Home Blog Page 1283

APM Urges Nigerians To Hold FG Accountable In 2024

January 1, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Yusuf Dantalle, Chairman, Allied Peoples Mandate, APM, has called on Nigerians to hold the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government accountable in 2024.

Dantalle made the clarion call stressing that at all levels of governance, the Government should be held accountable.

The APM National Chairman acknowledged the economic hardships endured by Nigerians in 2023 but remained optimistic about the future.

He stressed the need for improved leadership and policy-making in 2024.

The statement read: “Poor leadership and ill-conceived policies need to be things of the past

“In 2024, it is imperative that we take our national destiny into our own hands, hold governments at all levels accountable in a renewed effort to build a better society.”

The party described the New Year as an opportunity for a national rebirth that promises economic growth, political stability, and social cohesion.

“The beginning of 2024 marks a new dawn for us all. It is a time when we must come together, regardless of our differences, to build the Nigeria of our dreams—a nation where no one is oppressed,” said Dantalle.

The APM called for a renewed sense of patriotism and service to the nation, urging Nigerians to work towards a country bound in freedom, peace, and unity.

NDF Inaugurates New Office, To Create Robust Support Network For Over 20 Million Nigerians

Akinwale Kasali

January 1, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria In Diaspora Forum, NDF, has inaugurated its new office in Abuja, the nation’s Capital.

This is to create a robust support network and relationship for over 20 million Nigerians who live in diaspora.

The inauguration of the new office was disclosed by the newly appointed Country Director, Chike Amadichi.

Joachim Okafor, Board Chairman of the NDF, made this known in a statement, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians abroad.

He stated that these strategic moves were aimed at enhancing the welfare and advocating for the rights of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Okafor said, “The establishment of the Home Office in Abuja marks a pivotal step towards bringing our services to the nerve center of Nigerian diplomacy.

“With Hon. Chike Amadichi at the helm in Nigeria, we are confident in our ability to foster stronger collaborations with embassies and high commissions to support our compatriots across the globe.”

The NDF, a non-governmental organization established by Nigerians in the Diaspora, is focused on enhancing living conditions for Nigerians abroad and harnessing diaspora resources for national development.

“The NDF stands as a formidable platform for all Nigerians living outside our shores.

“We are keen on partnering with federal and state governments, as well as other agencies, to bring about infrastructural and human capital development in Nigeria,” Okafor added.

Governor Makinde Says Past Seven Months Most Challenging

Akinwale Kasali

January 1, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has disclosed that his administration went through a lot in the past Seven months.

Makinde stated that the continual rise in inflation in the past has been worrisome, following his administration’s inability to successfully ameliorate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and the Naira to Dollar exchange rate.

He stressed that the removal of fuel subsidy and the peg on the Naira to Dollar exchange rate has had negative impact on the people of the state, making it seem his administration has done nothing to help their plights, coupled with other challenges governance is tied with.

In an address at the State House, Ibadan, Oyo State Capital, Governor Makinde said, “ The last seven months under Omituntun 2.0 have been challenging. The removal of fuel subsidy and the peg on the Naira to Dollar exchange rate has taken a toll on our economy and people.

“For this reason, in the past months, we have taken steps that show that we continue to put our people first.

“We have initiated actions through the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery programme that ensured that we provided immediate relief for our poorest population through food relief packages. We also extended this package to pensioners and civil servants.

“ We set up low-interest loans for our traders, market men and women, youth agropreneurs and smallholder farmers. We also distributed grains and other inputs to our smallholder farmers. We paid for health insurance for our pensioners and other disadvantaged people in our society. We also provided low-cost transportation through our Omituntun Buses both within and outside Ibadan.

“We know this is not enough as inflation rates continue to rise. And so, as we cross the halfway mark of our first year with the Omituntun 2.0 mandate, this is an auspicious time to remind you that our administration was built for times like this. The implementation of our 2024 Budget of Economic Recovery will serve to reinforce the reforms that we are introducing to secure our economy further.”

