed at low ebb politically due to the Covid-19 pandemic that made many state governors to lock down political and socio-economic activities to curb the spread of the deadly virus that the world is yet to get a cure for. But notwithstanding, the year witnessed a lot of bye elections. Edo and Ondo governorship elections will readily come to mind as both elections indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had upped its act in ensuring and conducting credible and free and fair election ahead of 2023 general elections across the nation. Although the two incumbent governors of Edo- Godwin Obaseki and Ondo- Rotimi Akeredolu retained their positions, the elections were adjudged to be free and fair by political observers. Also bye elections were held at National Assembly and state assembly levels.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also declared former Governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the December 5 Bayelsa West senatorial by-election.

From January to December, politicians continued to mount the soap box to woo voters. Of course, severe cases of violence were recorded across the country in the build up to Edo and Ondo guber polls where political opponents, party secretariats, campaign vehicles were primary targets. Not even the election umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, was spared, as some local government offices were torched by unknown

arsonists.Though the elections were

successfully held, they were blighted by the familiar challenges such as vote-trading, election-related violence, late commencement of voting, and low voter turnout.

As things stand, the media and CSOs are unanimous in calling for a comprehensive electoral reform.

women, youths, and persons with disabilities; provision for early voting for millions of Nigerians who are disenfranchised from voting due to their election-day duties. There has also been a call for the upward review of the 180-day time limit for presidential election petitions given the vast areas covered by presidential candidates.

There are noticeable internal wrangling among the major political parties. APC is having in-fight among its members just as PDP. The removal of former APC national chairman Adams Oshiomhole and high-wire politicking while the crisis lasts is lingering in the party. PDP on the hand is seeking the removal of its national chairman Uche Secondus, who is due to complete his first tenure soon. Vested interest ahead of 2023 general elections have been attributed to all these rumbling in the various parties.

But as we rolled into the year 2021, events of the last year will to a great extent further shape the political clime and the major players.

Among other things, some of the recurring key electoral reform issues include the need for electronic voting and electronic transmission of results; granting of voting rights to Nigerians in the Diaspora through Out-of-Country voting; enhancement of participation of marginalised groups in the electoral system through affirmative action for po

litic

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yDecember 28 – January 3, 202122 www.aljazirahnews.com



Gov. Kayode Fayemi (right), presents to Mr Funminiyi Afuye, Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, a 2021 Budget of Recovery and Economic Restoration totaling the sum of N109,666,376,722.61, the Governor earlier signed into law, in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday 23. PHOTO: BJO/NAN.

Jitters As PDP Govs Seek Replacement For Secondus

Jegede’ll Fail At Ondo Election Tribunal, Says APC

Edo PdP Backs Governor Obaseki On Security, Appointment


The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus is not having the best of time as plots to remove him is gathering momentum among political players in the party. The second term ambition of Prince Uche Secondus is blurred, following a gang up against him by the PDP governors to have him replaced ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

It was learnt that the governors want the Rivers State-born politician out following the exit of Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State from the party and rising speculations that more of their colleagues may leave the party over issues relating to Secondus’ handling of the zoning debate that has rocked the opposition party for a while.

Also the party’s founding fathers and former national officers of the Party have reportedly faulted Secondus in the way and manner he runs the main opposition party, saying they are in the dark in the administration of the Party, contrary to what the case was in the past when they normally consult them on critical issues before decisions would be taken and would not sit back and allow things to overwhelmingly go out of hand.

Feelers from the party said that already, party stakeholders are presently shopping for his replacement.

AljazirahNigeria gathered that those seeking the PDP national chairman replacement included, surviving founding fathers of the Party, former National officers of the Party, incumbent and former governors, former and serving members of the National Assembly of the Party, former and serving state Chairmen of the Party.

As his removal plot intensifies, a south- west member of the party has been penciled down to take over the position from Secondus and a committee has already been put in place to ensure that the plot succeed.

The plan now is to back Prince Oyinlola to lead the Party to serve as a compensation to the South West Zone of the Party which the canvassers noted was robbed of the position in the first instance.

They also positioned that PDP under Secondus lost most of the States and several seats at the National Assembly due to poor leadership at the National level and at such cannot fold its arms to have a repeat in 2023.

A source from the party said, “Our elected governors are not on the same page with our National Executive Committee (NWC). You can hardly see only two or three of them at our National Secretariat now except for the last NEC meeting during which eight of them came because of the new alignment going on in the party with the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal becoming the new Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum.

“Even the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who is believed to have single handedly worked for the emergence of Prince Secondus as our National Chairman is no longer on the same page with him for obvious reasons of what happened in Port-Harcourt when Wike’s preferred and anointed candidate lost the

He said: “The recent insinuation by Mr. Eyitayo Jegede that he will reclaim mandate given to Governor Akeredolu at the election petition tribunal is laughable as it reflects the embodiment of ignorance on his part.

“In simple terms, the people of Ondo State have, freely, chosen between APC and other political parties in the state. Therefore, for Mr. Jegede who was strongly rejected at the election to be hopeful of reclaiming the said mandate at a court of law is subject to wishful thinking.

“Mr. Jegede and the PDP should continue to tell their fairy tales about how they wish the outcome of the tribunal verdict would be, but the good news is that they cannot be the judge in their own case”.

in the state. That, I can assure you.”Speaking on appointments so far made by

the governor, he said, “It is not in our brief as a party to appoint personal aides for the governor, it is his prerogative.

“Whether he briefs us or not, they are his personal aides, that is why the party is in agreement with the appointment and he has done the right thing in appointing the right people into place.”

party’s presidential ticket to the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

“Today our once vibrant National Assembly Caucus is in now disarray due to personal and selfish interest of an individual, some of our staunch members who make things happen in the National Assembly, their States, Zones and at the National level were placed on indefinite suspension because of minor issues which a competent and neutral National Chairman could have resolved amicably.

