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Breaking: Maina’s Son, Faisal, Bags 14 Years For Money Laundering

By
Uche Mbah
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Faisal Maina

By Uche Mbah

Faisal Maina, the son of Abdulrasheed Maina, the controversial former Pension boss, has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for money laundering.

An Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Okon Abang handed down the sentence Thursday.

The father had been sacked by the administration of Goodluck Jonathan under controversial circumstances, but the Buhari administration brought him back. At a time he was nursing governorship ambition.

His father is also being prosecuted. Both father and son were arrested the same day in an Abuja Hotel after the senior Maina had disappeared, and stayed away in Dubai for years.

He later jumped bail, but was rearrested in Niger Republic.

The younger Maina was a student in Dubai before his father’s activities put him in trouble with the law.

Don’t Eat Frozen Chicken, Turkey – NAFDAC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration Control, NAFDAC, has warned Nigerians against the consumption of frozen chicken, turkey, and other poultry products.

NAFDAC’s spokesman, Abubakar Jimoh, warned that these products are  preserved with Formalin, a poisonous chemical popularly used to preserve the human body in mortuaries.

Speaking in Abuja, the nation’s Capital, Jimoh said some unscrupulous business owners had been using formalin to preserve poultry products, chicken and turkey, in particular which is detrimental to human health after consumption.

Warning Nigerians sternly, NAFDAC said Formalin is capable of preserving such products for weeks before they get to consumers, which is dangerous to human health.

“NAFDAC is alerting Nigerians to this practice. There are enough poultry products in the country than to resort to frozen chicken smuggled in, despite Federal Government’s ban,” Jimoh said.

Jimoh also called the the attention of consumers to the economic import of patronising business owners who smuggle poultry products into the country.

For several months now, following the directives of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, borders have been blocked, yet, illegal products including frozen poultry foods are still been smuggled into the country.

NAFDAC noted that if such patronage continued, indigenous poultry farmers and marketers would not grow as desired, as the money spent on smuggled products would only go to producers of the products.

“The patronage of imported or smuggled products would also continue to negatively affect Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves”, it warned

Veteran Sport Journalist, Ben Alaiya Is Dead

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ben Alaiya

By Akinwale Kasali

The nations sport enclave and the Sport Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, have been thrown into mourning, following the demise of seasoned Sport Journalist and former Media Officer of Nigeria National team, Super Eagles, Ben Alaiya.

The late Alaiya was also the Editor of Sports Day Newspaper, before he was appointed as the Media Officer of the Super Eagles.

He died in his hometown, Ososo, Edo State, in the early hours of Tuesday 5th October, 2021.

Although the cause of his death is not public yet, but it was gathered he had travelled to his hometown a month ago, became bedridden, and was receiving treatment before he gave up

Paying tributes to the late Alaiya, the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, on its Instagram handle of the Super Eagles on Wednesday wrote, “We are sad to announce the sudden passing of our former Media Officer, Mr Benjamin Alaiya. May his soul Rest In Peace and our thoughts are with his family.”

He read English Language at the University of Lagos, UNILAG, before earning a Postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from Nigeria’s Premier Monotechnic, the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ.

Born in Ososo, Edo State on December 9, 1968, Alaiya will be sorely missed by sport enthusiasts, media friends and family.

World Bank Says Nigeria’s Economic Growth Depends On COVID 19 Vaccination

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The World Bank has predicted that Nigeria’s economy will grow by2.4 per cent in 2021. The Bretton Wood, United States of America, USA based financial institution, however, said that much of the growth will depend on how seriously Nigerians take the issue of COVID 19 vaccination.

The bank, had last week, approved a $400m credit to Nigeria to boost COVID-19 vaccination in the country.

In a statement the bank said “The government of Nigeria today received approval from the World Bank Board of Directors for a $400m credit in additional financing from the International Development Association to provide upfront financing for safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine acquisition and deployment within the country. This will be implemented as part of the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Project.

“The additional funding is designed to ensure COVID-19 vaccination of 40 million Nigerians, increasing the rate of vaccination to up to 50 per cent.

“Building on the government’s plan to break the chain of local transmission of COVID-19 and limit the spread of the virus, the original COVID-19 response programme will be expanded to enable equitable access to purchase affordable COVID-19 vaccines for 18 per cent (40 million) of Nigeria’s population and support effective vaccine deployment to 50 per cent (110 million) of its citizens.”

The bank, in a report on Wednesday, titled ‘Climate change adaption and economic transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa’,  stated that much of the growth will be experienced in the service sectors of the economy.

