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Whistle-blower Exposes Warehouse Where Banned Styrofoam Is Stored

September 29, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Despite the Ban placed on the use of Styrofoam by the Lagos State Government, some persons and manufacturers have remained defiant.

The Lagos State Government law enforcement agency in a recent operation has uncovered a warehouse in Ikeja where styrofoam products were stored.

According to the Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, the authorities received a tip from a whistleblower, leading to the discovery and seizure of the banned products.

The Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, who disclosed this on his X handle said that this is not the first time the government has taken action against styrofoam.

“Following a tip-off by a whistleblower, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources discovered another warehouse at No 6 Ogusefunmi Street, off Nurudeen Street, Anifowoshe, Ikeja,” Mr Wahab wrote.

“The building is being used for storing the banned styrofoam packs. The operatives of the @LAGESCOfficial have confiscated the packs.” He said.

However, the Lagos Sanitation Corps had previously seized large quantities of styrofoam at various markets and warehouses across the state

He noted that the State Government’s intention is to reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable practices.

Styrofoam, known for its non-biodegradable properties, contributes significantly to waste management issues.

OPINION: Edo Sham Election: Let’s Boycott Elections Until…

The Source

September 28, 2024

By Steve Osuji

This Column, Expresso, is at pains to suggest that Nigerians must elect to boycott further elections until the following conditions are met:

MAHMOUD YAKUBU MUST GO:
First, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, the incumbent chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must resign immediately. He has proven over and over again that he has neither capacity, integrity nor courage to effect a free and fair election that can pass muster in the eyes of reasonable people.

After the February 25th, 2023 Presidential Election heist, it has become clear that the crafty professor is not man enough. He is not upright, he doesn’t have the strength of his convictions, he has no sense of magnitude of his academic standing or his elevated position.

Most of all, he has the mentality of a plumber who is not possessed of a sense of history nor legacy. Yet he’s supposedly a professor of History. He will probably be annotated as the worst INEC chairman of all time. To think that we have seen the likes of Professor Eme Awa and Humphrey Nwosu who delivered highly acclaimed elections under dictatorial military regimes. Prof Nwosu has a prime place in Nigeria’s electoral annals for declaring MKO Abiola winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential elections even with a gun virtually placed to his head to do otherwise.

Prot. Yakubu has proved resoundingly that he’s a puppet of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC therefore, it stands to reason that Nigerians, and particularly, the opposition parties must ignore and boycott his so-called elections forthwith. Elections coming up in Ondo and Anambra are test cases!

LET’S BOYCOTT TINUBU’S ELECTIONS TOO:
President Bola Tinubu has turned 360 degrees from pretending to be a democrat and rights activist to a power-mongering megalomaniac. Most of us were fooled believing he was a fighter for democracy and civil rule, but now that he has hijacked power, it has become obvious that he’s an arch-kakistocrat… all he wanted was power after all; autocratic power!

Though history is replete with transformational despots and benevolent autocrats who deploy their untrammelled powers to lift peoples and develop nations. But not so for Tinubu. He has acted like a popinjay president so far, using the high office to soak up perquisites like a sponge.

Though he’s a notorious election rigger right from his days as state governor in Lagos State (untutored acolytes call him political strategist for his ability to pervert elections). But as president of the Republic, he has gotten brazen and drunken from the cask of impunity. After openly stealing the presidential mandate February 2023 in cahoots with Prof. Yakubu, he now openly calls elections ahead of time.

During Tinubu’s presidential campaign in 2022, he had vowed to Edo APC members that he would return the state to the APC family if he became president of Nigeria. There was no mincing of words nor equivocation in the video clip: “I will deliver Edo to APC if I become president.” Now he’s president of Nigeria and he simply returned Edo to APC by deploying federal might at his disposal.

BUHARI A BETTER DEMOCRAT THAN TINUBU:
In 2020, Muhammadu Buhari was president and Edo was going to an election. The atmosphere was charged( again, by a certain Adams Oshiomhole who wanted Edo in his pocket.) Governor Godwin Obaseki, Oshiomhole’s protégé-gone bad after he had installed him in 2016. Oshiomhole went to the ends of the earth seeking to topple Gov. Obaseki in his 2nd term election.

To achieve his aim, Oshiomhole forced incumbent Governor Obaseki out of APC in the last minutes. Obaseki smuggled his way into the PDP to contest against his erstwhile godfather, Oshiomhole. As in 2020, the September 21st, 2024 off-cycle guber election was a charged contest between APC and incumbent PDP.

