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Edo Moves To Utilize Forest Resources, Signs Pact With FAO

By
Ayodele Oni
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Godwin Obaseki

By Ayodele Oni

As part of measures to tackle deforestation, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the government is partnering with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and three other States in the Country on biodiversity and forest conservation.

Obaseki, who said this while briefing journalists in Benin City, said the project is worth $3million.

The governor disclosed that government is taking deliberate steps to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and enhance the conservation and development of the State’s forest assets.

According to Obaseki, “The forestry sector is attracting a lot of Investors both locally and internationally, and development partners have been quite kind to us by opening their doors and we are working with them especially in the areas of plantation establishment.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) wrote to us a couple of months ago to be part of a project for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of lowland forests.

“The project is between Edo State and three other States and is worth slightly over $3million.”

While urging for increased collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard the environment, ensuring sustainable practices to preserve the ecosystem and prevent the loss of biodiversity, Obaseki said the State’s forest resources can boost its economy if properly harnessed and conserved.

“We were exporting timbers in the time past before the advent of crude oil resulted in the loss of the culture of sustainability. So, if we are to progress, develop, and diversify our economy, then we must go back to those things that made us great before.

“We will intensify actions at conserving our forests. We are working with our security forces and other stakeholders to smoke out all those people who are not supposed to be in our forest.”

Edo shares boundaries with Ondo, Delta and Kogi states. Vast areas of the forest have been turned to kidnappers den as a result of under exploitation.

Ag IGP Names Tunde Disu As PSO

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

As the new Acting Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun,  settles down, he has appointed Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, as his Principal Staff Officer, (PSO).

A police bulletin released on Friday, confirmed the new appointment.

Before this appointment, Disu had been the Commander of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) where he distinguished himself and performed exceptionally.

Before that, he was the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), an anti-crime outfit set up by the Lagos State Government.The appointment is with immediate effect.

Born on April 13, 1966, Disu is a graduate of English Education from Lagos State University (LASU) and the holder of two master’s degrees: one in Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State; and the other in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.

Skit Maker, Trinity Guy, Honours Police Invitation Over His Productions

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Skit Maker, Abdullahi Adisa, popularly known as Trinity Guy, has honoured the invitation of the Oyo State Police Command.

Oyo State Police Command disclosed this in a post on its Twitter page on Friday.

The Command had invited the prankster after Civil Society Organisations, (CSO) and social media users slammed him for sexualizing a female minor in a trending video clip.

The Command tweeted, “Good Morning Fans! Abdullahi Maruf Adisa AKA Trinity reported at the Oyo State Police Command at exactly 1000hrs today.

“Recall he was invited on Thursday, over a video depicting the sexualization of a female minor. Updates would follow in sequence, please.”

Sharing a photo of the skit maker, the command added, “Trinity would be meeting  with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department for his invitation.”

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, has reacted to a prank video of a popular skit maker, Abdullahi Maruf, also known as Trinity Guy.

The PRO, who had previously warned skit makers who use pranks for a living, to regulate them because they endanger the lives of Nigerians, posted the video on his Instagram account on Monday, calling for Trinity Guy’s arrest.

In the video, Trinity Guy, was kneeling down on the road and was praying when he suddenly fell, two men walking on the same route, where the skit maker fainted took to their heels. One had to jump a high fence out of fear of the unknown.

The prankster also pranked some women in the video.

Stating further about the video, Adejobi urged people who have been affected by the skitmakers’ pranks to report them to the authorities.

“This doesn’t make any sense. I think the guy should have been arrested. Those individuals who feel the heat and fear of the pranks should be reporting the pranksters.

“Many of their pranks are criminals, immoral, and evil. These women have a good case against him.”

Obi’s Brain Drain Theory Receives Global Backing

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Neo Africana Centre has commended Mr Peter Obi for his innovative position on brain drain which has just received the backing and endorsement of the American billionaire and founder of Microsoft, Mr Bill Gates.

Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, 2023 presidential elections has, contrary to the position of many, held that brain drain as it affects Nigeria could be a positive development in future if the government of the country can put the right policies in place.

Even though Obi’s position on the gains of brain drain dates back to 2021 when he opposed the move by federal lawmakers to stop Nigerian doctors from relocating abroad through legislation, his position on the phenomenon was amplified during the last presidential campaigns in which he was a candidate. Obi had maintained at several fora, including those in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany, that “our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow.” Obi had further argued that Nigerians leaving the country may look like a loss today, but when we start doing the right things and taking the governance of our country more seriously, the knowledge and resources from them will be critical in the building of the new Nigeria of our dreams as was the case in China, India, Ireland and other developing countries of the world.