According to the report “Within Africa, recovery is also multi-speed. Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa, the largest economies in the region, are expected to emerge from the 2020 recession, yet at different paces.

“Angola is expected to grow by 0.4 per cent in 2021, after five consecutive years of recession. The country is still battling to gain momentum, with elevated debt levels and weak performance of the oil industry. Nigeria is expected to grow by 2.4 per cent in 2021, supported by the service sector.”

The bank said Nigeria and South Africa are still trailing behind other Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of economic growth, adding however that Nigeria has made steady progress in the last two years, particularly in the non-oil sector which contributed greatly to the growth.

The report said “Excluding South Africa and Nigeria, the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa is rebounding faster, with a growth rate of 3.6 per cent in 2021.

“Nigeria’s economic growth shows little sign of speedy recovery from the 2020 recession. The economy grew five per cent in the second quarter, from 0.5 per cent growth in the first quarter. This was the third consecutive quarter of positive growth since the pandemic crisis.

“The main driver of the recovery is the non-oil sector, with a growth rate of 6.7 per cent compared with 0.8 per cent in the first quarter.

“The service sector recovered strongly after a disappointing first quarter, rising from -0.39 per cent to 9.27 per cent in the second quarter, while agriculture contracted from 2.28 in the first quarter to 1.30 per cent. Industrial activity also declined to -1.23 per cent in 2021Q2, down from 0.94 per cent in 2021Q1.

The bank had earlier in January projected a 1.8 per cent growth for the country in the outgoing year.

 

Visa: Over 500 Nigerians Stranded In UAE

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

The United Arab Emirates, UAE has refused to renew the visas of over 500 Nigerian thus making them to lose their jobs in the Asian country, according to a report by The Punch.

The newspaper reported that most of the affected persons had now returned to Nigeria, while hundreds of others are still in UAE in the hope that Abu Dhabi would reverse the decision.

The UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Fahad AI Taffaq, had said there was no official communication on the issuance of work permits for Nigerians living and working in his country.

Taffaq, who stated this when he received the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, at the Embassy in Abuja, in August, noted that he read about the ban in the social media, stressing that “UAE has no restrictions against any nationality.”

But giving an update on the situation in a telephone interview with The Punch on Wednesday, a UAE resident, Chukwudi Kalu, said he has presented the list of over 500 Nigerians who lost their jobs due to their inability to renew their work visas to the Nigerian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Kalu explained that the Federal Government through the embassy and the NIDCOM had held talks with the Emirati government.

He stated, “It is a diplomatic issue between the two countries and there are still ongoing discussions between Nigeria and UAE. It has been very difficult for Nigerians out here. Over 500 Nigerians are affected.”

He added, “Most of those who lost their jobs have gone back home (Nigeria) while some are still here trying to see when this issue would be discussed. Nigerians are losing their jobs in high numbers, that’s the fact.

“I have a Nigerian graduate who was earning N40,000 back home and he came here to UAE and was being paid almost N500,000 every month. Now, his visa would expire by November, he couldn’t renew. He kept calling me every time for an update.”

A Dubai-based activist, Oluwatosin Fadoju observed that the UAE was using the policy as a punishment against Nigeria, stressing that the FG was not doing enough to resolve the issue.

He stated, “A lot of people are on the streets. People are getting jobs but they cannot work because is there is no work permit. We have not seen any action from Nigeria. We want the Nigerian government to step in.

Esther Sunsuwa, the spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the federal government will take all diplomatic steps to resolve the issue.

Anambra: Obiano, APGA, CAN Reject Emergency Rule

By
Bayo Bernard
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Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State

By James Orji

Anambra state government has rejected proposed state of emergency by the federal government in the state. Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation had on Wednesday said the Buhari administration was considering all options in resolving the spate of violence and insecurity rocking the Governor Willy Obiano-led state.

Recall that Dr Chike Akunyili, the widower of late Dora Akuiyi, former Director General of NAFDAF and Minister of Information under President Yar’Adua was killed, last week, by suspected members of IPOB.

Speaking on the spate of killings in the state Malami said “When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out.

“As a government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.

“So, within the context of these constitutional obligations, of the government or the desire to establish democratic norms and order, there is no possibility that [state of emergency] is out ruled.

“The government will certainly do the needful in terms of ensuring that our elections are held in a Anambra in terms of ensuring necessary security is provided, and in terms of ensuring protection is accorded to lives and properties.