President Buhari openly insisted on a free and fair election in Edo in 2020. He made it public that the people’s choice must prevail; he didn’t try to deliver his party APC by rolling out federal might. It’s on record that President Buhari consistently allowed INEC to carry out elections without interference throughout his time.

ADAMS’ DESIRE:
Mr Adams Oshiomhole has not lived down the humiliation he suffered in the hands of Gov. Obaseki since that electoral defeat of 2020. He fancys himself as the Tinubu of Edo and he desperately seeks to pocket Edo as Tinubu pockets Lagos and southwest.

A megalomaniac and moneygrub like Tinubu he would do anything, tell any lies and pervert any system to have his way. After eight years as Edo governor, like Tinubu, Oshiomhole has no other article of trade than dark politics.

To his chargrin, he couldn’t move Buhari to rig Edo Election for him in 2020, but with his fellow rigging machine in Aso Rock, Oshiomhole has eventually installed his lapdog as governor of Edo.

THE OKPEBHOLO BLOWOUT!
Monday Okpebholo epitomises Oshiomhole’s and Tinubu’s vile politics. They do not care for the people, they care not for the state… all they care about is their personal aggrandisement. It has been settled that after Tinubu, anyone can be president of Nigeria (much less governor of a state). Okpebholo as governor of a state must be the lowest limit. It is below low! And for Oshiomhole to dig into the ground to exhume an Okpebholo to be governor of Edo State must he the worst thing to happen to Edo State since its creation.

A seeming retard with apparently borrowed biometrics, Okpebholo couldn’t make a simple sentence in English all through the campaign. Like Tinubu, Okpebholo shunned all debates and all interviews. Instead, Oshiomhole campaigned as if he was the candidate on the ballot. After his declaration, pictures are already viral of Okpebholo kneeling down to his god, Oshiomhole for doing the impossible.

Never has Edo election won on the strength of Edo north numbers, yet Oshiomhole and INEC scripted Edo North results to have their waý… with APC, anything is indeed possible in Nigeria.

REMORSELESS STATE CAPTURE:
Oshiomhole has now joined the league of APC big boys who own their states. Starting with Tinubu in Lagos, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi, Hope Uzodinma of Imo and Yahaya Bello of Kogi (no wonder he can’t be arrested).

Since APC is poised to capture every inch of the Nigerian political space, Nigerians must snap out of their sheepish docility and fight for their lives and their country. The first and less injurious option they have is to boycott all the stupid elections organised by Tinubu, APC and Yakubu.

It seems most idiotic for any reasonable human to go stand on any election queue, unless you’re one of their paid voters. It’s even a worse proposition for any so-called opposition party to participate in Tinubu’s and Yakubu’s elections henceforth.

BOTTOMLINE:
Professor Yakubu must resign and Tinubu must immediately initiate an election reform to make elections in Nigeria fair (electronic) and their results credible.

Anything short of this, EXPRESSO avers, must be boycotted. It is time Tinubu’s sham elections were disregarded and indeed, Nigerians must initiate a benign civil disobedience, going forward, to begin to drive home their point. We, the people, must fight Tinubu’s remorseless state capture.

▪︎Osuji is former editor at The Guardian, Thisday and NewAge. He was until recently, Editorial Board Member, The Nation.

Abure Loyalists Tried To Deregister, Suspend Datti-Ahmed, Usman – Caretaker Committee

Suleiman Anyalewechi

September 28, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi.

The leadership of the Caretaker Committee, Kaduna State Chapter of the Labour Party, on Saturday September, 28, 2024, maintained that the duo of Senator Datti Baba- Ahmed, the Presidential running mate to Peter Obi in the 2023 General Elections and Senator Nenadi Usman, its National Chairman Caretaker Committee, remains bonafide members of the Party.

This is even as it insisted that all efforts to distract the National leadership in its efforts to reposition the party will always hit the rock.

The Kaduna LP leadership’s position comes on the heels of the insistence by the immediate past leadership of the party in the State that Datti-Ahmed and Usman are not registered members of the Party.

A statement issued by the chapter’s interim spokesperson, Natty Auta, said the party has since made public the register and membership card of Senator Usman.

The Kaduna LP leadership, also, denied the existence of any cracks within the party, adding that it is merely transitioning from one leadership to another.

“We challenge the outgone Executive to provide the Ward Register of Datti Baba-Ahmed and Senator Nenadi Usman to substantiate their claims that these esteemed individuals and leaders of our great party are not registered members of the Labour Party .

“In contrast, we have submitted the register and membership card of Senator Nenadi Usman for public verification.