He, however sought more support from the people of the State as his governance moves towards the first year in his second term.

He said, “We again ask for your support as we take the tough decisions that will see our dear State deliver prosperity for all. We have so far been bullish about bringing investments into Oyo State, and as the new year unfolds, you will see more and more ways in which we have continued to put you first.

“This year, we look forward to completing more road projects like the 76.67 km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road construction and the 38 km Ido-Eruwa Road reconstruction. We will also be reconstructing and rehabilitating more feeder roads across Oyo State.

“We look forward to welcoming more industries into our dear state as we commission the pilot Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub and start work on the Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hub.

“We look forward to reaping revenue from the solid minerals sector and completing our first Independent Power Project.”

Speaking further, the Governor said, “ We look forward to welcoming investors into our tourism sector as we seek to revitalise the Ibadan Cultural Centre and Agodi Gardens while opening the Eleyele Lake, and the Iyake Lake, Ado-Awaye, to investor interest.

“We believe that by following this economic blueprint, with God on our side and your continued support, our administration will continue to put our dear State on the map for all the right reasons.

“While we promise to continue making decisions that will make us proud to be from Oyo State, we implore you to work with us as we seek to bring sanity to the State by implementing the rule of law. It will be impossible to enforce laws without stepping on toes.

“I urge us all to see the bigger picture – a State where investors and tourists will be happy to come to and live because they know that they can feel safe and secure. May 2024 be that year when things turn around for us all for good!”

LASG Remain Defiant, Finally Demolishes POWA Complex In Ikeja, As Trader Count Loses

Akinwale Kasali

January 1, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

After several Save Our Soul appeals Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun and Political Stakeholders, the Lagos State Government remained defiant and finally demolished the Police Officers’ Wives Association Shopping Complex in the Computer Village, Ikeja area of Lagos.

The demolition exercise which took place in the early hours of Sunday, December 31, 2023, saw Traders counting their loses as they struggled to gather some of their properties from the rubbles.

Counting their loses, The Chairman, Computer Dealers Association, in Computer Village, Tayo Shittu, said the demolition began around 12 am in the early hours of Sunday morning, as they were caught unawares, though, the LASG has informed it had no intention to demolish the Complex.

According to Shittu, “ Around 12 am, I was called that about 300 policemen had stormed our plaza with up to three bulldozers that they were bringing down our plaza. The whole plaza, Phase 1 and 2, has been brought down. We are talking of about 300 shops, more than 1000 occupants. In some shops, we have two, three or five people.

“We are not feeling good at all. A lot of our members have travelled for the Christmas holidays. If at all it was supposed to happen, there must be a roundtable discussion. They just came suddenly and brought everything down.”

Some of the Traders couldn’t hold back tears as they counted their loses. Millions of Naira worth of properties and goods were destroyed.

Lamenting their loses, a Trader, Omobayo Azeez, said, “Around 12 am on Sunday, over 200 heavily armed police officers stormed the place. According to eyewitnesses, they blocked all entrances to the place and sent away anyone around.”

In the same vein, another shop owner, identified simply as Emeka, who also spoke with PUNCH Metro, said traders lost valuable goods to the demolition.

Emeka said, “Goods including air conditioning systems, inverters, solar panels, burglary, and laptops were taken away. They used hammers to break in and collected valuables before they started breaking. As we moved around here, we could not find some of the things we left. Two months ago, the Lagos State Government came here and collected taxes from all of us but the appreciation they could show us for electing them and paying our taxes is to come and demolish our businesses. Many people working under us are out of jobs. They are sending another set of Lagosians to the IDP camps.”

It was gathered that over 1,000 Traders are been rendered jobless with the demolition, as Shittu lament the inconsiderate gesture of Governor Sanwo Olu, and its insensitivity to the plights of the traders.

Also, this news medium was reliably informed that the Government with armed policemen allegedly stormed the plaza on Thursday afternoon, to give them a 24-hour deadline to vacate the over 300 shops in the POWA complex, and came early Sunday morning to wreck havoc.

