FG To Launch “Mega City Project”, Targets Affordable Housing For All – Alhaji Tijani Gwarzo

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February 1, 2024

By Daniel Maduka

The Federal Government would soon give teeth to the housing aspect of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renew Hope Agenda”, as plans have reached advanced stages for the launch of the Mega City Project, Minister of State For Housing And Urban Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Tijani Muhammad Gwarzo has said .

The Minister who gave the assurance on Wednesday ,January 31 in Abuja when he received in audience Executive members of Medical And Dental Consultant Association Of Nigeria, acknowledged the crucial roles of the medical body in the task of providing decent and healthy houses for the citizenry.

In a release issued and signed by his Special Assistant Media Adamu Abdullahi and made available to The Source, Kano born ,Alhaji Gwarzo, noted that the Federal Government’s “Mega City Project” is targeted at providing affordable housing for all Nigerians irrespective of economic and social status.

He appreciated the Medical Union for their foresight in keying into the project, as well as seeking collaboration with the Ministry, assurring of the readiness of the Ministry of Housing to partner with them towards the construction of Housing Estates across the country.

The National President of the Medical And Dental Consultants, Professor Muhammad Aminu Muhammad had earlier informed the Minister that their visit is to solicit the support and collaboration of the ministry in the area of provision of affordable, safe ,and stable houses in accordance with health planning.

Prof Muhammad, therefore, called on the Minister to assist in the facilitation of allotment of a plot of land in Abuja for the construction of its National Headquarters.

FG Threatens States For Collecting N2trn Mining Royalties

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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February 1, 2024

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The federal government has threatened to deduct directly from the monthly allocation of state government that fails to pay mining royalties to the centre.

Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development issued the threat on Thursday in Kaduna at a meeting with Licensed Minerals Holders, Laterite /Sand Operators Dealers in the state.

The minister said what states government are owing federal government over N2 trillion as mining royalties collected from miners.

According to the minister, it’s wrong for the state governments to collect royalties in behalf of the federal government, and failed to remit same to the appropriate quarters.

He said a special task force has been set up to tackle the activities of illegal miners in the country, stressing that state governments “are not to collect royalty and tax on mining.”

“Miners and Operators owed the federal government more than N2 trillion,” the minister who was represented at the event by the Acting Zonal Office r, North west zonal office, Kutman Hosea Ali, stated.

“We have made it very clear that in Kaduna State, every operator should make bold steps and clear their debt,” the minister, represented by the Acting Zonal Mines Officer, North-West Zonal Office, Kutman Hosea Ali, stated.

Adding that “Any state government or any local government that collects money in the name of Royalty or Mineral Tax will be deducted from the source allocated to the State.

“The Special Mines Taskforce has been activated in Kaduna State and they had commenced operation on the war against illegal Mining and nonpayment of royalties which must be paid monthly as well as other taxes to the Government of Nigeria.”

The minister recently accused some prominent Nigerians of aiding illegal mining in the country, which fueled insecurity.

Afenifere Flays FG’s Handling Of Security Challenges, Insists On Restructuring

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Ayodele Oni

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February 1, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Factional Afenifere, being led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo has advised that the permanent option to the insecurity in the country is restructuring as a true federation with a new constitution using the reports of the 2014 National Conference as minimum template.

Rising from its meeting at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun state, the group pointed out that the State Police option should also be considered in the overall security of the nation.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting presided over by its leader, Adebanjo.

The meeting considered reports from delegations sent to Plateau and Oyo states on the Christmas killing and explosion which happened in the two states before arriving at its resolutions.

It urged South West states to fully equip the Amotekun Corps in a greater proportion of weaponry than available to terrorists now ravaging the land.

Afenifere berated the federal government for handling the issue of security with kid gloves and called on the people to rise in their own defence stating that no action is illegitimate in self defence.

On the leadership crisis within Afenifere, it resolved that “For the umpteenth time, the Meeting reiterated that Afenifere is the Yoruba interpretation of Action Group, a political party founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues on social welfarist ideology.

