Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has taken over the leadership the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC).
He arrived the party’s Secretariat in a show of force, accompanied by gun trotting policemen and went straight to the office of the of National Chairman of the party, Mai Mala Buni.
About nine of the 12- member Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) are presently locked up in a crucial meeting being chaired by Sani Bello, who by the way is the Deputy Chairman of the Central Coordinating Committee of the March 26 convention. Senator John James Akpanudedehe, Secretary of the CECPC was also attending the meeting.
Some APC State Chairmen are also seen around the Secretariat. Some of those accosted said they are not aware of the reasons why they were summoned to the Secretariat.
Earlier Akpanudedehe had dismissed as fake news the trending online news that Buni has been removed.
The whereabouts of the Yobe State governor is not know as at Press time .
Yoruba Nation Activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Ighoho, has been released by the Government of Republic of Benin.
He was released on Monday to a Yoruba Leader and Leader of the Umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Banji Akintoye and a French Language Expert/ Deputy Alana of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Professor Wale Adeniran.
The Communications Secretary to Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, Akintoye confirmed this in a press statement on Monday.
The Yoruba group described the release of Ighoho as a Triumph of Truth over Darkness in Yoruba Land.
A frontline leader and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu paid courtesy visit on traditional rulers in the three Senatorial Districts of Ondo State and rained cash gifts on the Obas, which led to a rat race of sorts.
The huge political largesse, as at today, has created a wide gulf between the minority Class A kings and the majority 130 Crowns in the Sunshine State, who belong to the B and C grades.
A reliable source told our correspondent that, the Presidential aspirant and former Governor of Lagos State brought sacks of Naira as homage to the royal fathers in their domains.
His entourage’s first port of call was Ondo South Senatorial District, where they met the Obas at an Events Centre in Okitipupa.
After exchanges of pleasantries and declaration of his intention to contest the 2023 Presidential Election, Tinubu’s aides were said to have rolled in millions of Naira notes stacked in Ghana-Must-Go bags, for the kings to share.
A source alleged that N30m was allocated to each of the three political zones.
Whereas things went according to plan under the supervision of HRM Olugbo, what obtained in Central and North Senatorial Districts were outright row and chaos. A cold war indeed!
In Akure, 18 Monarchs met Tinubu in the Palace of the Deji of Akure, but only 3 of them are Grade A while 15 are in B and C categories.
Interestingly, we learnt from insiders that only a meagre N5m was doled out to the 15 rulers to share while the chunk was kept by the few three.
To worsen the situation, no information on the actual largesse was given to the second class Obas. Rage set in and the N5m offered, by a popular politician in Ondo State, was reportedly dumped at the doorstep of the Paramount ruler of Akure land. The protesting royals later staged a walk out without collecting the money.
Similar ugly incident happened in North Senatorial District meeting held in Owo, where Monarchs converged in the Palace of the new Olowo of Owo. The 7 Grade A Obas present were said to have outsmarted the 26 B and C kings, whom were blocked from knowing what transpired between the August Visitor and the royals.
At the end of the day, after Team Tinubu had left, a paltry sum of N5.7m was dished out by the Coordinating Grade A Oba Olowo, to the 26 representatives of the lower cadre royals.
Having failed to disclose the total monetary gift from the Lagos frontline politician; anger took the best of the cheated Grade B and C Obas, who politely declined collecting their own ‘share’ of the ‘Tinubu’s cake.’
As at press time, frantic efforts are said to being made by mediators to settle the matter equitably and fairly, in order to keep the issue off public notice.
The aggrieved Obas, who control majority of communities in the State, are said to be waiting patiently to do the damage to the electoral interest of the ‘chosen candidate’ of the First Class Obas, at the polls.
However, analysts see the visitations by Tinubu to Yoruba Obas in all the States, with huge kolanuts, as a political strategy to mark the South West territorial zone, as a safe haven for himself, in case any other aspirant wants to venture into the presidential race from the region.
A first class chief in Abuja Municipal Area Council ( AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Sakaruyi of Karu, HRM Emmanuel Yepwi has decried the alarming rate of illegalities in his domain.