Gov Aiyedatiwa Says Political Crisis In Ondo Panacea For Unity, As Ekiti Gov Oyebanji Takes Stock

Ayodele Oni

January 1, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said events of last year in the state have tested the people in diverse ways.

Apparently referring to political crisis occasioned by the health challenges of late former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa in a new year message, stated that

“those challenges have shaped our resolve to, more than ever before, bring our people together and pursue the attainment of a peaceful and prosperous Ondo State.”

Describing year 2023 as one of the most trying years since creation of the state, the governor advised that

“It is time to put the past behind us and focus all our human and material resources into building on the foundation that this administration has so far laid.

“While acknowledging that 2023 was a very tough year, it also gave renewed hope that we will again brave any storms that lay ahead in 2024 and beyond. I am filled with fresh hope about the possibilities of better days to come.”

On the focus of his administration he disclosed that “we will strive to complete all the developmental projects embarked upon by the late Governor of Ondo State.

“As we are all aware, this is also the year for our governorship election. Expectedly, political activities will gain prominence as we march towards the election.

“However, let me implore all political parties, aspirants and their followers to eschew violent conducts that can threaten the peace and tranquility of our State and ensure that they follow strictly the guidelines issued by the electoral umpire.

“The election should be a contest of ideas and choices and not an opportunity to settle political scores or an excuse for calumny.”

Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji in his message, catalogue some of the successes of the administration in its first year.

“I am glad to report that indeed, it has been a giant lift for us in Ekiti in the last one year. We began the administration on a strong footing of continuity and shared prosperity. We therefore had a clear direction without having to waste time. Accordingly, development in the last one year has been phenomenally exciting, a fact which many have acknowledged and generously commended us for.

“In the course of the last year, we have completed and inaugurated a considerable number of inherited and new projects which include: the Ado Central Bus Terminal, Governor’s Office Extension Remodeling, and the Ekiti Traditional Rulers’ Chambers. We have also completed major channelization and erosion control projects in Ado-Ekiti, Efon Alaaye and Ikere Local Government.

“Just a couple of weeks ago, we commissioned the 3.6MW Independent Power Plant which will add to the stock of power supply to the State and further guarantee more power availability in our rapidly expanding capital. Also, we have reconnected communities in Ekiti East LGA, Gboyin/Aiyekire LGA/LCDA , Ekameta LCDA to the national grid after many years of being in blackout.

“In the state capital here, we have lighted up many streets with solar powered streetlights facilities that have positively impacted the night life of the city. We have also awarded the contract to reconnect Ijesa-Isu and Ikole through Ilumoba and Iyemero through Eruku to service our Special Agric Processing Zone.”

Senator Anyanwu Heads Uzodinma’s Inauguration Committee

The Source

January 1, 2024

By Charles Igbo

Renowned Broadcaster, Senator Chris Anyanwu, has been appointed Chairman of the Inauguration Committee for Governor Hope Uzodinma’s second term in office.

The Governor made the announcement in his New Year broadcast to the people of the State.

Anyanwu, an Mbaise daughter, was of the National Television Authority, NTA, from where he was appointed the Commissioner for Information under the Military Administration of the now late Amadi Ikwechegh. Thereafter, he founded the now defunct weekly newsmagazine, The Sunday Magazine, TSM.

She joined politics and was elected the Senator for Imo East, (Owerri Zone) in 2007, under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In 2011, he was reelected a Senator under the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.

Currently, she is the founder and proprietor of the Owerri-based Hot FM Radio Station.

Governor Uzodimma won a re-election for a second term in office on November 11, 2023 in a landslide, defeating his opponents in all the 27 Local Government Areas of the State.

He will be sworn-in for his second term on January 15, 2024.

Tinubu To Nigerians: Times Are Rough And Tough, Our Spirit Remains Unbowed

James Orji

January 1, 2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appealed to Nigerians to remain hopeful in the café of the economic situation in the country.

