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Petrol Subsidy Removal: No Going Back, As FG Gets $800m World Bank Grant For Palliatives

By
James Orji
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

Ahead the planned removal of fuel subsidy, the federal government, on Wednesday, announced that it has secured $800 million from the World Bank to support government’s efforts at cushioning the effects on Nigerians.

The funds from the Bretton Wood based financial institution will be distributed to at least 50 million poor Nigerians, according to the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

The Minister made the disclosure on Thursday amidst divisions on whether the subsidy should go by the mid of this year according to government’s projections.

For instance, the organised Labour under the aegis of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, said last week that they will not support the removal until the country’s four refiners are repaired and put back to operation.

Speaking on the same issue, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo said the incoming administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu will decide when the subsidy will be removed. The president-elect had promised the removal of subsidy as a cardinal objective of his administration.
Addressing the issue after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting yesterday, Ahmed said talk is ongoing with representatives of the incoming administration on how to remove fuel subsidy.

The minister said a register has already being opened to capture Nigerians who will benefit from the World Bank grant in terms of direct cash transfer, adding that other measures will also be taken to adress some of the issues being raised by the organized labour.

Concerning the subsidy removal “We’re on course, we’re having different stakeholders’ engagements, we’ve secured some funding from the World Bank, that is the first tranche of palliatives that will enable us give cash transfers to the most vulnerable in our society that have now been registered in a national social register,” she said.

“Today that register has a list of 10 million households. Ten million households is equivalent to about 50 million Nigerians.
“We also have to raise more resources to enable us do more than just the cash transfers and also in our engagements with the various stakeholders, the various kinds of tasks that we have go beyond the requirement of just giving cash transfers. Labour, for example, might be looking for mass transit for its members.

“So there are several things that we’re still planning and working on, some we can start executing quickly, some are more medium-term implementation.

“On the secondary question on exit of fuel subsidy, this is a commitment in the Petroleum Industry Act. There’s a provision that says 18 months after the effectiveness of the PIA, all petroleum products must be deregulated, that 18 months takes us to June 2023,” Ahmed said.

The federal government announced last October that it will spend over N3 trillion on petrol subsidy by the first half of 2023.

Late General Diya Begins Homeward Journey July 26; To Be Buried In Odogbolu, July 29

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Oladipo Diya

By Adesina Soyooye

The remains of former Chief  of General Staff during the regime of late General Sani Abacha, Lt. General Oladipo Diya, would start its homeward journey on July 26, 2023.

Diya died in Lagos on March 26, aged 78 years.

According to the Late General’s Media Adviser, Olawale Adekoya, Diya’s homeward journey would begin on 26th July with a Night of Tributes. A Service of Songs will hold in his honour on 27th July, while a Christian Wake will follow on 28th July. Diya’s body will finally be committed to Mother-earth in his Odogbolu, Ogun State home on 29th July.

Said Adekoye: “The final burial rites will hold on July 29, with the Church Service,  interment,  reception and final laying to rest, while the Thanksgiving Service will hold on July 30.”

Diya was a former Military Governor of Ogun State, and was the second in Command to General Abacha.

He was, however, humiliated out of Government and the Military  when he was accused of planning a coup d’etat against the Abacha regime in order to take over from Abacha as Head of State. He maintained the coup was a phantom coup and accused former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamiyi of being the mastermind.

He was sentenced to death by a Military Tribunal headed by the now late General Victor Malu.

On the eve of his would- have-been execution along with other convicts, General Abacha died.

Diya and Co. were released from prison and saved from execution by Abacha’s successor, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

On his death, one of his son’s, Dr Tunde Diya, said his father never recovered from the humiliation of the coup trial.

Imo Monarch: “How National Hospital Abuja’s Negligence, Incompetence Attitude Killed My Son”; Calls For Its Closure

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Eze Emeka Ogbonna

By Adesina Soyooye

A heartbroken Imo Monarch who lost his 27-year old Pharmacist-son at the National Hospital, Abuja, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to close down the Hospital.

Eze Emeka Ogbonna, also a Pharmacist, and the Traditional Ruler of Ama-,Inyi Community in Ihitte/Uboma, Local Government Area, lamented that he dropped his son, Prince Obinna Emeka Ogbonna, at the Imo Airport on the 31st March, 2023, to fly to Abuja for a meeting, and flew down to Abuja on 2nd April, 2023, to take his body home from the National Hospital Abuja.