“The Group is constituted by those who subscribe to its ideology.

Afenifere is thus not a Yoruba sociocultural group or social club of Yoruba.”

The Communique

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING OF THE AFENIFERE HELD AT THE COUNTRY HOME OF THE LEADER, CHIEF AYO ADEBANJO AT ISANYA OGBO OGUN STATE ON TUESDAY 30TH DAY OF JANUARY 2024

000 PREAMBLE.

The Afenifere held its regular monthly General Meeting today, 30th day of January 2024, at the country home of the Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State.

The Meeting was attended by delegates from the member states and after intensive deliberations on the state of the nation Resolved as follows:

2.00 RESOLUTIONS

2.01 on the Plateau Christmas eve terrorists attacks: Afenifere received reports of the visit of the delegation of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum to the Government and people of Plateau State and the Middle Belt on the killings by terrorists in several parts of Plateau State on the eve of Christmas last year.

2.02 The delegation which was led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the Leader of Afenifere and Deputy Leader of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum included other leaders across the federation and received by the Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, traditional rulers, Leaders of Thought in Plateau State and other parts of the Middle Belt. It was resolved by all that the country needed be urgently restructured as a true federation with a new constitution using the reports of the 2014 National Conference as minimum template The imperative of State Police was emphasised in the overall security of the nation.

2.03 On the Ibadan explosion: The Meeting further received reports of its delegation led by the Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan to the Government and people of Oyo State on the recent Ibadan explosion.

The delegation and the host Governor Seyi Makinde noted that the unfortunate incident was made possible under the pseudo-Federal military constitution where explosives of that magnitude may be used in states without regulations by the state government.

2.04 On the Amotekun South West Security Networks: The Governor briefed the delegation on the activities of the Amotekun Security Corps. The delegation noted the immense contribution of the Amotekun initiative, commended and urged the governments of all South West states to fully equip the Corps in a greater proportion of weaponry than available to terrorists now ravaging our land.

2.05 Increased terrorists attacks in Nigeria and Yorubaland;

The Meeting was incensed by the activities of terrorists all over the country and its incursion into Yoruba land, the latest being the gruesome and sacrilegious murder of two Obas in Ekiti State.

The Meeting noted the unfortunate kid gloves with which the Federal Government continued to treat Security matters and therefore called on the people to rise in their own defence stating that no action is illegitimate in self defence.2.06 Afenifere:

For the umpteenth time, the Meeting reiterated that Afenifere is the Yoruba interpretation of Action Group, a political party founded in 1951 by Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his colleagues on social welfarist ideology

The Group is constituted by those who subscribe to its ideology.

Afenifere is thus not a Yoruba sociocultural group or social club of Yoruba.

2.07 The General Meeting as the highest organ, expressed the appreciation of Afenifere for the untiring activities of its leadership in line with the objectives and aspirations of its founding fathers.

The Meeting thus resolved and passed a vote of confidence on Chief Ayo Adebanjo as the Leader and Oba Oladipo Olaitan as the Deputy Leader of the Organisation*.

2.08 Appointments.

The Meeting approved the following appointments

(1) Mr. Alade Rotimi-John as Assistant Secretary General

(2) Prince Justice Jadesola Faloye as Assistant National Publicity Secretary.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo

Leader.

Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo

National Publicity Secretary.

Otti Challenges Nigerian Universities On Financial Independence, Asks Them To Remove Begging Cap For Thinking Cap

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The Source

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February 1, 2024

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By Daniel Maduka

The Abia State Government has assured that it will take all necessary steps to address all the challenges facing the State-own University, Abia state university Uturu.

This is even as Governor Alex Otti, has challenged the Management of the Institution to put on its thinking cap, with a view to fashioning ways of being independent, as in other climes.

The Source reports that there has been a disruption of industrial harmony at the university in the last two weeks over claims of unpaid 11 months salary arrears, which is believed to have pre-dated the present Government.