While pleading that FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, immediately come to his domain to demolish the shanties where the suspects hibernate under different guises.
The Monarch who made this known when the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah paid a courtesy visit on him over the weekend.
He said that the illegalities being perpetrated by some of these criminal elements, who lived in makeshift shanties and other illegal structures around the community, while some who pretend to be traders have defied all rules and taken over the roadside for their activities.
Yepwi who expressed worry over the situation, said the suspects law breakers initially came in as law abiding citizens to the community, but over time has revealed their real characters, by disregarding procedures and extant laws.
He hinted that he has been mobilising the powers within his constitutional reach to fight the illegalities being orchestrated by these elements, but now needs government’s support to defeat them and restore sanity to his troubled domain.
He said with dismay, that some of the people who disguise as traders at Karu Market, but may have other nefarious plans, have taken over the roadsides, and are causing unbearable traffic stress and inevitable disaster.
Yepwi charged the Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation to quickly interven by removing all illegal structures within Karu, one of the largest satellite towns in FCT.
His words, ” karu is a major satellite town sitting on major road corridors in the FCT. Karu links to Orozo and up to karshi. It should be the best. Sadly most people choose to sell on the road and cause traffic problems”
” Please help us fully clear Karu of some illegal structures and batchers that are not good for our community”
” Tell the minister we support him fully for whatever he wants to do to remove all these traders from the roads. We have been warning them to leave but they refuse to.
Earlier, Attah said the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello had expressed worries over the illegalities in the Karu satellite town and would work in synergy with all stakeholders to address them.
He also disclosed that the visit to the Sakaruyi’s Palace was motivated by the myriad of complaints that have continued to trickle in from residents living in Karu axis.
Attah added, that more worrisome was a situation where some traders have arrogantly abandoned the empty spaces in the Karu Market, and opted to sell by the roadsides, not minding the traffic problems being created by their actions.
Attah hinted, ” It is a pathetic scene at the entry point into the Karu Model market as trader now occupy the entire road allowing only one care to pass at a time. Those selling fresh catfish and vegetables now occupy better part of the road”
He expressed worry that, ” some traders are selling directly under high tension wire. There are those who has decided to build makeshift shops and cover the Trasformer. All this, your Royal Highness are not good for Karu in particular and the city at Large”
“With sensitive security agencies having/ offices and residential quarters from Karu to Karshi complaints keep pouring in daily of difficulties crossing the Karu Market portion of the road. Also FCT residents including staff of the Satellite Town development Department at karshi waste manhours daily on the road.”
Meanwhile, the Head of Department of Works in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Architect Andrew Gaza who was with the team hailed plans of the FCT Administration to rid the area if those illegalities saying , ” we at AMAC has plans to clear areas in and around the market. Now that FCT Administration is coming in we support it fully. All these illegality must stop”.
Gaza added that, ” If you look inside the market, you will see that AMAC was the first to mark the worrisome illegal structures for demolition. They have completely and badly changed the approved plan for the market.”
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work at Kano-Kaduna rail project.
Amaechi while speaking at the routine inspection tour of the project in Kano said, the CCECC has lost focus and is now playing politics by deliberately frustrating the targeted delivery period of the project.
The Minister promised a more detailed information on the project after Wednesday Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
“I think the CCECC is beginning to play politics. They should move away from politics and focus on construction. And I think they need to complete the Kaduna-Kano rail as planned.
“I think what they’re doing is to delay the project for this government to come to an end,” he said.
He added that provisions have been made for 2,000 equipment on the project, but only 500 has been delivered by the contractor.
“They are supposed to have over 2,000 equipment on this project, they have just 541 so far. They claimed that over 300 are in Kaduna. We have sent a team to check. But even if you add that, you will still have just over 800. Just over 800 equipment compared to 2,000, means something is wrong somewhere” he said.
“I know they will claim that we haven’t funded them but part of their responsibility as the contract is for them to look for the money. CCECC hasn’t given us money. Chinese haven’t given us money. So they can’t afford to delay it because is their responsibility to look for the money. That’s what the CCECC must do. But I will address the press and Nigerians on Wednesday after we meet with CCECC. If there is no difference, I will tell the country what’s going on”.