“They watched my son die. I have lost my son, the writer, my Prince, my Pharmacist who worked with me in our Pharmacy till March 31, 2023”, he wept.

In deed, the young Pharmacist’s death is  attributable to the sorry state of health system in Nigeria where a General Hospital would have no doctor on duty, and where the Nation’s premier Government Hospital would have no functioning scan and x-ray machines.

According to the devastated father, his son, Prince (Pharmacist)Obinna Emeka Ogbonna,  was knocked down at about 7.10pm in the Kubwa area of Abuja, and was rushed to the General Hospital, Kubwa. But, on getting there, there was no doctor on duty. After three hours, a doctor came, and referred him to the National Hospital.

At the National Hospital, the doctors refused to attend to him, and insisted on a full body scan and X-ray. Sadly, none of those was in a working condition in the hospital. They were forced to go to a private hospital for the procedures. He said that on return to the National Hospital, it took them another two hours for documentation before taking him in for treatment, after which they came out, and casually told his friends who took him to the hospital “sorry, he couldn’t make it.”

Eze Ogbonna said he lost his son to incompetence and negligence on the part of the Medical Doctors  on duty. He described the National Hospital as a death trap and asked the Nigerian Government to close it down  because “it is mainly a death trap.”

His story:  “At the National Hospital, the doctors insisted that he would not be attended to until they had his full body scan and x-ray.

“The body scan and x-ray Machines in the National Hospital were not working and have not been working for close to two years.

“He was taken to a private hospital to obtain the full body scan, and when my son, Pharmacist Obinna Emeka, was brought back to National Hospital, it took the hospital medical team close to two hours for documentation before he was taken in for medical attention.

“At this time, his veins had collapsed. The medical team after watching my son gradually stop breathing came out and announced to his friends and people who brought him to the hospital that they were sorry, my son, the writer, my Prince, my pharmacist who worked with me in our pharmacy till March 31, 2023 could not make it.”

Mourning his son, Eze Ogbonna said, “I am in pains. Before his death in National Hospital, Pharmacist Obinna was a prolific writer and pharmacist with Ziga Pharmacy Ltd. He wrote his first book, Ice Age, when he was in primary school. In February 2023, he submitted his manuscript for his newest book to a prominent publishing house. He was 27 years old.

“I am in pains. I took my son to Owerri airport on March 31, 2023 from where he flew to Abuja for a meeting and I flew to Abuja on April 2, 2023, to take his corpse back home from the National Hospital mortuary. He was full of life. I have lost my son to incompetence and negligence.

He then protested to the  Nigerian government to: “Please to prevent further preventable deaths, close down National Hospital because it is mainly a death trap.”

Incidentally, a number of people have complained about the poor attitude to work of medical personnel at the National Hospital. Lamented one woman whose son, an Architect died  due to the poor attitude of Nurses at hospital: “If you don’t know anybody at the National Hospital, you are finished. They don’t care. Nobody cares.”

State Of The Nation: Defence H/Q To Nigerians: Calm Down, There’s No Cause For Alarm Over UN’s Fighting Vehicles

By
The Source
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UN Military Vehicles in Nigeria

The Defence Headquarters has reacted to the fears expressed by Nigerians over the presence, a few days ago, of troops and fighting vehicles of the United Nations in Nigeria.

A convoy of the vehicles and troops were seen in Nigeria, sparking fears that Nigeria is at the brink of a war.

But the Defence Headquarters says nothing could be further from the truth. In a statement signed by its Acting Director Defence Information, Brigadier-General Tukur Gusau on Tuesday, it said the UN’s Military Vehicles and Troops, were on their way to Southern Sudan, through the Warri Ports, to meet up with Nigerian Troops on Peace Keeping Mission in thar country. The Mission, the statement said, is commanded by a Nigerian, Major General Olufemi Sawyerr.

The statement reads in full.

“The Defence Headquarters wishes to react to some social media video clips been circulated arising from the presence of some United Nations Peacekeeping fighting vehicles and equipment sighted recently in Benin, Edo state. This has resulted to insinuations which are inimical to public peace and may even cause panic.

“The Defence Headquarters hereby state that presently, Nigeria is contributing troops to various United Nations Peace keeping operations, the most recent is United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Southern Sudan.  The Mission is commanded by a Nigerian, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr.  It should be noted that the UN doesn’t have its own troops, rather it enters into agreement with troops contributing countries to provide their personnel and equipment for operations in its various missions.