The Governor who spoke on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, when he received in audience a delegation of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU led by its Zonal coordinator Calabar zone Dr Happiness Uduak,

expressed shock over the 18 months salary differentials the Union said are being owed its ABSU members from 2009- 2010, in addition to the 11 months salary arrears owed them by the previous administration.

Governor Otti, however noted that universities, especially, the older ones should be able to function, independent of government subventions, adding that the Union members should work hand in glove with the management to make the university financially independent.

“It is important we put on our thinking cap and remove our begging cap because this whole idea of begging is the problem we have in Nigeria

“Even as a country, we keep begging, we keep borrowing . We need to think about being financially independent.

“Even from research alone, if there is anything happening in the university ,we should be able to generate enough resources to do a few things.” Governor Otti stated.

The Governor, while promising to parley with the university authority, on how to solve the identified challenges, however said his administration is mulling the establishment of a Visitation Panel, as part of a restructuring process.

The ASUU delegation leader, Dr Uduak, appreciated the Government’s efforts towards stabilizing ABSU since mounting the saddle in the last few months, particularly in the area of prompt release of monthly subventions, a gesture which, according to her has been instrumental to the industrial harmony between the government and the union.

She appealed to the Government to look into the issue of the 11 months salary arrears being owed the members ,as well as consider an up ward review of the university’s monthly subvention subventions.

Explosion Kill Suspected Oil Pipeline Vandals In Imo

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Ayodele Oni

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February 1, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Police in Imo State has confirmed the death of five persons in an explosion at Obitti community in Ohaji/Egbema local government.

It was gathered that the deceased persons are suspected to be vandals of oil pipeline, caught while perpetrating the act.

Investigation revealed that the vandals had stormed the Obitti Rubber Estate with an articulated vehicle and dug through to an oil pipeline that passed through the area.

“They dug a hole in the pipeline and connected their long pipe to their tanker to steal oil.

Residents explained “I cannot say exactly what caused the explosion but I knew, and from what I saw, many people died. Many others, who narrowly escaped the explosion, sustained serious injuries.

“The fire that raged for hours burnt the tanker and also destroyed our farm produce worth millions of naira.”

ASP Henry Okoye, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state police command confirmed the death, on Wednesday, in Owerri.

Okoye said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, has set up a team to unravel the immediate cause of the incident and arrest fleeing culprits.

Gani Adams Wants OPC Involvement In SW Security

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Ayodele Oni

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February 1, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, has accepted to take charge of security in the southwest region in view of rise in banditry.

According to him, insecurity across South West region would be curtailed within six months if governors in the region can involve Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC) in their plans to tackle the menace.

Gani Adams, who spoke in Ile-Ife, Osun State at the grand finale of this year’s edition of Oodua Festival, lamented the sudden rise in the cases of violent crimes in the region.

The National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress, who noted that all efforts by both the Federal and the state government to address insecurity have failed, said the global community no longer take Nigeria seriously due to the large number of lives that have been lost to insecurity.

“The bad elements are now relocating to Lagos. Remember, that was how it started in Plateau State. As the Aare onakakanfo of Yoruba land, we will not allow the Plateau massacre to be replicated in any part of Yorubaland.

“With the present security situation in the country, it is obvious that the government cannot do it alone. If the governors of the South West involve me in their efforts to curb insecurity in the region, I assure you that the security challenges in the region will reduce drastically within six months.

“A good example of our involvement in curbing the security challenges in Lagos was when Baddo was the major security threat in Lagos and Ogun states, especially in Ikorodu area of the state.”

Ondo Reps Bye Election: INEC Assures Transparency, Distributes Materials

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Ayodele Oni

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February 1, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters in Saturday’s bye-election that there will be no hitches.

This is just as the commission distributed sensitive materials ahead of the Akoko North-East/ Akoko North-West Federal constituency bye-election scheduled to hold on Feb 3.

The Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal constituency became vacant after President Bola Tinubu appointed Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as a minister.