In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, the Centre said:

“As a public policy think tank with interest in matters of public policy, democracy and good governance, we are delighted that Obi’s position which many in Nigeria received with cynical reservations, is now receiving global acclaim. This is what Bill Gates’s backing of Obi’s position amounts to.”

Gates who is currently visiting Nigeria had said a few days ago at an interactive session with innovators:

“In a sense, people leaving is a good thing, if you up the amount of training you are doing. Having a big diaspora that includes people coming back into business, into government- that’s a very healthy thing.” According to the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it is not healthy to insist that people should not go away or be blocked from doing so, pointing out the similarities Nigeria shares with countries like India and China in the export of talent. He maintains further that many innovative immigrant doctors had spent some time in the UK and the US as part of their training.

The statement by the Centre reads in part:

“ It is delightful to note that Nigeria is gradually walking out of the pit of darkness where backward thinking has been the order of the day. While our past and present leaders have been agonizing over the phenomenon of brain brain, Obi has stepped forward to tell a different and uncommon story. When he said that brain drain could become brain gain, it sounded inchoate and confusing to many. Now, his postulation is beginning to make sense.

“As Obi noted, the onus is on the leadership of the country. Nigeria needs a government that will turn the country around with innovative policies. Such a government will create the right atmosphere that will encourage Nigerian professionals in the diaspora to return home with a view to contributing their own quota to the economic, social and political advancement of the country.

“We are confident that Nigeria will, sooner or later, be blessed with a government driven by ideas and not nepotism and other primordial tendencies.

We believe that the likes of Peter Obi with his creative position on national issues represents that hope that we need in the area of instituting and installing a government that will take Nigeria to the promised land.”

Insecurity: Odinkalu, Ojukwu, Other Stakeholders Speak On Insecurity In  South East

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The insecurity bedeviling the South East has been a major concern for stakeholders in the region, prompting Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman, Anambra State Truth, Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Commission, to call on other stakeholders in the South-East to fashion out better ways of achieving maximum security in the zone.

At a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Justice Commission in Awka, Anambra State Capital, Odinkalu said the security of lives and properties should be placed on top priority at all times, adding that everyone must be actively involved in the quest for adequate security in the region.

The Commission which was established by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, in the wake of the insecurity crisis in the State and within the South-East region was mandated to uncover the truth, provide justice, and promote peace and security.

The Chairman of the Commission while addressing the Stakeholders stressed that the meeting was aimed at creating a platform for open dialogue on ways to restore normalcy and consistency in the South East while acknowledging that peace and stability in the region are paramount to promoting trade and commerce.

He said, “We have serious problems to deal with. The commission will be looking at attacks on public facilities. There is a need to restore peace and normalcy back to the South-East, due to different agitations, human blood is no longer sacred in the South-East as killings have become very rampant and hundreds of people have died in the region.

“That is why this stakeholder engagement is very important and we cannot take it for granted. But particularly, we are looking at certain communities that have been ravaged by insecurity and these include Ukpor, Ihiala, Okija, Orsumoghu, Lilu, Obosi, Umunze, among others.

“Our goal is not to indict anybody or abuse anyone, our goal is to restore the stolen normalcy in the South-East and the enterprise base of Nigeria and in doing so, advance our collective development so that our sons and daughters can return home.”

On her part, Secretary to the Commission, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the Late Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu expressed optimism about the outcome of the stakeholders’ engagement, noting that the Commission is dedicated to ensuring transparency, impartiality, and inclusivity.

She said, “I am assuring participants that their inputs and suggestions will be duly considered in the development of future policies and programmes.

“The Commission was created to restore peace and normalcy in the South-East and heal the wounds caused by agitations from different groups.”

Jonathan Arrives Freetown, Leads WAEF Election Mission To Sierra Leone

By
The Source
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Goodluck Jonathan

The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) 2023 Election Mission to Sierra Leone has arrived in Freetown to encourage and support a peaceful democratic transition ahead of the country’s general election scheduled for this weekend, June 24.

Former Nigerian President and Chair of the Forum, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is the head of the mission. The team also has former Burkinabe prime minister and one-time president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Kadre Ouedraogo and staff from the WAEF secretariat as members.

