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N33trn Debt: DMO Cautions FG Against Borrowing

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Fola James

The Debt Management Office, DMO has urged the federal government to control its appetite for borrowing funds to finance critical infrastructure in the country.

DMO’s suggestion comes amidst reports that the federal government borrowed close to N5 trillion to finance this year’s budget, a huge part of which came from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN overdraft and other International Development Partners.

The figure could rise further to up to N6 trillion, according to checks as the government try to stimulate the economy by pumping more funds, to mitigate the impacts of COVID 19 pandemic, and the need to sustain the economy which is gradually coming out of recession, experts say.

This was disclosed in a statement by the director-general of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, at the 3-Day Interactive Session on the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Responsibility Paper (FSP) at the National Assembly (NASS) on Wednesday

Oniiha said it is not reasonable to continue to borrow as such will have both short-and-long term consequences on the nation’s economy.

She explained that government’s borrowing in the last one year has shut up due to efforts to bring the country out of recession. The DMO boss however warned the government to control its appetite

According to her ‘The new borrowings in the first 2020 budget was about N1.6 trillion, the revised budget about N4.6 trillion.

“In our presentation, we extracted the new borrowing from the budget and as the distinguished Chairman said, if we are continuing with that trajectory of N4.6 trillion last year, this year we incurred debt at the rate of N5.356 trillion so it is actually growing.

“Therefore, as Debt Managers, we are concerned with activities that will generate revenues that we can use to service the debt,” she stated.

The nation’s local and external debt under the President Muhammed Buhari’s administration has been pushed to over N33 trillion, with government’s insistence that it will continue to borrow.

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed said on Monday that government will not stop borrowing due to revenue shortfall, adding that the loans are being spent on critical infrastructure that have the potential to stimulate the economy.

She said “I have said it several times that the problem we have in Nigeria is that of revenue.

“We are borrowing sensibly and this is because we want to invest in infrastructures like power, water, roads and rails which are investments that are required to enhance business productivity in the country today.

“These businesses will grow, they will not only pay taxes, they will also employ people.

“If we don’t do this, we will regress even from where we are today. Borrowing is a necessary investment and we are doing it responsibly,” she said.

Not many agree with her.

Prominent Nigerians, including development partners such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF have warned that the nation’s debt is no longer sustainable.

Zamfara Shuts Public Schools As Kidnapping Escalates

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state has ordered the immediate closure of primary and secondary schools in the state following the abduction of a yet-to-be determined number of students in the state.

The state has been the epicenter of abduction with scores of school children kidnapped in the last few months by bandits who normally demand huge sums of money before the victims could be released.

The state was recently in a happy mood after the bandits released 19 abductees which included 15 students, three teachers and a driver, who were kidnapped by bandits after they attacked Zamfara College of Agriculture in Bakura Local Government Area of the state on August 16.

Sources told the magazine that huge sums of money were paid by the family members of the abductees before they regained freedom. Recall that the bandits had demanded for N350 million as ransom for the kidnapped students.

But the abduction of 73 students in a remote Kaya village in the state has forced the government to close schools, in order not to further put the lives of the students at risk in the now highly volatile state.

Speaking on the closure, the State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, said the action became necessary in the face of the prevailing security challenges facing the state.

He said the order affect both primary and secondary schools, and it is ‘indefinite’ because of the immediate threat posed by the bandits

According to him “It’s a threat, you know the bandits will like to go back to kidnap these students, so for their safety the schools have to be closed until peace is restored in the state.”

The government also restricted movement – from 6pm to 6am- in 13 local government areas. But for Gusau, the capital, movement restriction will be from 8pm to 6am.

Zamfara, just like other states in the northwest and north-central have been facing serious security challenges by bandits – believed to be hiding in Rugu forest, which straddles Katsina, Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger states – to increasingly attacking schools, seizing students to extort ransom from parents.

The United Nation’s has recently claimed that close to 1000 students have been kidnapped so far by the dare-devil bandits in the last eight months. Some abductees have been reported dead in captivity.

Buhari Says He sacked Saleh, Nanono As Ministers, For Poor Performance

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari did not need to make public why he sacked his two Cabinet members. When a Cabinet member is sacked, it is taken for granted that he/she has either fallen out of favour, is underperforming, or has misrepresented the administration.