“It has come to our attention that the Kagarko Local Government Chairman ,Zaphaniah Yohanna, was contacted by the outgone Executive to verify Senator Nenadi Usman’s registration in her Ward.

“When he confirmed her registration, they pressured him to suspend her which he rightfully refused. This incident highlights their continued attempts to undermine legitimate party members”, the Kaduna LP Stated.

To this end, the interim leadership, has cautioned the outgone Barr. Julius Abure loyal Kaduna Executive to refrain from their orchestrated moves aim at blackmailing innocent party members.

According to the statement ,the Labour Party is not in anyway divided as some detractors would want unsuspecting members of the public to believe.

The LP spokesman, noted that the outgone executive had to leave following the expiry of its tenure in June this year .

However, Auta informed that it is the refusal by the former executive members to come to terms with this reality that is driving their attempt to disrupt the peace of the party.

“If they truly care about the party and its development, they should support initiatives like the fundraising event aimed at supporting our candidates in the forthcoming local council polls in the state” part of the statement reads

The party Spokesperson further berated the immediate past Executive Members for their lack of focus, and over-dependence on revenues from sale of nomination forms.

Kano: 20 Million People Served By 600 Doctors, Strike Looms

Ayodele Oni

September 28, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Following refusal of the Kano State Government to pay post Covid 19 allowances to medical doctors, the National Association of Government General and Medical Dental Practitioners has approved October 1 as the date for its members in Kano to go on strike.

The Secretary of the Association in Kano, Dr. Anas Idris Hassan, made this known while addressing newsmen on the outcome of their meeting.

Dr. Anas stated that despite reaching an agreement with the Kano State Government in June to meet their demands, the government has yet to respond.

He emphasized that the government has not addressed the issue of their hazard allowance, specifically the post-COVID-19 hazard allowance, which has been paid by the federal government since 2021, but has yet been paid by the Kano State Government.

Dr. Anas further mentioned that newly employed medical doctors, who were hired by the Kano State Government in September 2023, have not been paid their salaries.

The medical practitioners also expressed concern over the dilapidated state of Kano hospitals and the lack of necessary equipment, stressing the urgent need to address these issues.

Dr. Anas highlighted the critical doctor-to-patient ratio in Kano, which is significantly lower than the World Health Organization’s standard.

He noted that there are an estimated 20 million people in Kano, served by only 600 doctors, resulting in a ratio of one doctor to 33,000 patients.

The medical practitioners concluded that they have no option but to embark on the strike on October 1.

36 Pro-Biafra Activists Set Free By Court After Four Years

The Source

September 28, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

Four years after they were herded into prison, 36 pro-Biafra Activists have been set free.

They were discharged and acquitted by an Abakiliki, Ebonyi State High Court.

The good news for the families, friends and associates of the detainees was broken by Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Ejiofor disclosed this Owerri Friday, and reeled out the obstacles summounted before the freedom of the detainees was secured.

All natives of Ebonyi State, the 36 detainees were arrested in 2020 after which they were charged with murder in case No. HAB/29c/2021.

At the trial, according to Ejiofor, the prosecution was not able to prove the charges. He said that he filed a “No Case Submission,” which was sustained by the Court which on September 27, 2022, dismissed the charges and acquitted the accused.

But no sooner were they discharged and acquitted than they were re-arrested and arraigned.

The new charge sheet, No. HAB/43c/2022, now included allegations of unlawful possession of firearms, robbery, unlawful association, arson, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, and carrying out warlike behaviour.

But again there was no evidence to support the allegations. The defence presented another “No Case Submission”.

For the second time, the Court discharged the activists on December 22, 2023.

Still bent on framing and finding them guilty the prosecution filed another charge against them

while the second charge was still pending.

In Charge No. HAB/59c/2022, the detainees were accused of armed robbery, and hounded back into custody in defiance of earlier court orders.

Luck shone on them September 27, 2024, when on the completion of the third trial, the Court again upheld the No Case Submission, and thus, discharged and acquitted all 36 detainees for the third time.

But despite the repeated court orders, prison officials refused to release them. They cited a new charge said to be before the Ikwo High Court.

Ejiofor lamented this new twist, and described it as a desperate attempt to deny the detainees their freedom.

He, therefore, appealed to Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and urged him to intervene in order to prevent this “mockery of the judicial process” from continuing.

Northern Youth Group Preaches Against October 1st Nationwide Protest

Ayodele Oni

September 28, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence, a Northern coalition, has appealed to youths to reconsider the consequences of protest at this time urging them not to join the planned protest of 1st October as planned by some groups.