In an arrival statement,  Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation,  host of the WAEF secretariat, quoted the head of mission as saying:

“The mission urges citizens of Sierra Leone to approach the election with utmost patriotism by prioritizing the nation’s peace and stability and refrain from acts capable of undermining the nation’s democracy.”

The statement also noted that the “team will have a series of consultative engagements with different political actors and key stakeholders in Sierra Leone, including leadership of the political parties, the candidates, the Election Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), security agencies, the diplomatic community, civil society groups, and the media.

“Since its establishment in 2020, WAEF, an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, has undertaken missions to different countries in the sub-region, including Gambia and Nigeria, in line with the Forum’s mission of preventive diplomacy to reduce electoral-related tension and violence in West  Africa.

Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation

Tackling Global Poverty In Focus As World Leaders Meet In France

By
Ayodele Oni
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Bola Tinubu in France

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu and other World leaders are exploiting ways to tackle poverty and debt cancellation for vulnerable countries plagued by climatic Change and Covid-19.

The World Leaders, are currently meeting in Paris, France, for a high level Summit for New Global Financing  Pact.

Welcoming them, French President Emmanuel Macron, said the Summit would focus on drawing up a new financial order that will scale up finances and support developing countries for energy transition, poverty reduction, while respecting the sovereignty of each nation.

Nigeria’s presidential spokesman, Dele Alake, in a statement said the French President noted that African countries had been at the receiving end of the major global challenges, with debt hangovers that hamper growth and development.

“Covid-19 pandemic brought lots of difficulties and now we are faced with the war in Ukraine that has been draining resources that should be channeled into human development.”

Macron told the leaders from 50 countries, multilateral institutions and the private sector that justice and fairness must be imperative in redesigning the new world financial architecture, with more focus on the most vulnerable.

The French President listed four elements for consideration by the leaders, starting with an acknowledgement that reducing poverty would require collective efforts, with a more diverse and comprehensive framework.

According to him, financial pact must address fragmentations and frustrations,  and enable the kind of change that encourages debt relief, suspension of repayments, change of business models and more commitment from development banks, with guarantees.

Climate Activist, Vanessa Nakate, from Uganda, who called for a moment of silence for the helpless and hopeless across the world, said broken promises cost the lives of many in developing nations.

The Presidents and leaders of multilateral institutions and the private sector at the Summit went into syndicate sessions to discuss the new financial architecture.

President Bola Tinubu will on Friday participate at the summit, which will unveil a New Global Financing Pact and mechanism for implementation.

N50trn Debt: Debt Office Warns Tinubu Against More Borrowing

By
James Orji
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The Debt Management Office, DMO, has issued a strong warning to the federal government not to borrow more funds.
The advise comes following reports that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu is planning to borrow more funds to plug the shortfall in revenue to find this year’s budget.
Muhammadu Buhari, his predecessor has been seriously criticized for over-borrowing, raising the country’s total debt stocks close to N50 trillion before his exit from government last month.
His government justified the huge debt on the need to plug infrastructure deficit in the country.
But the Debt Office said on Monday in Abuja that the debt to revenue is already too high, noting that over 75 percent of the nation’s revenue this year will be used to service debt.
To avoid this, the DMO said  government should seek other ways to generate revenue, including expanding the tax net, adopting the public/private partnership model for the funding of critical infrastructure, sale of government assets to generate revenue, amongst others.
The DMO recommends the following:
“Although the Baseline analysis projects Total Public Debt-to-GDP ratio at 37.1 percent for 2023 indicating a borrowing space of 2.9 percent (equivalent of about N14.66 trillion) when compared to the self-imposed limit of 40 percent, it is recommended that this should not be used as a basis for higher level of borrowing as was the case in the 2023 Budget.
This is because the outcome of the Shock Scenario, which is more realistic in the circumstances, exceeded the self-imposed limit.
“The projected FGN Debt Service-to-Revenue ratio at 73.5 percent for 2023 is high and a threat to debt sustainability. It means that the revenue profile cannot support higher levels of borrowing. Attaining a sustainable FGN Debt Service-to-Revenue ratio would require an increase of FGN Revenue from N10.49 trillion projected in 2023 Budget to about N15.5 trillion.
“With respect to expansion in fiscal deficit, there is need to strictly adhere to the provision of extant legislations on Government borrowing, especially the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 as it relates to Ways and Means Advances, in order to moderate the growth rate of public debt.
” There is urgent need to pay more attention to revenue generation by implementing far reaching revenue mobilization initiatives and reforms including the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives and all its pillars with a view to raising the country’s tax revenue to GDP ratio from about 7 percent (one of the lowest in the world) to that of its peer.
” Government should encourage the private sector fund infrastructure projects through the Public-Private Partnership schemes and take out capital projects in the Budget that are being funded from borrowing, thereby reduce budget deficit and borrowing.
” Government can reduce borrowing through privatization and/or sale of Government assets.”
In march this year, the DMO predicted that the total debt could rise to N77 trillion by end of May.