“Therefore, it is imperative to state emphatically that the military fighting vehicles and equipment painted in UN colour as sighted are being moved through the Warri port for movement to the mission area in Southern Sudan to marry up with our troops who were inducted into UNISFA mission last month.

“The Defence Headquarters under the leadership of General Lucky Irabor CFR wish to assure Nigerians that our nation is not under any threat that will warrant the deployment of United Nations troops in our soil.

“You are please requested to disseminate this Information through your medium.”

Ekweremadu: Obasanjo Writes UK Government,  Appeals  For Mercy

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed to the Government of the United Kingdom to temper justice with mercy in the case of a former Deputy President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Dr Beatrice Ekweremadu, who were, on March 24, 2023, convicted by a UK Court on charges bordering on human trafficking and organ harvesting.

The Ekweremadus were arrested in June, 2022, at the Heathrow Airport, London, on arrival from Turkey. They were detained and arraigned within 48 hours on allegations of illegal human trafficking and organ harvesting.

They were accused of trafficking a 21 year old to London with the aim of harvesting his kidney for a transplant for their daughter, Sonia, 25, who is suffering from a severe Kidney disease, and needs a transplant.

While it is not illegal to transplant Kidneys, the Court said it must be free, and with the total consent of the donor. In the case of the Ekweremadus, the Court said the would-have-been donor was not aware of why he was taken to London but was promised the sum of eight thousand pounds and a new life in London. When he was rejected by the hospital where he was taken to over his young age, and for not being aware of what it was all about, the 21 year old alleged the attitude of those in whose house he was changed towards him, and they began to maltreatment him.

He, also, said he was threatened that he would be taken back to Nigeria, and would be made to donate a kidney. Not able to bear the alleged ill-treatment, he ran away, lived in the streets for three days, and walked into a Police Station to tell his story.

Since that June of 2022, Senator Ekweremadu has been in prison custody. His wife was given bail after a few weeks in custody. But on conviction on March 24, 2023 by a jury, her bail was revoked and she joined her husband in prison, along with an intermediary doctor of Nigerian descent, Dr Obeta. They will be sentenced on May 4, 2023.

President Obasanjo  in his letter of appeal addressed to: The Chief Clerk, The Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London, EC4M, 7EH, which he personally signed, appealed for mercy on behalf of the Ekweremadus.

While he strongly condemned the behaviour of the Ekweremadus in the untidy business, he hinged his appeal on a couple of point.

  • The warm relationship between Nigeria and the UK.
  • Senator Ekweremadu’s position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Senate.
  • His daughter, Sonia, whose life is in danger because of her health crisis.

Obasanjo asked the Government of the UK to temper justice with mercy.

The letter reads in part:

“Mr. Chief Clerk,

“I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.

“However, it is my fervent desire for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.”

Hereunder, the full text of Obasanjo’s letter.

The Letter: Ekweremadu Ike_an appeal by OBJ for clemency from UK_April 2023

For the records, neither the Federal Government not the Nigeria’s National Assembly, where Senator Ekweremadu had served for about 24 years, has said a word since his conviction.

Trouble In Rivers State: APC Chides Amaechi; Suspends Chairman, Legal Adviser Over Alleged Anti-Party Activities

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers State has announced the suspension of its State Chairman, Emeka Beke. It, also denounced its Leader, the immediate past Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, and distanced itself from his activities.

Beke’s suspension was announced by the Rivers State Executive Committee of the Party on Wednesday.

He was suspended alongside the Party’s Legal Adviser, Iheanyichukwu Azubuike, over alleged anti-party activities and financial misconduct.

Also, the SEC dissociated itself from the comments allegedly made by the former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, that the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, single handedly nominated Mahmood Yakubu as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman.

Special Leader of the party’s executive committee in the state, Chike Eyinda, who led other members to a media briefing in Port Harcourt, disclosed this on Wednesday.

It noted that the activities of Beke and Amaechi had adversely affected the party in the last couple of years, culminating in its dismal outing in the just concluded general election.

He said, “We, the members of the State Executive Committee, therefore resolve as follows: That Chef Emeka Beke, the chairman of the APC in Rivers State, is hereby suspended indefinitely for anti-party activities, gross misconduct and financial mismanagement pending the outcome of an independent committee of inquiry as may be set up by the party.

“That until the outcome of the committee of inquiry, Mr. Omiete Eferebo, the deputy chairman assumes the office of the acting chairman with immediate effect.