A statement by the Chairman Arewa Youth for Peaceful Coexistence, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) branch, Mr. Mark Okpanachi, urged young Nigerians to reconsider the action.

The statement explained that protests can lead to riots, and stressed the need to prioritize peace and stability Instead.

It stated that the businesses people depend on for their daily sustenance could be crippled, and the ripple effects on jobs, trade, and investment would be damaging.

The Group, however, proposed engagement and constructive dialogue with the government to address concerns instead of protest.

It acknowledged the efforts of the Tinubu administration in implementing policies that aim to improve the nation.

“The rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, for instance, is a step towards providing affordable and efficient transportation for our citizens.

“Additionally, the Ministerial performance bond is a bold move to ensure accountability and effectiveness within the government.

“The planned implementation of the new National Minimum Wage in April is also a welcome development.”

The Group appealed to Nigerians not to allow frustrations to push them towards actions that could derail the progress of the nation.

“We urge Nigerians to avoid the October 1st protest and instead embrace constructive dialogue with the government.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has shown a willingness to listen, to engage, and to make adjustments where necessary. Let us use this avenue to voice our concerns and collaborate on solutions that will bring long-term relief.”

It, however, called on the Federal Government to continue listening to the concerns of the youths and addressing the issues that affect them.

Enugu Sets Up CNG Centres, Creates New Ministry For Energy To Drive Investments In Sector

Suleiman Anyalewechi

September 28, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Rising from its Executive Council meeting on Friday, September 27, 2024, the Enugu State Government announced that it has kick-started the process that will lead to the establishment of Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Centres across the State to ease the difficulties created by the removal of petroleum products subsidies .

This is just as it informed that a new Ministry for Energy and Mineral Resources has been created to drive investment in the sector.

The State Commissioner for Transport, Dr Obi Ozor, while addressing the Media, also noted that the Government is set to purchase new buses, with a view to supporting the private sector, in investment in the transport sector.

According to him, the primary aim of establishing the CNG conversion centres is to lower the demand for Premium Motor Spirit( fuel) which cost has gone up astronomically due to the removal of subsidy.

He expressed the hope that the conversion to CNG buses and others will lead to the reduction in transportation cost for commuters and the movements of goods and services.

Dr Ozor stated that the Enugu State Government is very much conscious of the imperativeness for the people to migrate from PMS to CNG, as it substantially reduce the burden of high cost of transportation by at least half.

“These initiatives aim to establish a safe affordable and sustainable transportation system in Enugu.

By embracing the CNG, the State is creating a favourable environment to attract investors and has partnered with Greenville Energy in this wise”, the Transport Commissioner noted.

He, therefore, called on vehicle owners across the State who are interested in migrating from the use of petrol to the CNG to register with the Ministry of Transport.

He also informed that efforts are ongoing, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transport, to procure the CNG conversion kits.

The Secretary to the State Government SSG, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, also while speaking, said the new Ministry will serve to regulate and supervise activities within the energy and mineral resources sectors ,which he noted Enugu is abundantly endowed with .

He stated that the State Government, before now, had passed and signed into law the Enugu State Electricity Law which among other things, provides for the setting up of a regulatory agency that will supervise activities in the energy sector.

“The Government decided at today’s Executive Council meeting to create the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources ,with the mandate to oversee investment opportunities within our Solid Mineral resources .

“This initiative will also stimulate investment in renewable energy and coal-to-power projects.The new Ministry will take effect immediately, and we will begin the process of setting up its office”, the SSG noted.

Edo Gov Election: APC Offers Families Of Deceased Policemen Monetary Rewards

Ayodele Oni

September 28, 2024

Abdullahi Ganduje and Families of Edo Police Officer

By Ayodele Oni

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has announced monetary rewards to families of five police officers, who died in a motor accident while returning from Edo State.

He also announced monetary donations to other ten officers that sustained injuries in the accident.

The affected officers were returning from Edo state, where they monitored last Saturday’s governorship election when the accident happened.

The incident occurred along the Zaria-Kano road at Karfi Village near the Trailer Park, as stated by the Public Relations Officer of the Kano command.

Ganduje spoke at Bichi Central Mosque, on Saturday while offering prayers for the deceased police officers.

He described the incident as a sad moment for the Police Force, himself, and the nation.

The Party donated N2 million to each of the five deceased officers’ families. One million naira each to ten injured officers

He noted that the accident was a sad one not only to the Police Force but to the entire nation in general.

“I decided to personally come down to Bichi because of the enormity of the death, and because the officers died in active service.

The Chairman House Committee on Appropriation Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, also shared condolences, and prayed for the repose of the Departed souls.