The president made this known in his new Year national broadcast to Nigerians on Monday.

According to the president, the current economic situation is very hard on Nigerians, as his administration is trying to turn things around for the better.

He however urged Nigerians to be resolute in the common quest to address the problem, saying “time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed.”

Tinubu said, “Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter.

“The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.”

Since coming to power in May this year, President Tinubu has introduced some belt-tightening measures which have made life difficult for many Nigerians.

The austerity measures include the removal of subsidies on petrol and foreign exchange.

Not a few Nigerians insist that the polices have made life unbearable for them. They urged the government to address the country’s problems with human face.

Full Text Of President Bola Tinubu’s New Year Broadcast

James Orji

January 1, 2024

Dear compatriots

It gives me immense joy to welcome each and every one of you – young and old- to this brand new year 2024. We must lift up our hands to Almighty God, in gratitude, for his grace and benevolence to our country and our lives in the year 2023 that has just gone by.

Though the past year was a very challenging one, it was eventful in so many ways. For our country, it was a transition year that saw a peaceful, orderly and successful transfer of power from one administration to another, marking yet another remarkable step in our 24 years of unbroken democracy.

It was a year, you the gracious people of this blessed nation, entrusted your faith in me with a clear mandate to make our country better, to revamp our economy, restore security within our borders, revitalise our floundering industrial sector, boost agricultural production, increase national productivity and set our country on an irreversible path towards national greatness that we and future generations will forever be proud of.

The task of building a better nation and making sure we have a Nigeria society that cares for all her citizens is the reason I ran to become your President. It was the core of my Renewed Hope campaign message on the basis of which you voted me as President.

Everything I have done in office, every decision I have taken and every trip I have undertaken outside the shores of our land, since I assumed office on 29 May 2023, have been done in the best interest of our country.

Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe. One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades. Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families and businesses.

I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.

From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.

I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.

Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter. The socio-economic challenges of today should energize and rekindle our love and faith in the promise of Nigeria. Our current circumstances should make us resolve to work better for the good of our beloved nation. Our situation should make us resolve that this new year 2024, each and everyone of us will commit to be better citizens.

Silently, we have worked to free captives from abductors. While we can’t beat our chest yet that we had solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads

Having laid the groundwork of our economic recovery plans within the last seven months of 2023, we are now poised to accelerate the pace of our service delivery across sectors.

Just this past December during COP28 in Dubai, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and I agreed and committed to a new deal to speed up the delivery of the Siemens Energy power project that will ultimately deliver reliable supply of electricity to our homes and businesses under the Presidential Power Initiative which began in 2018.

Other power installation projects to strengthen the reliability of our transmission lines and optimise the integrity of our National grid are ongoing across the country.

My administration recognises that no meaningful economic transformation can happen without steady electricity supply. In 2024, we are moving a step further in our quest to restart local refining of petroleum products with Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery which shall fully come on stream.

To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops. We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.

In this new year, we will race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms we need to put in place are codified and simplified to ensure the business environment does not destroy value. On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business.

I will fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria and I will not hesitate to remove any clog hindering our path to making Nigeria a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

In my 2024 Budget presentation to the National Assembly, I listed my administration’s 8 priority areas to include national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security. Because we take our development agenda very seriously, our 2024 budget reflects the premium we placed on achieving our governance objectives.

We will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government. The economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected. It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this new year. It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do.

I took an oath to serve this country and give my best at all times. Like I said in the past, no excuse for poor performance from any of my appointees will be good enough.

It is the reason I put in place a Policy Coordination, Evaluation, Monitoring and Delivery Unit in the Presidency to make sure that governance output improves the living condition of our people.

We have set the parameters for evaluation. Within the first quarter of this new year, Ministers and Heads of Agencies with a future in this administration that I lead will continue to show themselves.