But in the case of the two Ministers unceremoniously sacked on Wednesday, Buhari, short of calling them incompetent, dismissed both Mamman Saleh former Minister for Power and Mohammed Nanono former Agriculture Minister, as weak and unproductive.
No testimonial could have been more damning.

The President through his Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adeshina said that the sacked Ministers were considered weak in their contributions and their sack was a bid to reinvigorate his Cabinet and consolidate legacy achievements.

“These significant review steps have helped to identify and strengthen weak areas, close gaps,” he added.

The President revealed that the Ministers were sacked after an independent and critical self-review of their performance.

Though the President did not reveal the rating of the sacked Ministers’ performance, but Nigerians never felt the impact of the Ministers. From when they were appointed, nothing improved in the centres they manned. Their names remained anonymous in most areas.

The sacked Ministers were replaced by Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, Minister of Environment, to the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, while Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, Minister of State, Works & Housing was asked to assume office as the Minister of Power.

Speaking further on the decision to sack the duo, the President said the sacking of the ministers was to close gaps, build cohesion and synergy in governance, manage the economy and improve the delivery of public good to Nigerians.

Read the Statement:

“On Wednesday 21st August 2019 the current Federal Executive Council was sworn-in after a rigorous retreat to bring returning and new members up to speed on the accomplishments, challenges and lessons drawn from my first term in Office and to emphasize the nine priority areas of Government for the second term.

“Two years and some months into the second term, the tradition of subjecting our projects and programs implementation to independent and critical self-review has taken firm roots through sector Reporting during Cabinet meetings and at Retreats.

“I must commend this Cabinet for demonstrating unparalleled resilience that helped the Government to navigate the disruption to global systems and governance occasioned by the emergence of COVID-19 shortly after inauguration. The weekly Federal Executive Council meetings was not spared because the traditional mode was altered.

“As we are all aware, change is the only factor that is constant in every human endeavour and as this administration approaches its critical phase in the second term, I have found it essential to reinvigorate this Cabinet in a manner that will deepen its capacity to consolidate legacy achievements.”

The President explained that the sacked ministers had earlier been informed, adding that vacant positions would be filled in accordance with the constitution.

“In due course, substantive nominations will be made to fill the consequential vacancies in accordance with the requirements of the constitution.

“I have personally met with the departing members to thank them for their contributions to discussions in Cabinet and the invaluable services rendered to the nation.

“Today, effectively marks their last participation in the Federal Executive Council deliberations and I wish them the best in all future endeavours,” he said

New nominations are expect

2023: Akeredolu Says It’s Too Early To Be Dragged Into Presidential Race

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has clarified that he has not taken any decision as regards 2023 Presidential election.

The Governor has, therefore, distanced himself from promotional activities linking him with the 2023 presidential race.

A statement on Wednesday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said his principal had nothing to do with the pseudo campaigners.

In the last two weeks, campaign posters and fliers urging Governor Akeredolu to contest the next presidential election have dotted a section of the social media.

The latest poster had depicted an Akeredolu/Buni joint APC ticket. Alhaji Mai Mala Buni is the governor of Yobe state and doubles as Chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee.

But Akeredolu’s spokesperson described the development as a “needless distraction.

“Undoubtedly, the development is no less a needless distraction.

“Even though Mr Governor’s constitutional right, qualification and competences are not in doubt, this particular campaign does not represent in any manner, his immediate political disposition.

“For emphasis, Governor Akeredolu who has just been re-elected, wishes to be left to focus on deepening good governance in Ondo State.

“He, therefore, advises all involved to be guided just as he holds the firm view that only God can put men in position.”

Uzodinma Hails Ihekweazu’s WHO Appointment, Says Most Fitting

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has lauded the appointment of his subject,  Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), as the Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in charge of Health Emergency Intelligence as most fitting.

The Governor said he was not surprised over Dr. Ihekweazu’s appointment because he demonstrated capacity and exhibited professional competence as DG of NCDC.

The WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedios, on Tuesday announced that Dr. Ihekweazu will, effective November 1, 2021, work as Assistant Director-General of the WHO in charge of Health Emergency Intelligence, including leading the global health organization’s Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin.