“This illegal suspension has even divided the NWC of our party as a ranking member once came out to say that the extension of the one month suspension of the law makers at House of Representatives was never discussed

or approved at any of their meetings, so, who is fooling who?’’

The governors arrived at a conclusion during the week following revelations that numerous chieftains of the PDP, including governors, National Assembly members and other eminent party chiefs, who are under pressure from the national caretaker leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to defect, are biding time over the expected leadership change before making up their minds on what steps to take.

Umahi, who dumped the PDP last month, had said he moved to the APC because of the injustice meted out to the Southeast by the PDP.

as laughable and a reflection of his (Jegede) ignorance.

The spokesman stressed that Akeredolu won the election because he was generally accepted by the people of the state.

Aziegbemi said, “I can assure you that the government is working with the relevant agencies to provide adequate security in the state.

“The festive period will be hitch-free and I will urge the citizens to sleep (with their eyes closed). Governor Godwin Obaseki is not sleeping on the situation.

“The state government would soon come out with a strategy to check increasing insecurity

Wike Secondus

Jegede

Tambuwal“It is absurd that since 1999 going to 2023,

the Southeast will never be considered to run for presidency under the PDP. And this is my position and will continue to be my position. It had nothing to do with me or my ambition,” the Ebonyi State governor said.

The exit of the governor as well as growing speculations of imminent mass defection is causing ripples in the PDP.

The developments are being blamed on the equally growing agitations over zoning within the party, and some governors are said to have earlier resolved that only Secondus’ ouster would restore sanity to the embattled opposition party.


The All Progressives Congress (APC) has boasted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, would fail at the state’s election petitions tribunal, where he is challenging the APC candidate, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s victory in the election.

Jegede expressed optimism at the tribunal’s last sitting that he would reclaim his ‘mandate’ at the panel.

However, the APC Director of Media and Publicity in Ondo State, Mr. Steve Otaloro, who reacted to the ex-Attorney General’s comment in a statement described the remark

The Chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Aziegbemi, has assured the people of the state government that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration will soon unveil a security strategy for the state.

He said the strategy will ensure that the worsening security in the state becomes a thing of the past. The party chairman said this at a media briefing, in Benin, on Wednesday.

politics & policy e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng







By MariaM Sanni, AbujA

Nigeria has seen its debt stock rise sharply in recent years as the country tries to fund infrastructural and developmental projects and boost its fragile economy, which has been in and out of recession. The country’s economy has been projected to fall into recession again, due to the adverse impact of COVID-19 that has seen oil prices crash globally.

Reports from the Debt Management Office, DMO have shown that Nigeria’s total public debt stock increased by about N2.38 trillion, or $6.593billion, as of June 30, 2020.

The agency said in a statement in Abuja that the country’s total debt portfolio grew from about N28.628 trillion, or $79.303 billion, as of March 31 to over N31.009 trillion, or $85.897 billion, in the period under review.

Details of the increment, the DMO said, showed about $3.36 billion came from Budget Support Loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while the balance are new domestic borrowings to finance the revised 2020 Appropriation Act.

The new domestic borrowings include N162.557 billion Sukuk and promissory notes issued to settle claims of exporters.

The total external debt stands at about N11.363 trillion, or $31.477 billion, about 35.65 per cent of the overall outlay, against total domestic debt of about N19.945 trillion, or $54.419 billion, about 63.35 per cent of the total portfolio.

Of the total external debt stock, the federal government accounted for N9.824 trillion, or $27.214 billion (about 31.6 per cent) of external debts; and N15.456 trillion, or $42.814 billion (about 49.84 per cent) of the domestic debts.

The states and the FCT owe about N1.539 trillion, or $4.263 billion (about 4.96 per cent) of the total external debt figure, and about N4.190 trillion, or $11.606 billion, (13.51 per cent) of the total domestic debt figure.

The DMO said it expected the Public Debt Stock to grow from the expected disbursements by the World Bank, African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank arranged to finance the 2020 Budget.

The fundamentals and benchmarks in the 2020 Appropriation Act were revised following the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic on government’s revenues amid increased expenditure on health and economic emergency stimulus amongst others.

The DMO said additional promissory notes would be issued in the course of the year, along with new borrowings by state governments which would further increase the public debt stock.

Details of the debts stock, showed that the multilateral loans category consisted IMF $3.359 billion, while the World Bank Group and African Development Bank (AfDB) Group $16.36 billion. The three financial institutions accounted for about 52 per cent of the country’s total $31.477.14 billion debt stock.

The breakdown of the debt to World Bank’s affiliate institutions showed International

Development Association (IDA) $10.05 billion; and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) $409.51 million.

Similarly, the debt to African Development Bank stands at about $1.326 billion; Africa Growing Together Fund $0.14 million; African Development Fund $921.91 million; Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa $5.88million; European Development Fund $52.52million; Islamic Development Bank $30.22million, and International Fund For Agricultural Development $201.68million.

On the bilateral level, Nigeria’s total debt to various institutions is about $3.949 billion, or 12.54 per cent of the total debt stock.

They consist of those to Chinese financial institutions, including a Exim Bank of China $3.241billion; French institutions (Agence Francaise Development) $403.65milion; Japanese (Japan International Cooperation Agency) $76.69million; India (Exim Bank of India) $34.87million, and Germany (Kreditanstalt Fur Wiederaufbau) $192.71 million.

Commercial debt instrument debts totaling $11.16.35 billion, which account for about 35.48 per cent of the total debt, include Eurobonds $10,868.35billion; Diaspora Bond $300million.