“That Mr. Iheanyichukwu Azubuike, the Legal Adviser of the party also stands suspended for anti-party activities and financial mismanagement pending the outcome of the committee of inquiry.”

He further said the trio of Amaechi, Beke, and Azubuike had since 2021 held the Rivers APC on its knees.

Enyinda stated, “These leaders have been responsible for the mass exodus of members of the party as well as the failures experienced by the party in the just concluded general elections in the state.

“To demonstrate this, Rt. Hon. Amaechi, who contested and lost the Presidential primary to the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in active connivance with the State Chairman and the Legal Adviser, a week to the Presidential Election, called the leadership of the party to a meeting and directed all the APC members in the state to work for the PDP in the general election.

He further alleged that Amaechi’s earlier instruction backfired on the APC during the March 18 Governorship Election, as no contrary instruction was given to the party’s supporters in the various local government areas to counter the earlier instruction.

“And this accounted for the party’s loss on the 18th March governorship and state assembly elections.

“Instead of being remorseful for what he did to the party, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi decided to hinge the blame on our dear President-elect, Bola Tinubu, claiming that he singlehandedly appointed the INEC, Chairman Yakubu Mahmood.”

FG Approves Intervention Fund For Varsities, Polytechnics, Colleges Of Education

By
Ayodele Oni
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Sonny Echono

By Ayodele Oni

Better days are ahead for higher education as the federal government approved the sum of N320,345,040, 835 as the 2023 intervention funds for public tertiary education institutions in the country.

Underfunding, especially at the University sector was among demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) which made members embarked on a prolonged strike last year.

The Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, during the Fund’s annual strategic planning workshop with all heads of beneficiary institutions.

Echono pointed out that the meeting was an avenue to receive feedback and evaluate the performance of its intervention lines to enhance a more robust delivery of the agency’s mandate.

According to him, the 2023 intervention cycle will see each university receiving N1,154,732,133.00; Polytechnic – N699,344,867.00, while each College of Education would get N800,862,602.

“I am pleased to inform you that Mr. President has approved the 2023 disbursement guidelines in the total sum of N320,345,040, 835. Based on this, each university shall get, for the Year 2023 intervention cycle, the total sum of N1,154,732,133.00

“Each Polytechnic gets N699,344,867.00 comprising of N569,344,807.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130million as zonal intervention, while each College of education shall receive N800,862,602 comprising of N670,862,602.00 as annual direct disbursement and N130million as zonal intervention.

Echono further disclosed that fortunes of the Nigerian tertiary education sector have improved significantly under Buhari’s administration, saying that between 2015 to date, the total sum of N1.702 trillion has been disbursed as education tax collection to public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education compared to a total sum of N1.249trillion disbursed from the inception of the Fund in 1993 up to 2014 (21 years).

“This remarkable success is due to sustained efforts at expanding and increasing the efficiency of collection of the Education Tax and added impetus is the gracious approval of Mr. President for an increase in education tax from 2.0percent to 2.5percent in the year 2021.”

Stop Blackmailing Peter Obi

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Neo Africana Centre (NAC) has frowned on the treason allegations leveled against Mr Peter Obi by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, describing it as baseless, malicious and in bad taste.

Mohammed, while addressing some international media organizations and groups in Washington DC on the 2023 general elections, accused Obi of treason. He told his audience that Obi was promoting insurrection in Nigeria by inciting people to violence over the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections.

According to the public policy think tank, Mohammed is on a mission of blackmail and deceit as there is no basis for the charge. NAC insists that Obi is known by one and all, including his accusers, of being innocent of the charge leveled against him. The Centre said it was perplexed by this level of disinformation being sold to the international community by a highly-placed agent of the Federal Government.

In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, Jenkins Udu, the think tank said it was reckless for a minister of the federal republic to mount the rostrum in a foreign land for the purposes of blackmail and disinformation. It accused the Federal Government and the ruling All Progressives Congress of working hard on a nefarious agenda to give Obi a bad name.

The statement reads in part:

“We note with grave concern the campaign of calumny being mounted against Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25 elections. It is much more worrisome that the devious act is being sponsored and promoted by the All Progressives Congress (APC)and its ruling arm at the Presidency.

“The objective, from what we can discern is to give Peter Obi a bad name and weaken his quest to retrieve the mandate which the Nigerian people freely gave him. This indulgence by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed is sinister, cheap, malicious and in bad taste.