Fellow Nigerians, my major ambition in government as a Senator in the aborted Third Republic, as Governor of Lagos State for eight years and now as the President of this blessed country is to build a fair and equitable society and close the widening inequality. While I believe the rich should enjoy their legitimately-earned wealth, our minimum bargain must be that, any Nigerian that works hard and diligent enough will have a chance to get ahead in life. I must add that because God didn’t create us with equal talents and strengths, I can not guarantee that we will have equal outcomes when we work hard. But my government, in this new year 2024 and beyond, will work to give every Nigerian equal opportunity to strive and to thrive.

For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone. Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.

In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.

We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old – shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn.

I wish all of us a happy and prosperous year 2024.

May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

1 January 2024

2024 Will Be Better Than 2023, says Uzodimma

The Source

January 1, 2024

After a critical evaluation of the year 2023, Governor Hope Uzodimma has assured the people of Imo State that 2024 will be a lot more better than the preceding year.

He also assured that his government will exceed the 2023 performance in the succeeding year.

Governor Uzodimma who spoke during his New year Statewide broadcast said Imo State needs a renewed love, a renewed hope, and renewed economic growth to usher in peace, progress and prosperity for all.

Governor Uzodimma’s broadcast read in full:

“My beloved Ndimo, .another year is here, and to the glory of God, we are alive to witness it. It is with a grateful heart, therefore, that I make this new year broadcast to herald the year of our Lord, 2024.

“First and foremost, I welcome all of us to the new year, and I congratulate everyone who made it to the year 2024. When we consider the fact that many who would have loved to be part of today’s new year celebration could not make it, then we have every reason to be grateful to God for keeping us alive to see this day. Indeed, it is neither by our might nor by our wisdom that we are alive today but by the special Grace of God. So we must begin the new year with profound gratitude to God for the gift of life that has seen us into this year of our Lord, 2024.

“This is why I address you today with a heart full of gratitude to God for His countless grace upon our lives. So with much joy and gratitude to God, I congratulate us all for surviving 2023 in spite of the excruciating challenges that we faced.

“I must admit that the year 2023 was a very challenging year in which many Nigerians battled for survival. As your governor, I shared these pains, and I did the much I could to help alleviate the challenges. But, as I said in my Christmas message, I am confident that the reforms, which are being implemented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to restructure the economy are the right steps in the right direction.

“Besides, they are vital reforms that are essential for repositioning the economy for a more prosperous future. Like most reforms, the initial pains are inevitable. The good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel. As they say, the darkest hour heralds a glorious dawn. So it is with the pains that came with these needful reforms. I am very confident that the promised glorious dawn is close enough. Thus, I appeal to the good people of Imo State to be patient because the year 2024 will surely herald that glorious dawn, and I am confident that the pains of 2023 will begin to wane in 2024.

“For those of us who may be embittered and genuinely concerned about the hardships or failure to achieve their economic targets in 2023, I wish to remind them that the blessings of God are like rain, falling here today, falling there tomorrow. The most important thing is that we are alive, and with life, hope abounds. We must therefore conquer the fear of failure of the past year and move into the new year with confidence and hope that things will be better in the new year and the years ahead.

“As a government, the year 2023 can be described as remarkable. To the glory of God, contrary to the doomsday prophets who predicted every manner of violence and blood letting in the November 11th election, the election turned out to be one of the most peaceful in the history of Imo State. It was also one of the most credible and freest elections ever held in the state. Before the elections, I made it clear that I was not desperate for power since power comes from God. Just like former President Goodluck Jonathan, I also emphasized that my ambition was not worth the blood of any Imo son or daughter.

“Through the mercy of God, the election was not only peaceful, but you returned me to the office with a landslide victory that cut across the 27 local government areas in the state.

“Let me once again thank all Imo people for that massive show of acceptance and support. Your massive votes spoke volumes: it was a vote of implicit confidence in my government and an unequivocal declaration that, for the first time in the history of Imo State, our people spoke with one voice.