Further details of the total N15.456 trillion Federal Government debts stock by instruments of as at the date under review showed that FGN Bonds of N11.241 trillion, or 72.75 per cent; Nigerian Treasury Bills N2.760trillion, or 17.86 per cent; Nigerian Treasury Bonds N100.988 billion, or 0.65 per cent; FGN Savings Bond $12.984billion, or 0.08 per cent; FGN Sukuk N362.557billion, or 2.35 per cent, Green Bond

N25.690billion, or 0.17 per cent, and Promissory Notes N951.740billion, or 6.16 per cent.

Details of the debts stock of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory stood at about N4.190 trillion, with Lagos N493.32 billion;Rivers State N266.94 billion, Akwa Ibom State N239.21billion and Delta State N235.86 billion among the top debtors in the country.

The four states are among the richest states in the country.

Nigeria has been under a lot of fiscal crisis following the crash of oil prices triggered by the

coronavirus pandemic. The oil sector accounts for about 90% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and about 60% of its total revenue.

The country, which had lined up a series of debt issues this year, had to halt the external commercial borrowing due to oil price collapse. The Minister for Finance, Zainab Ahmed, had disclosed that the country would no longer go ahead with its Eurobond debt issue

The Nigerian government, for now, is focusing on the domestic markets and concessionary loans to help fund the 2020 budget deficit which is made worse by drop in revenue. In the recently approved 2020 revised budget, the federal government is expected to borrow N850 billion from the domestic market.

This rising debt has put a lot of pressure on the government’s resources as it spent $1.69 billion (N609,13 billion) to service its domestic debt in the first quarter of 2020 alone.

Nigeria’s global rating is at risk due to the sharp rise in the country’s sovereign debt and a growing finance gap. According to a report from the global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, this could trigger a rating downgrade as policymakers struggle to stimulate growth and deal with the impact of low oil prices and sharp drop in revenue.

According to Fitch, the country’s debt to revenue ratio is set to deteriorate further to 538% by the end of 2020, from the 348% that it was a year earlier.

However, Experts and stakeholders in the financial sector have warned against the dehumanizing rising debt profile of the country.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has expressed concern over the rising cost of debt service being incurred by the Federal Government.

This was made known in the CBN half-year 2020 economic report, said the trajectory of Federal Government’s debt further constrained fiscal policy during the period, as interest payment obligations amounted to N1.15tn in the first half of 2020.

“This suggested that, despite the subsisting revenue challenge, which was exacerbated by COVID-19, the larger proportion of FGN revenue was devoted to debt service”, it said.

It said at 19.2 per cent, the debt-to-GDP ratio indicated a solvency position of the government.

“However, the rising cost of debt servicing underscores a precarious liquidity position that could impair the government’s fiscal space, as well as its growth objectives”, the central bank said.

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the Financial Derivatives Company Limited, led by a foremost economist, Mr Bismarck Rewane, have raised concerns over the country’s high debt level.

“Nigeria’s mounting debt profile is a major concern despite the country having about $900bn worth of dead capital in properties and agricultural lands (PwC Nigeria, 2019),” the NESG, a private sector-led think-tank, said in its 2020 Macroeconomic Outlook.

According to the group, some of the redundant assets are the National Art Theatre; the national stadia in Lagos and Abuja; Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos; and the Federal Nursing Hospital, Ikoyi.

It said the government should consider unlocking finance and economic growth by commercialization or privatisation of many of these dead capital/assets.

Rewane and other analysts at the FDC said in their latest bi-monthly economic and business update that the country’s debt had grown by 214.90 per cent over the past six years, from N8.32tn in June 2013 to N26.2tn as of September 2019.

“It is vital to employ proactive measures to reduce the current debt level,” they said.

According to the report, Nigeria is in dire need of infrastructure development to boost the economy but a litany of constraints has prevented it from achieving the necessary level of investment, despite its significant borrowing.

Some experts in bilateral businesses have called on the federal government to consider other options in addressing Nigeria’s infrastructural deficit, instead of the high appetite for infrastructure loans from China.

The experts who gave the warning during a one-day Webinar titled: ‘Are Chinese Infrastructure Loans Putting Nigeria on the Debt Trap Express,’ organized by the US- Nigeria Trade Council, warned Nigeria strongly against the loans; arguing that the terms are hidden “debt traps” for the country.

In his presentation, the Managing Partner & CEO, Berkham Capital UK, Joseph Oyediran, kicked against the China infrastructure loans; arguing that Nigeria at the moment is clearly exhibiting the symptoms of a country that will default payment.

According to Oyediran, the revenue streams for Nigeria to repay the loans within the specified period are not there; especially in the face of the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

Nigeria’s Rising Debt Raises Concerns

...the rising cost of debt servicing underscores a precarious liquidity position that could impair the government’s fiscal space, as well as its growth objectives.

“

Ahmed



@aljazirahnewsng


Follow us on twitterspecial reportDecember 28 – January 3, 202124 www.aljazirahnews.com







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’Tigers forward and guard Jordan Nwora is one of the three Nigerian players selected in the second round and within 31-45 picks of the 2020 NBA draft. He was

selected with the 45th overall pick by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020 NBA draft.

Nwora is an aggressive offensive forward who scored in bunches from the perimeter for stretches of his junior year at Louisville showing the ability to space the floor at a high level. Widely regarded as a top-75 prospect in the high school class of 2017, he showed well in limited minutes as a freshman at Louisville. He carved out a key role with the Nigerian national team in qualifying action before his sophomore year carrying that momentum into a breakout season for the Cardinals.

Declaring for and later withdrawing from the 2019 NBA Draft, Nwora started his junior year strong and finished the season averaging 18 points and 7.7 rebounds per game to earn All-ACC 1st Team honors narrowly missing winning Player of the Year as he helped Head Coach Chris Mack’s Cardinals to a top-15 ranking.