Representatives of the eight political parties contesting in the election and security agencies including NSCDC, FRSC, Police, Immigration and DSS were at the INEC office in Akure, where the materials were distributed.

Kunle Ajayi, INEC National Commissioner, supervising Osun Ogun and Ondo, who monitored the exercise, said that the distribution of the ballot papers was to show that the commission was ready for the by-election.

Ajayi, who said that the commission would be transparent in the conduct of the election, appealed to the political parties to eschew violence on the election day.

The commissioner said that the sensitive materials were being distributed early to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted or does not get materials for the election.

“So the sensitive materials will be moved to the two local governments councils by Thursday with the help of security agencies.

“And, we want people to have confidence in INEC’s conduct of a free and fair election because we don’t have any political party, we don’t have any candidate, we are neutral in everything that we are doing. And we are going to reflect that again in Saturday’s by-election

In her remarks, Mrs Toyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo state, assured the political parties of the commission’s readiness to conduct transparent, free and fair election.

“The riot act has been read to all adhoc staff on implication of getting involved in any electoral malpractice.

“So, our level of transparency is going to be high with utmost professionalism. Moreover, we have trained our staff, trained our officers and talked to ourselves and we will do it right.”

Mr Adesanya Olaoluwa, State Chairman of Inter -Party Advisory Council (IPAC) commended the INEC for transparency in the exercise saying all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.

Supreme Court Rulings On Kano, Plateau, Others, Confirm Tinubu, Ganduje As Democrats – Nwaji, APC Chieftain

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The Source

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February 1, 2024

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By Daniel Maduka

The recent Supreme Court rulings on some States’ Gubernatorial legal contests which saw the All Progressive Congress APC lose almost all of its appeals, have dispelled the opinions held before now in some quarters that President Bola Tinubu and the top hierarchy of the Party have been influencing the Judiciary.

In the same vein, it has eloquently testified to the commendable democratic credentials of the President and the National Chairman of the Party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as political actors whose conducts are consistently guided by the rule of law.

These were the views of an Abia State APC Chieftain and prominent opinion leader of the Ukwa Nation, Chief Sylvanus Uzoma Nwaji, in an interview with The Source on Monday January 29 2024, in Aba.

The four-time Chairman of the Oil rich Ukwa West Local Council of Abia State, noted that President Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, used the gubernatorial outcomes in such States as Kano and Plateau to demonstrate to Nigerians and the world generally that they are patriotic leaders out to promote the growth of democracy.

“The National Chairman deserves to be applauded, for not going to extreme points as some in his position would have done just to ensure that they retain control of their base.

“President Tinubu, also, exhibited a rare and great political restraint, not to be carried away by political expediency, the way some would have in a bid to capture the all important Kano state.

“We are all aware of the importance of Kano to the peace and security of this Country,. And anybody and/ or group that sacrificed personal interests for peace to reign in such an important State as Kano deserves some respect.” Nwaji stated

Chief Nwaji further stressed that the Supreme court rulings on the Gubernatorial disputes ,have shown that contrary to the views in the opposition camps ,the Judiciary was not in any way manipulated, cajoled and/or influenced in its handling of the Presidential election petitions.

“With these Supreme Court judgments on the Governorship contests wherein the ruling APC lost all its appeals, including some key States, it should be clear that the Judiciary has never been under the influence of anybody..

“President Tinubu’s opponents should accept defeat and move on because we are currently seeing the true nature of independent judiciary.

“Whatever good changes we are seeing now is a process. And it has started with an independent judiciary which we should all celebrate.” Nwaji noted

First Bank: Finally, Maverick Otedola Grabs Nigeria’s Premier Bank

By

Tosin Olatokunbo

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February 1, 2024

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Billionaire Femi Otedola, has been appointed the Chairman of FBN Holdings, the parent company of Nigeria’s premier commercial bank, First Bank Nigeria, FBN.

The financial behemoth made his appointment known in a disclosure filed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, on Wednesday.

According to the bank, the businessman has been elected by the board of the bank following the departure of Ahmad Abdullahi, the former holder of the position.