He said the report from the project consultant show the project is just about five percent completed, which is unacceptable.
The Minister however assured Nigerians that when completed, the project would be of high standard, saying, “quality is guaranteed. Quality is not our problem. Our problem is speed.”
The 204km rail corridor consists of 13 large and medium sized bridges, 17 framed bridges, 60 highway overpasses, 12 pedestrian overpasses and three stations.
Amaechi also visited the Dala Inland Dry Port, Kano where work was going on at impressive speed.
Managing Director, Dala Inland Dry Port, Ahmad Rabiu, told the Minister that all that was left were electrical fittings and minor works for operations to begin at the port just in weeks.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr Abel Enitan has charge the Aviation workers to adopt the Automation Culture in their daily lives, especially while dispensing their duties as professionals in their field of endeavours, as the process has become the norm in contemporary world of business and governance by every standard. He made the call in Abuja, at the 9th Edition of the Aviation workers’ week and award night. The Perm Sec.said that, considering the fact that, aviation industry plays a critical role in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, automation has become indispensable to the workers.
“In consideration of the critical roles the Aviation Industry plays in the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), adopting the Automation culture in our daily lives has become totally indispensable. I would like to reiterate further that the relevance of the theme for discussion by the team of professionals is most likely to change the perception of our workers and speedily embrace the automation system in our various work places”.
He added that ” government’s recent stance on the need for a paperless work system and the launching of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, all lend credence to the seriousness attached to issues of computerization, digitalization and automation. The Ministry, in conjunction with the unions has taken the initiative to encourage and sensitize all stakeholders in the six Geo-political zones on this paradigm shift”.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Joint Consultative and Negotiating Council, Comrade Hector Nnadi, said that the countless potentialities of the automation system in driving the various sectors of any nation’s economy, cannot be overemphasized.
“This trend has been in currency for some decades with countries moving further to other areas of digitization. The quantum leap as experienced in most advanced countries of the world through adoption of Automation is a visible testimony”.
“The unions have resolved to push through the Automation culture through series of activities which, we hope will lead to total adoption of this concept with a view to attaining the status of global citizens”.
The theme of the event is “the gains of an Automated Personnel Management system in the Aviation Sector.
The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, will on Monday March 7, 2022 unveil the Theme and Logo of the Dala Dry Port in Abuja.
The event is a prelude to Kano Economic Investment summit which will showcase the DALA DRY PORT as a major transport infrastructure and other sectors like the Kano economic city that will stimulate industrialisation and commerce.
A statement signed by the Kano State Commissioner for information, Mohammed Garba, states that the Dry Port will make Kano a hub of domestic and international trade.
“It will diversify the economic base of the country,” he said.
The statement further reveal that the unveiling of the Logo and Theme shall have in attendance major stakeholders in the industry including; The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA), Shipping lines, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), National Inland water ways Authority (NIWA) and Council for Regulation of Freight Forwarding (CRFFN).
Others are the Chairman Dangote group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, The Chairman BUA group, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, a host of others from the business community and Royal Fathers led by the Emir of Kano, His Royal highness Aminu Ado Bayero.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Chief Timiprye Sylva has reiterated that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is bent on accomplishing its gas revolution agenda to unlock additional millions of new jobs for Nigerians.
He made this known in his opening remarks during a session tagged “decade of gas” at the just concluded 5th Edition of Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2022) in Abuja, stressing that when the ongoing gas facilities and infrastructure are completed, gas would not only lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, but the West African sub-region could become energy self-sufficient as a result of Nigeria’s gas revolution.
Sylva said Federal Government is on course to solving both domestic and sub-regional natural gas deficiencies, adding that the world expects so much from Nigeria’s gas sector and ‘we need to match that expectation with action’.
According to him, “First, our potential is enormous. Our current natural gas reserves have risen to 206.53tcf, yet, we have not even scratched at the 600tcf potential. Nigeria has the largest proven gas reserves in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as enviable Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure and export facilities.
“Second, interventions in the gas sector have a significant positive effect on power sector development. It has the ability to lift people out of energy poverty and foster economic development.