He started playing basketball at Amherst Central High School in the 2013–2014 season, before transferring to The Park School of Buffalo for two seasons. At The Park School he shot 42 percent from three-point range leading the Pioneers to the New York State Federation Class B championship, averaging 21.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4

steals, and 1.4 assists. His second season at The Park School saw him raise all of his season averages, turning in 23.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.8 assists. He earned First Team All-Centercourt honors in both his junior and senior seasons playing at The Park School. Nwora continued his prep career for one more season, where he scored over 500 points at Vermont Academy, averaging 18.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in the 2016–2017 season.

On November 24, 2020, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that they had signed Nwora.he was called up to be part of the D’Tigers for the 2019 FIBA world cup qualifier between June 28–30th 2018, by his father Alexander Nwora who is the head coach of the team. In the tournament he averaged 21.7 points, 8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. During the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lagos, Nwora scored 36 points against Mali to be the highest scoring player

Jordan and his father Alexander became the first Nigerian Son and Father to represent a Nigerian national team side at the same time.

for Nigeria in history, breaking Ike Diogu’s record of 31 points.

He is the first son of Amy Nwora, an American and Alexander Nwora the Erie Community College and Nigerian National Basketball Team Head Coach . His 3 siblings (Ronni, Caeli, and Alexis) are also interested in Basketball as his sister Ronni Nwora played high school Basketball for The Park School of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York. She currently plays for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets women’s basketball team.

During the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier in Lagos, Jordan and his father Alexander became the first Nigerian Son and Father to represent a Nigerian national team side at the same time.

Born September 9, 1998, Nwora plays internationally with the Nigeria men’s national basketball team.

Nwora was called up to be part of the D’Tigers for the 2019 FIBA world cup qualifier between June 28–30th 2018, by his father Alexander Nwora who is the head coach of the team. In the tournament he averaged 21.7 points, 8 rebounds and 2.7 assists. During the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in Lagos, Nwora scored 36 points against Mali to be the highest scoring player for Nigeria in history, breaking Ike Diogu’s record of 31 points.

During the 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier in Lagos, Jordan and his father Alexander became the first Nigerian Son and Father to represent a Nigerian national team side at the same time.

JoRDAN NwoRANigerian In 2020 NBA Draft

Best Weavon Hairstyles For LadiesWeavon hairstyles are one of the most popular

hairstyles among women in Nigeria currently.Young women are becoming aware of various

hairstyle options and trying to be creative with their hair. The weaving hairstyles are one of the commonly seen hairstyles among Nigerian women.

We have different trendy weavons such as, pixie cuts: bold and edgy.

They have been rocked by many famous people on the Nigerian entertainment scene, including veteran actress Genevieve Nnaji and Afro-pop singer, Tiwa Savage.

360 Frontal: The 360-degree frontal creates the illusion of natural hair that grows out of the head. This weavon hairstyle for Nigerian women is perfect for achieving a ponytail look especially if your hair is too short to do so.

Curly Centre Part: The curly centre part is a no-fail style that flatters the faces of all Nigerian women. You can achieve this look with both synthetic and non-synthetic weaves. You can use a closure or an invisible

part style to get the look.Full Afro: Natural hair is the current trend. But if

you’re yet to join the team natural bandwagon, a big afro weave like this can give you the look without having to ditch your relaxer.

Blunt Bob: Bobs always seems to go out of style and come back better with a bang. The blunt bob is a good weavon style that many Nigerian women ought to try.

Blunt Fringe Cut: When you think of a blunt fringe cut, think Nicki Minaj circa 2009. This is one of the easiest weave-on styles to make in Nigeria. And it works well with both synthetic and non-synthetic weaves in case you do not want to ruin your expensive weaves by cutting them to achieve the fringe.

Barrel Curls: Who doesn’t love a weave with the body? This Nigerian weavon hairstyle got popularized by the Kardashian clan and hasn’t gone out of style since then. You can achieve this with pre-curled weaves or by using supersized flex rods or roller sets to get the look. Either way, you’ll love it.

fashion & style e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng






Abudu

Madu

Nwoko

Oghuma

EbonyLife Creative Academy, ELCA, has partnered with Lagos state government in a bid to develop filmmakers in the Nollywood industry.

This initiative is supported by the Lagos State Government through Lagos State Creative Industries Initiative, LACI, under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

The program offers free, practical short courses covering all aspects of filmmaking and media content production, including acting, directing, producing, editing, sound, and lighting.

Designed by local and foreign industry experts, the courses are designed to help working film professionals

Ebony Life Partners LASG

Madu Set To Shoot First Cinematic Movie

Billionaire Ned Nwoko Quarrels Alleged Zambian Mistress

Reactions As African Filmmakers Support UN Anti-Misinformation Initiative

improve their skills and make them globally competitive, and to equip beginners with the skills they need to launch their careers on a sound footing.

According to the EbonyLife Chief Executive Officer, Mo Abudu, the initiative is designed to train industry professionals, as Nollywood continues to expand.

She said: “We have so much talent in Nigeria and our people are ready to work. Unfortunately, very little training is available locally and most people cannot afford to go abroad for training.”

“EbonyLife Creative Academy is meant to fill that gap and make world-class training available. Thankfully,

There has never being a time for anyone who has attained a high level of popularity and has managed wealth or political position or religious status, in the past, or worst still a renowned celebrity, or anyone connection by association or marriage will ever be free from social media followership, monitoring, and criticisms be it constructive or destructive ones.

Be that as it may the lifestyle of prominent personalities is never private no matter how hard they try. People would always dig deep and read meanings into every of their thoughts, words or actions and interpret it to suit their own understanding.