A statement by Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma, Wednesday, said Dr. Ihekweazu is one of Imo State’s best and brightest and that the State is proud to be part of the human capital contributing towards the wellbeing of the global family.

Governor Hope Uzodimma reiterated that Dr. Ihekweazu’s pick is fundamental because it will help to further bring Imo State into global focus, particularly Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of the State where the NCDC DG hails from.

The governor therefore urged Dr. Ihekweazu to continue to do the state proud the way he knows how best, assuring him of the support of the government and good people of Imo State to ensure that his outing at the WHO is exemplary.

Dr. Ihekweazu, a graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the Heinrich-Heine University Dusseldorf, Germany, was appointed DG of NCDC by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2016.

He was, at a time, Acting Director of the West Africa Regional Centre for Disease Control and is widely published in medical peer-review journals.

Afrobasket 2021: D’Tigers Crashes Out In Shambolic Display

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The nations basketball team, D’Tigers, has crashed out of the ongoing Afrobasket Championship in Rwanda, following a shambolic display against lowly rated Ugandan team.

Nigeria’s D’Tigers campaign ended on a sour note with a 68-80 loss to Uganda in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Nigerian senior men’s basketball team who were the competition’s champions in 2015 had qualified for the Quarter-Finals fixture, finishing second from Group C.

The Ugandans finished the group phase as Group D’s third-placed team, but the Nigerian side simply failed to come to the party.

They lost 12-24 and 19-20 in the first two sets to trail by 13 points in the opening half. After an 18-23 loss in the third quarter further worsened their situation to trail by 18 points, they fought back to win the fourth quarter 19-13.

This was, however, a little too late as Uganda went away with a 12-point lead to advance into the competition’s quarter-finals where they will face Cape Verde on Thursday.
Nigeria’s top performer in the game against Uganda was Uzodinma Utomi.

He scored 23 points, with three rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks.

Andrew Edogi also had seven rebounds, and Ikenna Ndugba six assists.

In the other Qualification to Quarter-Finals fixtures played on Monday, Angola had beaten Egypt 70-62 to book a Wednesday quarter-final meeting with Senegal.

Also, Guinea beat hosts Rwanda 72-68 to advance to a quarter-final meeting with Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday.

The last quarter-final fixture will hold on Thursday with Tunisia taking on the winners of the South Sudan versus Kenya fixture which was ongoing later on Tuesday.
The competition, which now holds every four years, will end on Sunday.

Breaking: President Buhari Sacks Saleh, Nanono As Ministers

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
 By Akinwale Kasali
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday,   wielded the big stick, sacking Taraba born Minister of Power, Mamman Saleh,  and the  Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono.
During the Federal Executive Council, FEC, held today at  at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, President, through, Femi Adesina, his Media Adviser,  announced the sack of the duo.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar has been named as the new Minister of Agriculture, while the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu is now the  substantive Power Minister.
It is not known if the Minister for State, Environment, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor will take over as the substantive Minister.
But the President said that rejigging his cabinet will be a continous exercise.
No reasons were given for the sudden sacking of the two Ministers.
[01/09, 15:46] Madam Boss 2: *Afrobasket 2021: D’Tigers Crashes Out In Shambolic Display*

Breaking: President Buhari Sacks Saleh, Nanono As Ministers

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
President Muhammadu Buhari

By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday,   wielded the big stick, sacking Taraba born Minister of Power, Mamman Saleh,  and the  Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono.

During the Federal Executive Council, FEC, held today at  at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, President, through, Femi Adesina, his Media Adviser,  announced the sack of the duo.

The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar has been named as the new Minister of Agriculture, while the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Abubakar Aliyu is now the  substantive Power Minister.

It is not known if the Minister for State, Environment, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor will take over as the substantive Minister.

But the President said that rejigging his cabinet will be a continous exercise.

No reasons were given for the sudden sacking of the two Ministers.

At 79, An Era Ends As Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Exits Partisan Politics

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Gideon Njoku

Ahead of his 79th birthday which falls on September 4, 2021, Elder Statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has quit partisan politics.

He made the disclosure at a Press Conference to mark his upcoming 79th birthday.

Many had expected him to quit partisan politics in 2022 when he will be 80 years old. But, according to him, the main event of his 80th will be the presentation of his authorized biography.