“Third, the economics. Natural gas is a highly competitive source of power and it can replace more expensive fuel sources, thus reducing the cost of energy. Thus, with lower energy prices, businesses can thrive and more people can have access to electricity.
“The entire gas value chain also offers rich investment opportunities for Nigerian companies and entrepreneurs, including the ability of not only powering current industries today but also generating entirely new industries tomorrow, which means additional millions of new jobs for Nigerians.
“The Buhari administration is bent on accomplishing its gas revolution agenda. More than ever before, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to make a success story out of this mantra. I can bet that if planned and ongoing gas facilities and infrastructure are completed, gas would not only lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty, but the West African sub-region could become energy self-sufficient as a result of Nigeria’s gas revolution.
He continued, “We are on course to solving both domestic and sub-regional natural gas deficiencies. Like I said at this summit last year, the world expects so much from Nigeria’s gas sector and we need to match that expectation with action. It is time to awaken the giant!
“The panel before us here will look at the Roadmap to Gas-Powered Economy by 2030. At the end of this panel session, my expectation is that we can come up with a document from the deliberations that is designed to optimize and leverage key strengths to achieve a discrete and measurable set of objectives for the Decade of Gas.
“A robust roadmap will, no doubt, help in our quest for Nigeria’s gas revolution to be accomplished in our lifetime” stated the Minister of State.
The Lagos State Government on Thursday unveiled plans to end indiscriminate parking by motorists on highways and streets, just as it spelt out punishments for offenders.
The government through its agency, Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA), hint newsmen in Lagos that illegal parking by motorists was impeding free flow of traffic in the state and preventing the government from delivering a world-class parking scheme for its citizenry.
Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu, the General Manager, LASPA, said that the State Government would be strict with the enforcement of the various parking violations by motorists, stressing that parking violations was one of the major challenges confronting the State Government and the state’s economy.
She , however, warned that the State Government could no longer fold its hands and allows the situation to deteriorate further, noting that there was the need for a holistic approach to tackle the challenge.
She stated that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos State had established LASPA in 2021 with the mandate of promoting the state’s parking policies in line with national transport policies by advancing knowledge, raising standard and assessment of related fees.
Adelabu emphasised that LASPA would provide an enabling environment for vehicle owners in a secured functional orderly and sustainable parking system management scheme.
She further explained that the agency is optimising the on and off-street parking supplies, setbacks options, registration of existing private parks operators to maximise urban public spaces in finding lasting solutions to parking-induced traffic.
She revealed that while the State Government was building and transforming the parking infrastructure within the metropolis, there was the need for the provision of available real-time parking information for city users planning to improve the overall quality of the parking system in the state.
According to her: “LASPA will achieve excellence in how Lagos state parking policies are envisioned, developed and in line with best global practices for a modern, efficient and sustainable managed parking system towards reducing congestion, disruption, improved road safety and changing travel behaviour.”
She listed various parking offences in the state to include: parking of commercial vehicles on streets, blocking an entrance or exit and walkway, parking on slots marked for public transport, fire service, ambulance, taxis and people with special needs.
Other offences are parking of vehicles on sidewalks, road median, whether paved or not, and parking of vehicles within three meters of a fire hydrant as well as parking of vehicles against the directional flow of traffic.
Adelabu called on all park operators; commercial and non-commercial to register with the agency for an operating permit from March 1, 2022.
Earlier, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, said the creation of LASPA became necessary in order to address the indiscriminate acts of motorists on the roads and at undesignated bus stops.
Oladeinde explained that in line with the first pillar of THEME’S Agenda, traffic management and transportation was key.
Therefore, parking space issues needed to be addressed to reduce travel time impeded upon by traffic and make the state a 21st-century running economy for its residents in the short and long term, the commissioner said.
Oladehinde maintained that the imbalance between parking demand and parking supply has been the main reason for the metropolis’ unregularised parking problems, hence the need for LASPA.
These, according to him, were contributing to traffic congestion, traffic accidents, and environmental pollution which the agency is fervently poised to address.
He said, the new Lagos State Parking policy is designed to decongest traffic, address climate change challenges, create job opportunities and also generate revenue for the state through issuance of parking tickets to defaulters.