Recent reports have it that Ned Nwoko was recently in a serious confrontation with his alleged Zambian mistress who in anger criticized him negatively and deleted all his photos from her phone and social media platforms.

According to a close friend of the lady, it all started when Ned’s alleged Zambian girlfriend felt hurt by his inactions of not honouring

the governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, understood our vision and gave us the support we needed to establish the academy here in Lagos, the hub of Nigerian filmmaking.”

Responding to this, The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Sanwo-Olu said: “We are very excited about this development because it is in line with two of the development pillars of our themes agenda – education & technology and entertainment & tourism. By training our people to use the latest technology, we will continue to enhance the quality of our entertainment content and attract production crews from the rest of Africa and around the world.”

her invitation to Zambia when she was bereaved.

Thus, according to a blogger, Cutie Julz, his alleged Zambian mistress lost her mother and she wanted Ned Nwoko to fly into Zambia but he didn’t.

Out of anger, she allegedly began to throw shades at him and subsequently deleted all his photos.

Cutie Julz wrote, “So apparently, our Zambian in-law lost her mother a few days ago. And she wanted Pa Ned to fly to Zambia he didn’t”.

She has deleted all pics and posts for Ned and been busy shading him.

Obviously, Ned wasn’t happy with the way his mistress handled the situation especially for the fact that she was busy publicizing their “business” including putting out the majority of his private life style and some of the photos she took with Regina and the son”.

Prince Ned Nwoko also known as Chinedu Munir Nwoko was born on December 21, 1960. He is a Nigerian law graduate, politician and humanitarian who served his country as a member of the

Cinematographer, Charles Maduemezia, a.k.a. Chigan Madu, is set to shoot his first cinematic movie in the new year.

According to him, he will feature some prominent comedians in the Nigerian entertainment industry.

He said: “2021 is going to be a fantastic year, as I will be shooting my first cinematic movie, which will feature some

House of Representatives (Nigeria) between 1999 and 2003. He represented Aniocha North-South and Oshimili North-South in Delta state

Recall that Ned Nwoko is also the husband to the popular Nollywood’s actress Regina Daniels whom he married at a very young age. Whilst many Nigerian moralists criticized her for marrying him because of his money others were of the opinion

notable comedians”.His growing reputation

in the entertainment sector has not gone unnoticed, as he has received some awards for his efforts, the latest being a Maya award for Best Cinematographer.

With dedication and an unflinching push for excellence, fans are hopeful that Charles Maduemezia will surely reach the peak of his career.

that Ned actually won her over as a result of true love. Fingers are crossed right now to see what her reactions would be with the recent developments.

Meanwhile friends and well-wishers of Ned Nwoko are really hopeful that this recent revelations and continuous shades from his Zambia mistress would cease and doesn’t cost him so much than he bargained for.

Young African filmmakers across the continent have produced films aimed at combating COVID-19 misinformation initiative.

The short films were put together by the 2020 group of the MultiChoice Talent Factory Academy.

According to the Executive Head, Corporate Affairs, MultiChoice Nigeria, Caroline Oghuma, the aim of the film production is to educate audience members on the dangers of misinformation.

She said: “We recognize the transformative power of media and the critical role we play to educate audiences about the dangers of misinformation through these short films, which have enabled us to share hyper local information with our audiences.”

The MultiChoice Talent Factory, MTF, is MultiChoice’s flagship shared-value initiative launched in 2018 to ignite Africa’s creative film and television industries through training and skills development.

More so, the MTF Academy is a 12-month fully funded training programme aimed at up-skilling the next generation of passionate young film creative.

Furthermore, the filmmakers from Nigeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, tackled the subject through a variety of approaches, often using humor and slang to deliver vital and punchy lifesaving messages that appeal to local viewers.

The films are part of the United Nations’ Pause campaign, a wider behavior change campaign that aims to create a new social media norm to help combat the rising impact of viral misinformation.

According to MultiChoice, the short films will air on their channels between 9 and 31 December 2020. The MultiChoice Group is providing the airtime as part of its ongoing support of the campaign.

StorieS By By LoiS effiongentertainment & arts e-mail: [email protected]


@aljazirahnewsng







VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCEWhen I first heard the word ‘Vajacial’. I was instantly intrigued. Still ignorant of the consequences of my decision, I had a vajacial procedure done on my vagina. A technique to aid in the removal and prevention of ingrown hairs and acne, while smoothing the skin and treating discoloration, posed as a threat to my marriage and I am at the verge of losing it all.

All this happened when my best friend Bola, convinced me of the benefits she enjoys after undergoing the treatment. She said that her vagina is more attractive to her husband and she is enjoying all the financial benefits, care and attention from her spouse.

Well, I wanted more from my husband and decided to undergo the same procedure from her so-called spa dermatologist. The 50 minutes procedure included more than what I bargained for, I was totally fingered with awful chemicals but had to endure the pains all through.

After the procedure, I felt fresh and my ‘honey pot’ was looking more attractive and clean. My husband’s reaction was encouraging but he feared for the skin reaction that may likely occur.

Just as predicted, I started having skin reactions on my private part, bumps covered my outer layer and I had to go to the hospital for a test.

Few days after the result came out; I was told by our family doctor that I had a pelvic infection which leads to the inability of a woman to bear children. I thought this was a mere fantasy, until months after and I am still unable to get pregnant.

My husband has become impatient with me, surmounted by family pressure to conceive. He keeps yelling at me and asking me why I did not seek for his consent before going for a procedure so intimate.

In regret, I kept begging him to let go of the past and join me in search of a solution to my problems. I have been treated for the infection severally but remain barren.

Presently, my husband intends to get a new wife and has given me two months to fix my problem or he will fix his marriage. I am dumbfounded and confused; I do not know where to run to any more. My friend is no longer picking my calls and my family members have literally abandoned me to face the consequences of my actions.