“Peter Obi, from what we know and can see, has never called out anybody to violence. Rather, he preaches peace and insists on the rule of law. That is why he has approached the courts over the outcome of the presidential elections. Contrary to what Lai Mohammed said, Obi is only focused on the matter he has filed in court, and nothing more.

“We are disappointed that the APC which claims to have won an election is fixated about one man-Mr Peter Obi. This Obi phobia by the ruling APC casts a shadow of illegitimacy on its claim to the presidency. Indeed, it is unconscionable that the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari has dragged itself into this bitter partisanship. We expect an administration that is working towards handing over power in a few weeks time to stay focused on its transition programme rather than make itself a conspirator-in-Chief in the drive to discredit Peter Obi.

“It is regrettable that Alhaji Mohammed who has acquired a notoriety for lies and fabrications has chosen to export these toxic instruments to the international community. We need to remind the mischief makers involved in this reprehensible act to know that it is Nigeria’s reputation, not that of Peter Obi, that is being damaged.

“Obi’s involvement in the 2023 presidential elections was a watershed in Nigeria’s electoral history. This fact is even very well known to the international media which Alhaji Mohammed is trying to mislead. We urge the Nigerian government, its agencies and the ruling APC to stop their jittery disposition towards Peter Obi. The contentious issues that arose from the conduct of the elections by INEC are already before the courts.

“Let their Lordships adjudicate on them fairly and justly. This is what Nigerians are waiting for. Dancing naked in the streets of Washington DC or any other foreign capital for that matter is unhelpful.”

Jonathan Commiserates With Kalu Over Wife’s Death

By
The Source
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Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with former Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on the death of his wife, Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu, who passed on at the age of 61.

Dr. Jonathan expressed deep sadness over the news of the death of Mrs. Kalu, describing her as a diligent woman who touched and changed lives through her  exemplary behavior and pleasant personality.

In a condolence message to Senator Kalu, the former President noted that the demise of the former First Lady of Abia State “is a painful loss that has created a vacuum in the family and in the hearts of loved ones.”

He stated further: “The death of a spouse is quite disheartening because of the sad reality of losing a partner who had been part of you all the way and played an important role in your progress and accomplishments in life. Please be comforted by the fact that she lived a fulfilling life, having served God and humanity to the best of her abilities.”

Ikechukwu Eze
S.A. to Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

CAC Registers NTYTP; Group Says It’ll Build Capacity Of Young People For Leadership

By
The Source
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Comrade Mikail Audu - NTYTP

Not Too Young To Perform (NTYTP) Leadership Development Advocacy has
called on interested young people across the country to get prepared to lead in all sectors of Nigeria’s national life as the group says that
it’s set to build the capacity of young citizens to take up leadership positions at all levels.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Mikail Audu, the organisation said its core mandate is “to raise youngergeneration of leaders to take up leadership positions in all sectors, including political offices, whether elected or appointed, with a view to outperforming those who were in office before them, and to ensure transparency and accountability in leadership.”

The group noted that among other things, it’s aims and objectives are to encourage the young people in the society to aspire to lead in any chosen career or profession and to advocate for the rights of young citizens to participate in nation building.

NTYTP also aims to promote love and unity among the people and to identity and celebrate performing young persons in private and public offices, to organise community empowerment programmes and other community service and serve as a uniting forum for Nigerian youths at home and abroad.

According to the statement, also part of its aims and objectives include to support the less privileged, widows and orphans and to establish and maintain charitable organisation, to support or carryout poverty alleviation programmes and build skill acquisition centres in parts of the country.

NTYTP is to give a new orientation to the youths “on the need to embrace initiatives that will enable them discover and develop their potentials.

“To promote patriotism among young Nigerian people and to promote peace and harmonious coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, to advocate for rights of citizens to good governance and to encourage leaders to do more for the benefit of the citizens.”

The organisation noted that it will also promote transparency and accountability in governance, patriotism and advocate against all forms of violence, especially electoral violence and thuggery.

As part of its efforts to promote good governance, the group  added that it’s leadership across the nation are grounded to flash their light on projects awarded by the governments at all levels to curtail chances of projects unimplementation, projects implementation delayance and implementation of projects with substandard products or strategy.

The group noted that it is willing to collaborate or partner with other groups with similar or complimentary aims and objectives in the interest of the nation.

Signed
Comrade Mikail Audu,
National Publicity Secretary,
NTYTP, Nigeria.

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