Otedola is coming to the position barely two years after he swore never to take up position in the board of the bank.

He made the assertion during the contest between him and a former chairman of the bank, Oba Otudeko to purchase the controlling shares of the bank in 2021 with the aim of taking it over.

The magazine had reported insiders’ suggestion that Otedola was planning to beat Otudeko in his own game of plotting to return to the bank where he once held sway as chairman before he was sacked by embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele over alleged abuse of office, insider trading, and illegal removal of Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan as FBN Limited Managing Director.

Otedola had committed N45 billion to purchase 2,717,282,140 shares in the group with the intention of upturning the apple’s cart against his major rival, Otudeko.

He however denied the alleged move, saying he was on his way to retirement from boardroom scheming, stressing that he preferred professionals to be in charge of the bank.

He was simply grandstanding as events have now clearly indicated.

He said: “I am simply an investor who saw an opportunity in the financial institution and decided to take advantage of it through the investment I have made.

“My interest, contrary to speculations is not to become chairman of the bank or its holdco. Moreover, I am in semi-retirement.”

“Being the single largest shareholder doesn’t mean I must necessarily hold a position in the bank. I believe in allowing competent people run institutions in a professional manner and to the benefit of all the stakeholders.”

Keen stakeholders in the industry informed the magazine after his appointment was announced yesterday that it has nursed ‘serious’ to take over the bank from the onset, notwithstanding his denial.

The business mogul who recently shelled out over N6 billion to purchase shares in Dangote Cement, insiders stressed, has become bullish in his quest to have a pie in major sectors of the economy.

“Recall that he was technically edged out from taking over Transcorp by Elumelu who quickly increased his shares in the power firm, thereby stopping Otedola from overthrowing him. The power, banking and manufacturing sectors are Otedola’s targets, according to insiders, in his quest to maintain his position as one of Nigeria’s richest men.

According to Forbes Businessmen Index released early in January, Otedola was racked alongside Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga, and Abdulrahman Abdulsamad as Nigeria’s fourth richest man with a net worth of $1.1 billion.

Federal Court Issues Arrest Warrant On Ehie, Fubara’s Chief Of Staff, Another Court Counters

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The Source

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February 1, 2024

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By Gideon Njoku

The political crisis in Rivers State escalated on Wednesday with an order by a Federal High Court, Abuja for the arrest of Edison Ehie, the newly appointed Chief of Staff to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite, who ordered his arrest said that Ehie, very briefly, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and five others, were involved, allegedly, in the explosion which rocked the State House of Assembly to abort the planned impeachment of the Governor by Members of the Assembly loyal to the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and now the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Nwite ordered Ehie’s immediate arrest along with five other persons over the incident.

However a High Court in Porthacourt, Rivers State, on same Wednesday, stopped the Police from arresting Ehie. Ruling in an ex-parte motion filed by the Chief of Staff against the Nigerian Police, the Honourable Justice Sika Aprioku restrained the Police and other Security Agencies from harassing, arresting or detaining Ehie over the explosion at the House of Assembly. He adjourned the case to February 6, 2024.

Those ordered by the Federal High Court to be arrested along with the Chief of Staff are Jinjiri Bala, Happy Benedict, Progress Joseph, Adokiye Oyagiri and Chibuike Peter also known as Rambo.

Justice Nwite ordered their arrest while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application brought before him by the Inspector General of Police IGP.

The application was based on sections 37, 113, 114, 84 and 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and section 35 of the 1999 Constitution as well as 32 of the Police Act 2020.

The ex-parte application was argued by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Simon Lough, SAN, who said the six defendants were at large.

The DCP posited that the defendants were involved in conspiracy, arson, terrorism, attempted murder and murder of a Superintendent of Police SP Bako Agbashim and five other police informants.

The police informants allegedly killed were Charles Osu, Ogbonna Eja, Idaowuka Felix, Paul Victor Chibuogu and Saturday Edi.