I do not want to lose my husband and family members, please what should I do?

LOVE DOCTOR’s RESPONSEBefore undergoing sensitive procedures like the technique earlier done, It is advisable to have a background knowledge of it. You should have asked medical experts who have vast knowledge of the procedure before risking your body to amateurs, who used you as an experiment to learn news styles of body treatment.

Well, the deed has been done and all you can do is to learn from the aftermath of your decisions. I will not blame your husband for his reactions because you did not involve him when making the decision before it escalated.

Visit other medical centers and seek help for your problem. I have heard of cases quite similar to yours and with consistent medical treatment and checkup, they were able to conceive.

Do not live-in your sorrows because this will prevent you from moving on with your life. Be self-determined and do not linger thoughts with what people think about you. Everybody makes mistakes but they should not be judged by them.

In addition, be careful of the friends you keep because sometimes, the friends you keep determine how far you go in life. It is obvious that your friend left you when you needed her the most, even when she initiated the idea that led to your problems today. She should have shown remorse and made you feel like she cares even when (maybe) she does not.

LOVE AT FIRST SIGHTSparkles of love arouse just after the second glance at Mary in the reception hall. I tried to quench the feeling but it kept getting deeper. Summoning courage, I walked up to her and asked for her name. Surprisingly, she gave me her name, house address and phone number to me. I was happy but a little bit skeptical because I like women who play hard to get.

Days later, I called her and asked for a date, which she hurriedly agreed to without hesitation. Hmmm, this seems strange to me and I am losing interest. I feel she is cheap and desperate. Love doctor please I need your advice.

LOVE DOCTOR’s RESPONSEWell, you saw her and fell for her just at the first glance; does the act of yours make you cheap or desperate? You alone can answer this question.

Now, the woman in question might have also found you attractive and wants to relate with you as freely as possible. She should not be judged because she expressed her likeness for you just as you did.

If she is desperate, time will tell but for the main time, treat her as a responsible lady who is giving her time and attention to a man she feels is responsible enough to reciprocate her feelings.

Dear Love Doctor

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As his former student, we also had private conversations on variety of issues bordering on national security.Overtime we maintained communication and usually reached out to him on trending and crucial national issues whenever the need arise. His frank and objective contributions were always illuminating and reassuring.Despite his enormous commitments as Director General NIPSS, Kuru, he made ample time to watch my media appearances and interviews and the feedback from him were always invaluable, motivating and encouraging. I recall a particular instance when after my appearance on one of the television Stations programmes, he sent me the following comment via Whatsapp; “Good evening Gen SK, I watched you on Channels TV with rapt attention this evening. Your eloquent and coherent discussion make us proud. The military will take a while to have a spokesperson like you. Your retirement has left a huge gap there. May Allah continue to bless and guide you.”

Professor Habu Shuaibu Galadima was indeed a man of good and exemplary character as he inspired many and touched our hearts beyond what words could say or adequately describe.

“

Such encouraging comment and many of his subsequent feedbacks always inspire and make me proud. Indeed,his appointment as the Director General of NIPSS was one of the laudable decisions of the Federal Government of Nigeria judging by the positive comments and encomiums from various strata of the Nigerian society. His appointment was further justified based on the unprecedented way he transformed

NIPSS, the apex national think-tank, within a short period he served as Director General before his demise.Professor Habu Shuaibu Galadima was indeed a man of good and exemplary character as he inspired many and touched our hearts beyond what words could say or adequately describe. He taught, encouraged and motivated uncountable number of people either as his students, course participants and staff while alive. Therefore, his death, was a personal loss to me, the family, NIPSS, all those that knew him and the nation at large.Adieu the intellectual giant of our time and a gentleman per excellence.Professor, we shall continue to treasure your memory and good deeds. May Allah forgive all your shortcomings and grant you aljannah firdausi, amen.

– BRIGADIER GENERAL SK USMAN (rtd) mni FNIPR fapra mnarc DFIOARM, Consultant Director, Corporate Affairs and Information, Nigerian Army Resource Centre Abuja and Managing Director/CEO, Mahangi Communication Services, Abuja.

...Habu Shuaibu Galadima Scholar Per ExcellenceFROM back page

Galadima

MattersOf TheHeart




Release Of Abducted Kankara School Boys: Nigerians Speak

MADUKA FELIX, MEDIA PRACTITIONERThe release and return of the abducted Kankara school boys is obviously a cheering development, however, I don’t count it all joy because right now the kidnap of the boys exposed worsening state of insecurity in our dear nation. My fear is that mass abduction in the northern Nigeria and paying of ransom by the government is becoming normal. Also, Boko Haram is achieving their plan of ensuring Nigerians don’t have western education which is deadly for the young ones who are supposedly the future of the nation. We must take proactive action as a nation, there is no guarantee what happened at Kankara won’t happen elsewhere, and that is a big reason to be worried.

OKECHUKWU OGBA, PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYST I’m delighted the abducted Kankara students were release whether conditionally or unconditionally. But the incident has raised many questions than answers. Come to think it, over 300 students were moved out of their school at once. And the questions are: Did the kidnappers use cars, trucks or luxurious buses; How come no one saw them or trailed them?The Katsina Governor is known for negotiating with bandits, so he has a lot to tell Nigerians. The Presidency also messed-up by tells us that only 10 students were kidnapped earlier. Security should be everybody’s business; therefore the traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria and citizens must do their part. We need to wake up as a country because we are still sleeping.

IBE KAINAYO, BUSINESSMANThe government negotiated with the terrorists and it is very bad omen because it gives room for others to spring up. America can never negotiate with terrorist, that’s a standard Nigeria ought to operate with.For the released Abducted Kannada school boys, I think is just a play to divert public funds.There should be a total restructuring in the security sector, from the Army, Navy, Air force, and police. We are all afraid to move around, many people are scared of coming home from the north.