“This bold statement by the electorate has offered us a historic opportunity to run an even more inclusive government that will involve every Imo son or daughter. To signal this new dawn, I am glad to announce to you that I have set up a pan Imo committee to organize my second term inauguration, which is scheduled for January 15th, 2024. The committee is chaired by Senator Chris Anyanwu, while other members are drawn from all walks of life.

“However, the greatest thank you I can offer to the people of Imo State is to continue to run an efficient and transparent administration with equity and justice as its banner. Working harder in the coming years, exceeding my previous efforts, will no doubt justify that confidence. In this respect, I am glad to announce that we are determined to beat our own records in governance.

“Already, the march towards the actualization of that vision has started with the 2024 budget, which I recently signed into law. Out of the budget of N592 billion, N491 billion, or 83 percent is for capital expenditure, while N100 billion or 17 percent is for recurrent expenditure.

“The practical interpretation of the budget is that if we built 20 roads in 2023, we are going to build 40 in 2024. If we empowered 2,000 youths in 2023, 4,000 youths should take their turn in 2024. With this capital expenditure centred budget, there shall be an avalanche of projects in Imo State in 2024. This harvest of projects will always be evenly and equitably sited in the 27 local government areas of our state.

“I am also happy that our people who came home for Christmas from abroad and all parts of Nigeria are bearing testimonies on what this administration has achieved for the state in the last four years. “Aka ekpuchi afo ime” is an Igbo adage.(This literally means that no one can cover or hide pregnancy).What we have done is there for all to see. As they are here, they drive through the roads.

“They also see the new health and educational facilities, and they hear from their kith and kin in the civil service that salaries and pensions are being paid promptly, including a 13th month salary. They have seen that the dredging of Oguta Lake/Orashi is a work in progress. While they are here, they saw and confirmed that Imo State is safe and peaceful. To the glory of God, contrary to the propaganda in the social media, they have not witnessed any serious security breach while they are here.

“Now, they can confirm that the government is working in Imo State. Let me, therefore, appeal to them to endeavour to share the good news when they return to their respective stations. I dare say that with ongoing efforts to ensure that there is lasting peace in the state, by the special Grace of God, the peace we now enjoy shall soon be permanent.

“Now, that the election, which I believe was the remote and immediate cause of the politically contrived insecurity in the state, has been won and lost, I plead with all and sundry to sheath their swords and work in harmony with my administration to deliver more democracy dividends to our people. I reiterate that my administration will be more inclusive and there will be enough room for all. Like I earlier said, we need a renewed love, a renewed hope, and renewed economic growth for our state so as to usher in peace and progress and prosperity for all.

“As outlined in the 2024 budget, Imo is going to witness a tremendous improvement in infrastructure and development in all facets of the state this year. I want Imo people to rest assured that my performance in the second tenure, which begins in January 2024, will dwarf the achievements of my first tenure. Read my lips and hold me by my words.

“This is why my administration will not brook any form of corruption in the public sector. Every kobo belonging to Imo State must be deployed to work for Imo people. Public service must be seen as a call to work for the people and not an opportunity to loot their common patrimony. Public Office holders under my watch must adhere to this simple protocol or be forced out.

“Let me use the opportunity of the new year to urge our religious and traditional rulers to continue to pray and work hard for the sustenance of peace in our state. Those who feel aggrieved one way or the other should embrace peace. We all need to work together for the interest of our state. This is a new dawn where the lines of division or politics shall remain blurred. We are now on the threshold of history, working in concert for the development of our state and our people. Let us come together and work together as one people with one objective, which is to make Imo State better and greater. Let us not forget that this is our one and only state.

“May God continue to bless the works of our hands. I wish all of us a prosperous 2024, the year of renewed economic growth.”

Nigerians Will Feel Impact Of My Administration – President Tinubu

Ayodele Oni

January 1, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has told Nigerians that current hardship is not par of his Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration

Tinubu, in a national broadcast to mark the new year, acknowledged the high cost of living, unemployment and assured that these are not part of the renewed Hope agenda he promised Nigerians.