In quitting partisan politics, while recounting his achievements in life which spans Politics, Aviation, Engineering, Sports, Publishing and more, Iwuanyanwu said:
“AT 79, I wish to, therefore, officially announce my exit from partisan politics to pave way for the younger generation of leaders I have been able to groom and mentor who will now carry on with my legacies and political philosophy.”

For decades, Chief Iwuanyanwu, a University of Nigeria, UNN, trained Civil Engineer, bestrode, like a colossus, when it came to South-east politics, especially, Imo State’s.
But he was, also, not a push-over in National Politics.

On three occasions, he unsuccessfully ran for the Presidential office. He blames providence for his unsuccessful runs. But in his South-east Zone, especially, Imo, almost all the elected Governors sought his blessings and active support for their elections and successes in office. They patronized him too.

He had his most successful political outing under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which Board of Trustees Member, he remains, but for his decision to quit partisan politics as from September 4, 2021. During the Goodluck Jonathan Government, he was the Chancellor of the University of Calabar. Not a few people chide him for not pushing any of his biological children into any office either in Imo State or nationally.

However, his influence in the Imo State PDP whittled down, considerably, since after the Supreme Court judgment which removed the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, PDP, as the Governor in January 2020, and enthroned the incumbent, Senator Hope Uzodinma, APC, as the Governor.

Having been one of those at the centre of Ihedioha’s election in 2019, as he usually claims, and having been quite close to him, the Imo PDP was outraged that he could have anything to do with the Uzodinma Government, especially, given the circumstances which saw Ihedioha out of office. Members castigated Iwuanyanwu each time he attended any function of the Uzodinma Government, especially, as he obviously, given his status, would occupy the “high table.”

The Imo PDP hated to see him attend any Imo Stakeholders’ meeting which it usually, erroneously, classified as an APC event.

When insecurity was at its peak in the State, and the Governor began a consultation with Stakeholders -Local Government by Local Government – to find a solution, the Imo PDP barred its members from attending the meetings, and was stung when Iwuanyanwu led the delegation from his Ikeduru LGA, as did a couple of other PDP leaders who saw the security situation in the state as beyond partisan politics of APC and PDP.

In a number of ways, including scathing write-ups, members of the Imo PDP, especially, its Youth wing, sought for his suspension from the party over his alleged romance with the Uzodinma Government.

While the suspension could not be actualized, they succeeded in removing him as the Chairman of the Imo PDP Elders Forum, replacing him with Chief Ambrose Ejiogu, whose son, Philip Ejiogu, is a member of the Imo State House of Assembly, Owerri North, but currently on suspension for inexplicable reasons.

Chief Iwuanyanwu’s exit from partisan politics will, therefore, be good music in the ears of those in the Imo PDP who had for months, canvassed for his suspension from the party. But it will, finally, give him the room to play a befitting role as an Elder Statesman, and an unbiased Stakeholder in Nigeria, the South-east and, Imo State.

Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu realizes that. In exiting, he said: “I will, however, continue to serve my people as an Elder Statesman, and in my capacity as the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders.”

Ihekweazu Moves Up To WHO

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
By Uche Mbah
Nigeria has moved a notch higher in global appointments with the appointment of Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, currently the Director-General of Center for Disease Control, CDC, as Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) in charge of Health Emergency Intelligence.
The appointment takes  effect from November 1, 2021
In a statement issued by the WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Tuesday, WHO said Ihekweazu will be a frontrunner on strengthening pandemic and epidemic intelligence globally. Part of his core mandate is heading the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin.
“I am pleased to welcome Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu as an Assistant Director-General for Health Emergency Intelligence from November 1, 2021. He will lead the work on strengthening pandemic and epidemic intelligence globally, including heading the WHO Hub for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence in Berlin”, Tedros said.
” I am confident that Dr Ihekweazu’s appointment will help further accelerate WHO’s work in health emergencies. Please join me in welcoming him to WHO”.
Ihekwazu, a trained infectious disease epidemiologist, has over 20 years of experience as a senior public health worker. He worked at the South African National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), the United Kingdom’s Health Protection Agency, and Germany’s Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
He is a native of Imo State, Nigeria.
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