ADAMU YUSUF, CIVIL SERVANT The release of the abducted boys is something everyone should celebrate. It shows that this present government is working despite every other challenge. No government that does not encounter challenges, in fact that was why they were elected, so it is a normal thing. However, I applaud the government of President Mohammadu Buhari and the Nigerian soldiers for the effort they made to bring back those children and to put smiles on the faces of their parents and Nigerians at large.

The recent abduction and release of Kankara school boys has generated a lot of reactions among citizens and the manner at which the boys were said to have been released and discordant tunes among security agents and government officials, AljazirahNigeria reporters went round the streets of Abuja to seek the

opinion of Nigerians.

MR. AYO ADE, MEDICAL PRACTITIONERThat was not abduction; it was a well-organized plan to deceive Nigerians. I can never believe that those School children were abducted. The government of President Mohammadu Buhari has been able to play with the minds of Nigerians. Just after I discussed this issue with a friend who came to visit me, I stumbled into a video on Facebook where one of the school boys revealed that they were forced to say Boko Haram set abducted them. You see, I began to weep for Nigeria and the gimmick of this present government to extort fund. If we continue like this, it means there is no hope and future for this country.

BEATRICE ADAMS, LAWYERI cannot possibly believe that the Boko Haram boys abducted those children. That was a huge lie. Those children were not just released; they were released on the ground of negotiation with the government of Buhari. Tell me, which good government negotiates with terrorists? Where is Nigeria heading to? Why are they destroying this country? After paying a huge ransom to terrorists they came out to tell the public nonsense. Well, may God have mercy on this government and deliver us from their hands.

MR. BELLO ZAK, CIVIL SERVANTThe release of the abducted school boys to me is a good thing to appreciate. With this, we know that the government is trying. Unlike the Chibok girls. I think government has played a very good role by making sure that those children were released. At least, this is the first time in Nigeria where terrorists were forced to release those they abducted within a very short period of time. It’s not easy; I praise the government for the effort.

DENNIS JOSHUA, STUDENTIt is only a fool that would believe that those children were abducted by the Boko Haram set. It was well planned to the glory of the present government. How come those boys were just released within a few days of abduction if the government does not have hand in it? In Nigeria, whatever that cannot happen does not exist. Our leaders find it very okay deceiving their subjects. We know what is happening, we are not ignorant. They have succeeded in creating a way to embezzle fund, they should clap for their selves.

MR. FEMI BAMIDELE, CORPS MEMBERThose boys were not just released like that. The government paid off the terrorists. The question is, how long will this terrorists continue to invade schools? The government should fight this people so that there will be peace in this country. Insecurity issues are increasing every day. Not just Boko Haram, kidnapping cases

and arm robbery cases has greatly increase in this country. Nobody is safe again. Every corner in Nigeria is facing security challenges yet we have force men and women all over the country. The government should try to protect Nigerians by engaging in strategic planning to fight terrorism and kidnapping in the country.

MRS. RUKAIYAT HUSAINAIPersonally, I appreciate the government. But we can’t continue like this. Lives are in danger. Government should put more effort to put an

end to the activities of terrorists in Nigeria.

MR. JOHN FATUESE.The release of the Kankara school boys is good. My question is, how long will Boko Haram continue to disturb the peace of this country?Nigerians are no longer safe. Government can totally put an end to this nonsense if they really determine to fight them. We are tired of hearing about abduction of children every time in this country. Government should face this terrorists and Chase them away.

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By JOEL AJAyI

President, of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) Engr. Musa Nimrod has revealed that investing in just 1% of Nigeria Governor’s security votes in each state of the federation to the development of Sports will bring an end to the issue of the crimes rate in the country.

The NVBF boss make this pronouncement at the closing ceremony of the 2019 African Nations Beach Volleyball Cup for Men and Women Championships over the weekend, saying that states government were not doing their part in sports development.

Kwara Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, has inaugurated three new sets of Olympic Standard Table Tennis boards worth over two million naira for Kwara State Sports Council.

The Governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Sports Matters, Malam Attairu Ibrahim, said that the government cannot do it alone and called for support from well-meaning Nigerians to help develop sporting activities in the state.

He commended Owolabi for the gesture which would complement the efforts of the government in repositioning sports in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of the equipment at the Table Tennis section in Ilorin, Chairman of the Kwara Table Tennis Association, Mr. Shola Owolabi who donated table tennis boards said he acquired the Olympic standard materials to improve the performance of the players.

Owolabi added that the equipment were also donated in place of his annual birthday championship and expressed optimism that it would galvanize the players to achieve more laurels for the state.

On his own, the former president of Table Tennis Federation of Nigeria and former Chairman of Kwara State Table Tennis Association, Abdulwahab Omotose urged the government to invest more in other sports with a view to exploring opportunities that abound.

It will be recalled that the Kwara Para-Table Tennis contingent came third on the overall medal table of the just concluded ValuJet International Para-Table Championship in Lagos with one gold, one silver and seven bronze medals. The new equipment was also savoured with exhibition games among the guests and players with delight.

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare has re-affirmed that the government alone cannot develop sports, insisting that only public, private partnership could off shoot sports development.

According to Mr. Dare in an egalitarian society, sports are developed alongside private investors. Look at countries like the United Kingdom, Jamaica, the United States, South Africa and a host of others that have successfully done this.

“We need to develop sports deliberately with the help of public, private partnership. We believe in a holistic sports development which is a total departure from funding sporting competitions and waiting for the next Olympics, FIFA World Cup, Commonwealth Games or the All Africa

Games. But as important as these events are, they do not equate to sports development. But we came in clearly with the vision of developing a template that speaks to sports development and not just to infrastructures, but also the athletes as well as the entire gamut of sports”.