The President added, “Over the past seven months of our administration, I have taken some difficult and yet necessary decisions to save our country from fiscal catastrophe.

“One of those decisions was the removal of fuel subsidy which had become an unsustainable financial burden on our country for more than four decades.

“Another was the removal of the chokehold of few people on our foreign exchange system that benefited only the rich and the most powerful among us. Without doubt, these two decisions brought some discomfort to individuals, families and

“I am well aware that for some time now the conversations and debates have centred on the rising cost of living, high inflation which is now above 28% and the unacceptable high under-employment rate.

“From the boardrooms at Broad Street in Lagos to the main-streets of Kano and Nembe Creeks in Bayelsa, I hear the groans of Nigerians who work hard every day to provide for themselves and their families.

“I am not oblivious to the expressed and sometimes unexpressed frustrations of my fellow citizens. I know for a fact that some of our compatriots are even asking if this is how our administration wants to renew their hope.

“Dear Compatriots, take this from me: the time may be rough and tough, however, our spirit must remain unbowed because tough times never last. We are made for this period, never to flinch, never to falter.

“Silently, we have worked to free captives from abductors. While we can’t beat our chest yet that we had solved all the security problems, we are working hard to ensure that we all have peace of mind in our homes, places of work and on the roads.

“Having laid the groundwork of our economic recovery plans within the last seven months of 2023, we are now poised to accelerate the pace of our service delivery across sectors.

“Just this past December during COP28 in Dubai, the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and I agreed and committed to a new deal to speed up the delivery of the Siemens Energy power project that will ultimately deliver reliable supply of electricity to our homes and businesses under the Presidential Power Initiative which began in 2018.

Other power installation projects to strengthen the reliability of our transmission lines and optimise the integrity of our National grid are ongoing across the country.

“My administration recognises that no meaningful economic transformation can happen without steady electricity supply. In 2024, we are moving a step further in our quest to restart local refining of petroleum products with Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Dangote Refinery which shall fully come on stream.

“To ensure constant food supply, security and affordability, we will step up our plan to cultivate 500,000 hectares of farmlands across the country to grow maize, rice, wheat, millet and other staple crops.

“We launched the dry season farming with 120,000 hectares of land in Jigawa State last November under our National Wheat Development Programme.

“In this new year, we will race against time to ensure all the fiscal and tax policies reforms we need to put in place are codified and simplified to ensure the business environment does not destroy value. On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business.

“I will fight every obstacle that impedes business competitiveness in Nigeria and I will not hesitate to remove any clog hindering our path to making Nigeria a destination of choice for local and foreign investments.

“In my 2024 Budget presentation to the National Assembly, I listed my administration’s 8 priority areas to include national defence and internal security, job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimization, human capital development, poverty reduction and social security. Because we take our development agenda very seriously, our 2024 budget reflects the premium we placed on achieving our governance objectives.

“We will work diligently to make sure every Nigerian feels the impact of their government. The economic aspirations and the material well-being of the poor, the most vulnerable and the working people shall not be neglected. It is in this spirit that we are going to implement a new national living wage for our industrious workers this new year. It is not only good economics to do this, it is also a morally and politically correct thing to do.

“For the new year to yield all its good benefits to us as individuals and collectively as a people we must be prepared to play our part. The job of building a prosperous nation is not the job of the President, Governors, Ministers, Lawmakers and government officials alone.

“Our destinies are connected as members of this household of Nigeria. Our language, creed, ethnicity and religious beliefs even when they are not same should never make us work at cross purposes.

“In this new year, let us resolve that as joint-heirs to the Nigerian Commonwealth, we will work for the peace, progress and stability of our country. I extend this call to my political opponents in the last election. Election is over. It’s time for all of us to work together for the sake of our country.

“We must let the light each of us carries – men and women, young and old – shine bright and brighter to illuminate our path to a glorious dawn.”

1...1,2821,2831,284...2,906 Page 1,283 of 2,906