“So, what I’m saying in essence, no possibility is out ruled by government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that our elections in Anambra holds, and you cannot out rule possibilities inclusive of the possibility of declaration or state of emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the state government to ensure the sanctity of security of lives, properties and democratic order.

“So, our position as a government is if these elections are going to hold, necessary security, in terms of democratic order, must certainly prevail for the purpose of this election.

But rebuffing the nation’s chief law officer, the Commissioner of Information in Anambra State, Don Adinuba, said it’s outrageous for the federal government to contemplate state of emergency as the solution to the problem rocking the state.

Adinuba who spoke on Channels Television, said it is inconceivable for the administration to consider the option when such action had not been taken in other states such as Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara where bandits and Boko haram terrorists are killing people.

Adinuba noted that despite the high killings in the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones, elections were held in the states.

He said similar violence has been witnessed in some South eastern states yet the federal government did not consider state of emergency those states.

Angry Adinuba said “Nigerians are outraged by the threat by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

“Since the renewed violence in Anambra State which we believe is politically motivated, not more than 15 persons have been killed. How many persons have died in Borno, Niger, Kaduna, Yobe, Zamfara, even Imo, which is APC-controlled, (and) Ebonyi, which is APC-controlled?

“Has anybody threatened emergency rule in any of these states?

“For the past seven years, Anambra has remained the safest state, most stable in Nigeria.

He said the state has remained peaceful until recently, adding that federal government’s action has political undertone.

“We remain the only state in the whole country that for the past seven years, has not experienced one single bank robbery; what is going on is politically motivated and the declaration by the honourable Attorney-General of the Federation is a confirmation,” Adinuba said.

Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and Christian Association of Nigeria,  CAN have rejected state of emergency as the lasting solution to the insecurity in the state, describing such action as premature.

Anambra: PDP Warns FG Over State Of Emergency Threat

By
The Source
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0

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has slammed the Federal Government over its threat to declare a state of emergency in Anambra State due to the unprecedented insecurity in the State.

Anambra has, in the past couple of weeks, been engulfed in killings and torching of properties and State facilities.

The State and the people are on edge. The fear is that it might affect the conduct of the November 6, 2021 Governorship election.

But the Federal Government, on Wednesday, October 6, says nothing is capable of stopping the election. Speaking through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting, the FG said it would consider declaring a state of emergency in Anambra State if the insecurity continues.

A state of emergency would mean the removal of the Governor, and the appointment of a Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the State.

The PDP has cried foul, and asked the Federal Government to perish the thought. The party, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, accused the FG of fuelling the insecurity in the State for a purpose.

It said the declaration of a state of emergency is part of it, to enable the APC rig the upcoming election, and win the Governorship seat through what it called “a back door.”

Following is the full text of the Statement:

Perish Contemplations of State of Emergency In Anambra, PDP Cautions FG

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to perish every contemplations of imposing a state of emergency in Anambra state ahead of the November 6 governorship election.

“The PDP holds that the reported move to foist an emergency rule in Anambra state is a ploy by the APC-led government to suppress the people, manipulate the process and rig the governorship election for the APC and its candidate.

“Our party demands that the APC and its administration should come clean on their roles in the sudden rise in insecurity in Anambra state ahead of the election.

“This demand is predicated on apprehensions in the public space that the spate of insecurity in Anambra is contrived to heighten tension in the state so as to derail the democratic process to the advantage of the APC.

“The PDP insists that the Federal Government has the capacity to ensure peace in Anambra before, during and even after the election, if it so desired.  We therefore invite the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC Federal Government to be guided accordingly.

“Our party also charges the people of Anambra state to remain calm and alert as well as take steps within the ambits of the law to resist plots by the APC to derail the electoral process in its inordinate ambition to seize Anambra through the back door.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Anambra State, has also condemned the idea of a state of emergency in the State.

During the President Olusegun Obasanjo Government, he declared a state of emergency in both Plateau and Ekiti States.

Senator Abubakar Ibrahim Dies

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Senator Abubakar Ibrahim

By Akinwale Kasali

Less than five months after Aisha Jummai Alhassan, popularly known as Mama Taraba, passed away, her elder brother, Senator Abdulazeez Abubakar Ibrahim, has also died.

Senator Abubakar Ibrahim died at the age 67, Tuesday, October 5th 2021 at the Federal Medical Center in Jalingo.

The late Senator was elected in 1999 and again in 2003 to represent Taraba Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

In 2007, he contested for the office of the Governor of the State under the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) but lost to the late Governor Danbaba Suntai.

Commiserating with the family of the deceased, Taraba State Speaker, Joseph Kunini, in a condolence message described Ibrahim as a political enigma.