The Minister expressed gratitude to Sir Kensington Adebutu and Alhaji Aliko Dangote for their immense contribution to Sports Development.

“We need to thank these two philanthropists Sir Kensington Adebutu and Alhaji Aliko Dangote for their immense contribution towards sports Development. They both made the rehabilitation of the National stadium Surelere, and the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja possible with the adopted initiative.

Public-Private Partnership Key To Sports Development – Minister

Kwara Governor Inaugurates Olympic Standard Table Tennis Boards

STORIES By JOEL AJAyI

Following the successes recorded at the 2019 Women World Cup in France, the World soccer governing body (FIFA) has increased the number of participating teams from 24 to 32.

FIFA released a statement on Thursday stating how the countries will be selected from each confederation after qualifiers.

Africa has three representatives in the last edition of the women World cup: Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa.

Nigeria and Cameroon were able to make it beyond the group stage while Bayana Bayana dropped out in the group stage.

FIFA confirmed that Africa will have four slots and two counties from the continent will also have an opportunity to partake in the play-off before joining the four qualified countries to make the total number six at the next World cup.

“Following the amazing success of the 2019 edition, the decision was taken last year to expand

the FIFA Women’s World Cup to 32 teams and thus continue to foster the growth of women’s football. FIFA has since worked closely with the confederations to formulate a proposal for the allocation of slots and the Bureau of the FIFA Council has today confirmed the following berths for the 2023 edition:

Direct slot allocation (29 of the 32 participation slots)

However, the two host countries, Australia and New Zealand, will automatically qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, and their slots have been taken directly from the quotas allocated to their confederations, namely the AFC and the OFC respectively.

The three remaining slots will be decided through a ten-team play-off tournament with the following play-off slots allocation:

Four teams will be seeded in the tournament based on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking prior to the play-off draw, with a maximum of one-seeded team per confederation”, the statements read.

Women’s World Cup: FIFA Increases Africa’s Slots

“You’ve got to trust in your own ability, back yourself, and the main thing is work really, really hard and fight to improve.” – David de Gea

Football Transfer GossipThough, the transfer window has come to an end in Europe and the rest of the world, clubs are still making efforts to land their targets by the January transfer window AljazirahNigeria Sports follow-up and reports all the rumors making round in Europe and the rest of the world to keep you abreast of all that is to come.

Kylian Mbappe: Paris St-Germain’s sacking of coach Thomas Tuchel has complicated Real Madrid’s hopes of signing France striker 22, from the Ligue1 champions next summer.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Atletico Madrid are weighing up trying to sign 23-year-old Arsenal and England defender on loan in January.

Marcos Alonso: Chelsea left-back is also a target for Atletico Madrid, with the 29-year-old Spain international having struggled for first-team football at Stamford Bridge this season.

David Alaba: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign a centre-half next year but is unlikely to join the race for 28-year-old Bayern Munich and Austria defender, whose contract runs out in the summer.

Hakan Calhanoglu: AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli wants Turkey midfielder who has been linked with Manchester United, to stay at the club as talks over a new deal with the 26-year-old take place.

Marten de Roon: Manchester City and Tottenham are monitoring 29-year-old Atalanta and Netherlands midfielder, who had a spell at Middlesbrough earlier in his career.

Cenk Tosun: Feyenoord manager Dick Advocaat has ruled out a move for Everton and Turkey striker, 29.

Shkodran Mustafi:Barcelona have rejected claims they are interested in signing 28-year-old Arsenal and Germany centre-back.

Moises Caicedo,” Chelsea have joined Manchester United in showing an interest in 19-year-old Ecuador midfielder who plays for Independiente del Valle.

www.aljazirahnews.comSports...first in breaking the news www.aljazirahnews.comNIGERIA






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...first in breaking the news www.aljazirahnews.com Vol. 2 No. 163



N200

To say that the sad news of the demise of the highly respected Professor Habu Shuaibu Galadima, Director General of the National Institute for Policy

and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, is shocking to anyone that knew him, is an understatement because he exuded an unimaginable, enduring and wonderful character. He was calm, vivacious and radiated energy much to the chagrin of those who were acquainted with him. Sadly, however, on Sunday 20th December 2020 we woke up with the unbelievable news of his demise. But we take solace in the fact that it is God that give and take away lives and death is incumbent for all mortals.

I met him for the first time, when I reported for the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 40, 2018, at NIPSS, Kuru,Plateau State, precisely on the 19th February 2018. Instantly, he left an indelible impression of an honest, compassionate and easy going person. We subsequently met severally at the plenary, tea break and at times in his office where we discussed mutual and national issues during my stay as a participant at NIPSS,Kuru. It is important to note that despite his very tight schedule as Director of Research

and the Chief Operating Officer of the Political Parties Leadership and Policy Development Centre of NIPSS then, he still found time to lecture and make presentations which endeared him to the participants. Beyond that, he was such a mentor and father figure that make out time to guide and counsel participants on their projects and research topics.

Therefore, it was not surprising that Professor Habu Shuaibu Galadima was made the Director General of

the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru on the expiration of the tenure of the then Acting Director General, Mr. Jonathan Juma.

We met once again on 16th December 2019, at a stakeholders meeting on National Security Strategy 2019, at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, where he made useful contributions which reflected his sterling expertise and academic qualities.


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Galadima

Guest Columnist SA KUKASHEKA USMAN

To security agencies for their failure to protect citizens during

the yuletide season as bandits, kidnappers and others take over the roads.

This space is for sale

Adieu Professor Habu Shuaibu Galadima, Scholar Par Excellence

... raising Africa’s future leaders

Be warned!

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AWARD 2020 - Aljazirah Nigeria Newspaper

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