INEC ‘Deliberately’ Deleted FCT Election Results From BVAS

By
James Orji
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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, deliberately deleted presidential election results from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, machines, a witness has told the court.
Hitler Nwala, a People’s Democratic Party, PDP, witness made the testimony at the Presidential Election Petition court on Thursday in Abuja.
Recall that INEC had secured a court approval  to delete the results of the February 25 presidential election from the BVAS so that the machines could be used for the governorship and state House of Assembly election.
The witness while testifying said there was no need to delete the results on BVAS used in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja since there was governorship election to be held.
The witness, a forensic expert said the results on 110 BVAS devices he inspected were deliberately deleted by INEC even when there was no need to do so.
An INEC witness, Abubakar Mahmoud, however faulted the report of the PDP witness, saying the 110 BVAS are not sufficient to establish the allegations of fraud against the commission.
Mahmoud said during cross-examination that the PDP witness report is only about 3.5 percent of the total number of BVAS used in the FCT and 0.06 percent of the total BVAS used for the presidential poll across the country.
The FCT result is being contested by both the candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
It’s one of the major contention at the election Tribunal as the two candidates are trying to exploit a constitutional provision which requires a candidate in the election to win 25 percent of the votes cast in FCT before such can be declared the winner.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was declared winner by the INEC did not secure 25 percent in the FCT.

“I Am Waiting To Serve Nigeria”- Fmr Gov Fayemi; Bags Honorary Doctorate Degree At LASU

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said that he is still willing to serve Nigeria in any capacity.

Fayemi spoke in Lagos, after the conferment of Honorary Doctorate degrees on him by the Lagos State University, (LASU) on Thursday.

In his acceptance speech, Fayemi made it clear that “although my work as Governor of Ekiti State is done, nation building is a journey and not a destination.

“One can only pledge that one will continue to be an active partisan in the ranks of that battalion of Nigerians determined to ensure that we see the country of our dreams in our life time. Let us hold the dream that Nigeria will rise again.

The remark may have confirmed rumours that the former governor is among those lobbying President Bola Tinubu for appointment in the present administration.

He applauded founding fathers of states in south west Nigeria for their vision to establish state owned universities, even at that period of time.

“I was already a second year student at the University of Lagos in Akoka when this university commenced activities in 1983.

“As students in an already established national university, we were generally skeptical about the quality of education to come from a so called burnt brick university – even though at the time, many of our own lecturers were also pioneer teachers at LASU right from the first Vice Chancellor of the University.

“Many of my own contemporaries in academia also became lecturers here – including two of my bosom friends, late Drs Kunle Lawal and Abubakar Momoh, May Almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest.

“Forty years after – the skeptics have been proved wrong. For this, one must commend the vision and foresight of the political leaders at the time exemplified by the incomparable LKJ, late  Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

“His colleagues in the LOOBO states also  established similar universities in Ogun, Ondo and Bendel thus pioneering the establishment of State universities similar to the founding of regional universities in Ife, Nsukka and Zaria by the regional governments in the 1960s.

“One must also commend the diligence and passion put into the growth and development of the University by successive Governors. A cursory glance at the latest University Webometric Survey indicates that in terms of quality and standard, Lagos State University ranks amongst the most sought after in the country. We must commend the University leadership for building on the success over the years.”

On the award, Fayemi commended the university for considering him worthy saying “This Honorary Doctorate degree has been awarded for services rendered in defence of human rights, national integration and security in Africa.

“For me, I wholeheartedly accept the honour. Blessed is the political figure who, at the end of a period of service, is able to wake up and find  himself buffeted with such goodwill as LASU has generously showered on me and fellow honorees. I want to pledge before this august gathering that we shall be worthy ambassadors of this great university.”

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