Kunini said he left the scene at a time the state faced various challenges with the Government pulling all intellectual resources to solutions.

“Death is inevitable for every mortal. But the news of the death of Senator A.A. Ibrahim, barely five months after the death of his immediate younger sister, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, is devastating.

“We cannot question God’s deed. May He grant their souls Aljannah Firdausi and the family the fortitude to bear the great loss. We shall surely miss the love and counselling of the duo”, he noted.

Senate Announces Death Of DPR As Board Members Of New NURC Get The Nod

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Board members of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, (NURC), one of the newly established institutions under the Petroleum Industry Act, (PIB).

With the birth of the Board of the newly established venture, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has ceased to exist.

The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources.

The nominees confirmed include Isa  Modibbo – Chairman; Gbenga Komolafe – Chief Executive; Hassan Gambo – Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts; and Rose Ndong – Executive Commissioner, Exploration and Acreage Management.

Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Albert Akpan, in his presentation, said that the nominees demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the workings of the petroleum industry, especially the upstream petroleum sector, as well as the economics of petroleum exploration and production.

He added that the appointments of the nominees satisfied the requirements of Sections 11 and 18 (1-5) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

“There are no adverse reports against the nominees as record checks and other forms of investigations by security agencies did not reveal any negative trace against them.”

Akpan stated that the Committee was satisfied about the qualifications, experience, suitability, competence and integrity of the nominees to assume the position of Chairman, Chief Executive and Executive Commissioners of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said the establishment of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission would provide a foundation for the stabilisation of the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

He also said the confirmation of the NURC board has automatically led to the scrapping of the Department of Petroleum Resources as the new commission will take over its responsibilities.

“The Regulatory Commission has the enormous and huge responsibility of setting and establishing the Commission as provided in the Petroleum Industry Act.

“They have the unenviable responsibility of ensuring that they commit themselves and work hard to provide the solid and stable foundation for that matter, that they don’t waste any time because time is of essence.

“The implication of the approval of board members for the commission is that the Department of Petroleum Resources has ceased to exist.

“The Petroleum Industry will go through a reform process and the process has already started.

“This Commission is one of the huge arms of those reforms that will stabilize the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

“While the Senate confirms them, we expect nothing less than commitment and patriotism on their side. The Senate wishes them the best and a very fruitful tenure as they take their offices.

“We expect that the other regulatory authority for downstream and midstream will also be confirmed as soon as possible, so they also start their work immediately.”

Anambra: Obiano May Cease To Be Governor As FG Dangles State Of Emergency

By
Uche Mbah
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0

By Uche Mbah

The Federal Government will not hesitate to declare a State of Emergency in Anambra state due to the state of insecurity. If it does, Willy Obiano may cease to be Governor as a Sole Administrator would be appointed to rule the State.

This was disclosed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Wednesday, while addressing Journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting held in Abuja.

The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Malami, this is to protect lives and property in the State. It is based on the incessant violence that has taken over the State as the November Governorship elections draw near.

“When our national security is attacked, and the sanctity of our constitutionally guaranteed democracy is threatened, no possibility is ruled out,” Malami said.

“As a Government, we have a responsibility to ensure the sustenance of our democratic order. As a Government, we have a responsibility to provide security to life and properties.

Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State
Governor Willy Obiano of Anambra State

“So, within the context of these constitutional obligations of the Government, or the desire to establish democratic norms and order, there is no possibility that [state of emergency] is out ruled.

“The Government will certainly do the needful in terms of ensuring that our elections are held in a Anambra in terms of ensuring necessary security is provided, and in terms of ensuring protection is accorded to lives and properties.

“So, what I’m saying in essence, no possibility is ruled out by Government in terms of ensuring the sanctity of our democratic order, in terms of ensuring that election in Anambra hold, and you cannot out rule possibilities, inclusive of the profitability of declaration or State of Emergency where it is established, in essence, that there is a failure on the part of the State Government to ensure the sanctity of of lives, properties, and democratic order.

“So, our position as a Government is if these elections are going to hold, necessary security, in terms of democratic order, prevail for this election.”

Critics have faulted his position, saying that the level of violence has not reached the level being experienced in different parts of the North, yet there has been no declaration of a state of emergency in these places.

In Niger State, Boko Haram is said to have taken over Local Governments, collecting taxes and flying their flags, thereby declaring the area part of its Sovereign State, but there appears to be deafening silence from the Presidency.

During the Government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he declared a State of Emergency in two States – Plateau and Ekiti.

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