New Minimum wage: “Any Delay Tactics Will Attract Our Wrath” – Organized Labour To States

Ayodele Oni

September 28, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The Organized Labour may have commenced moves to ensure state governments pay the new minimum wage of N70,000 as soon as possible.

It was gathered that this is to ensure that all states comply with the new minimum wage act to give the workers new lease of life.

As at last count, not less than ten states defaulted in the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage approved during the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari.

To this end, organized labour have urged the 36 State Governments not to foot drag in the payment of consequential adjustments in salaries arising from the National minimum wage Act 2024 to workers in order to avoid the wrath of organized Labour.

This was contained in the circular issued by the National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), Trade Union Side and signed by the acting National Secretary JNPSNC Olowoyo Gbenga dated 27th September,2024.

The circular, was addressed to all State Councils’ Chairmen and Secretaries of joint Public Service Negotiating Council titled “Circulars on the implementation of consequential adjustments as a result of new national minimum wage.”

The circular warned that any surreptitious attempt to create artificial bottlenecks that will scuttle timely implementation of the Consequential Adjustments arising from the National minimum wage Act 2024 will not be treated with kid gloves by the Organized Labour, hence, the discussion must be expeditiously handled by the State governments

The circular reads in part “I have the directive of the National leadership of JNPSNC to forward the various circulars issued by the National Salaries, income and Wages Commission for the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act and to serve as the template for New salary structures for implementation at the sub national and Local Government levels

“These circulars were issued as a result of the outcome of the meeting of committee on the Consequential Adjustments in Salaries arising from the National minimum wage Act set up by the Federal Government where the Head of Civil Service of the Federation was the Chairperson from the Government Side, while the National Chairman of the joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) was the Chairman from the Trade Union Side. ”

The circular stated that the Heads of Service at the State levels are to be the Chairperson from the Government side, while the state chairpersons of joint Public Service Negotiating Council are to be the Chairperson from the Labour side in the negotiation process.

“It’s also important that all JNPSNC State Chairmen should work cohesively with their State NLC and TUC leadership for a successful negotiation

“These clarifications are very expedient in order to ensure a seamless negotiation process that will accelerate quick discussion so as to facilitate implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2024 to the entire workers in Nigeria.

“From the foregoing, State Council’s leadership should not hesitate to contact the National leadership of JNPSNC for any further clarification where and when necessary .

“It is desideratum to call on the State and Local Governments not to foot drag unnecessarily in the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act to workers, so as to mitigate the current economic hardships being faced by both workers and the entire populace in Nigeria, in a little way.

“Any delay tactics will attract the wrath of the Organized Labour.”

Obi In Athens International Dialogue On Security, Says insecurity Linked To Poverty, Unemployment

The Source

September 28, 2024

Mr Peter Obi-Andres Pastran and Adalberto Costa Junior-President of UNITA- Angola

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has said that the security challenges bedeviling Africa are directly linked to poverty, with over 50% of the population multi-dimensionally poor.

Speaking at the weekend in Athens, Greece’s capital, at an international dialogue of global leaders that includes former Presidents and top government officials, Obi listed unemployment, corruption, poverty, and inequality among the variables militating against security and peaceful co-existence in Africa.

“I joined global leaders, former presidents, prime ministers, serving and retired senior government officials, military chiefs, renowned academics, sports personalities, and others in Athens, Greece, for a Leadership Dialogue focused on governance, particularly in the areas of security and the economy in today’s world, and the lessons for future leaders.

“In my brief presentation, I emphasized that as leaders, we must acknowledge the profound global and generational transformations confronting us. Despite vast human and material resources, there remain significant unmet needs in global governance.

“Urgent attention must be given to enhancing collective security, lifting people out of poverty, and reducing injustice and inequality in society.

“In Africa, we face high levels of insecurity, alarming corruption, worsening poverty, huge youth unemployment, and gross inequality. Over 50% of the world’s multidimensional poor live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria and Congo both have over 60% of their populations living in poverty and suffer from unacceptable levels of inequality. Non-state actors have now taken over the security in some African nations. “Furthermore, many African countries underinvest in critical areas of development, such as health and education.

“Future African leaders must take bold, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve far-reaching, people-centered development.

“They must confront insecurity head-on and reassure citizens of the state’s ability to maintain security without being undermined by non-state actors. Corruption must be tackled with vigor. Leaders must invest in critical areas of development to improve health and education while addressing poverty, unemployment, hunger, and other pressing societal challenges.

“Nigeria has all the resources needed to move in this direction, and we remain committed to placing the nation on the right path.

A New Nigeria is POssible.

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