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Senate Panel Discovers N2Trn Revenue Fraud

By
Ola Akinola
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The Senate Committee on Finance has revealed that about N2 trillion revenue may have been trapped with Ministries, Deartments and Agencies of government or spent on frivolous expenditures.

The committee, which was Chaired by Senator Solomon Adeola, is probing revenue remittances by over 700 MDAs between 2014-2020 and payment of 1% Stamp Duty on all contract awards by the MDAs within the same period.

Speaking over the weekend when the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, alongside other officials appeared before the committee, Adeola said the panel’s weeks-long investigation revealed that many agencies committed all manner of illegalities relating to the expenditure of government funds that should rightly be paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

He hinted that, most of the MDAs abused the concept of operating surpluses to shortchange the government as well as relying on ministerial circulars over and above the Constitution and FRA 2007 as passed by the National Assembly. He also lampooned the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation for not being firm on collecting the operational surplus hanging in those agencies.

According to him; “The reconciliation done so far by the Office of Accountant General of the Federation is in excess of over a trillion naira going to like N2tRn thereabout and these monies are still hanging in the hand of these agencies.

“We’ve asked Office of Accountant General that what are they doing to get the money into the government coffer. We discovered that they’re giving them a payment notice without necessarily following up this process.

“We’ve noticed that the so-called 80% of operational surplus we’re referenced to, many of these agencies proved frivolous expenditure and they’ve taken advantage of the current system and refuse to remit this amount as at when due.”

While responding, the minister, however, acknowledged that in recent times, there had be noticeable increase in revenue from agencies directed paid into the CRF.

She said the executive was scrutinizing the application of the template of calculating and deducting operating surpluses by agencies of government to ensure that the right amount were paid to the government.

Insecurity Will Lead To Food Shortage In 2021, AFAN Warns

By
Ola Akinola
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The National President of
All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN), Arc Kabir Ibrahim, has warned that the current high level of insecurity plaguing the country will lead to food shortage in 2021.

Ibrahim in a statement entitled “The Nexus between Insecurity and Food Security: AFAN Experience,” he lamented that every part of the country is currently grappling with its own form of insecurity.

He noted that the most vulnerable segment of the society bearing the brunt of the insecurity is the small holder farmers (SHFs), who are the engine room of food production in Nigeria.

According to him, “The aggregate food production by the SHFs is the bedrock on which the food system rests in Nigeria, therefore extreme care should be taken to offer them the necessary protection to continue the assiduous work to feed the nearly 200 million mouths in Nigeria today.

“The farmers cannot readily access their farms in the North East, North West and a good part of the North Central which constitute the food basket of the country, so it is absolutely necessary to secure the farmlands and the farmers who work on the land.

“The incidents of burning of police stations in the South East, the
farmer/herder conflicts in the South West and the kidnappings and general insecurity in the South South portend food shortage in the whole nation in 2021 and this therefore calls for concerted effort from all and sundry, government most of all.

“For Nigeria to avoid the impending fragility and national catastrophe’, the insecurity situation occasioned by Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping and the IPOB menace has to be tackled decisively.

He continued; “The Armed forces are clearly overstretched in this fight going by the spread of the insecurity all over the country.

“It is now everybody’s responsibility to make the country livable by securing the nooks and crannies of the nation through improvisations and even disruptive innovation where needed!”

Commenting on the recent release of Annual Flood Outlook by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency(NIHSA), Ibrahim advised that farmers should be educated on the best methods to adopt to mitigate the effect of flooding in the food system.

“The effect of flooding during the 2020 farming season going by the experience of Kebbi, Jigawa and Anambra States could be very threatening to the food system so a deliberate effort should be put in place to mitigate a reoccurrence as predicted by NIMET and the Directorate of hydrological Services of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

“Farmers should be incentivised to do three cropping seasons in most of the flood prone areas to make up for the shortfall sprouting from the perennial flooding.

“The resettlement of farmers and providing them with good inputs and finance will go along way to improve food production in order to be able to mitigate food insecurity,” he explained.

Speaking on the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) initiative in the implementation of Anchors Borrowers Programme (ABP), he advised that “ABP should be properly and carefully managed by making sure that the real farmers are supported instead of the rumors making the rounds that some fraudulent people are round tripping the so-called surplus produce to make it look like the APB is succeeding.

According to him, “Given the level of the CBN investment in agriculture and the availability of food in Nigeria is clearly far less than the investment so far, especially,judging from the skyrocketing food prices across the whole nation,” he counseled that the national food system should be coordinated as an emergency to avert imminent collapse and crushing fragility.

“It is necessary to take due cognisance of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security but we must note that food insecurity is a more devastating factor to our survival!

“New managers of the food system are desired to make Nigeria food sufficient now,” he said.

FCT State Minister Mourns Sheikh Muhammadu Alkali

By
Toyin Adebayo
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… Condoles Family, Yobe Govt, Fika Emirates, Others

Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, has expressed deep sadness over the death of a Muslim scholar, educationist and a seasoned administrator, Sheikh Alh. Muhammadu Alkali, the Sarkin Malaman Masaurautan Fika and Yobe’s Chief Imam.

She also extends her deepest condolences to the immediate family, Government of Yobe State, Fika Emirate Council and the people of Fika Emirate over the demise of the Islamic cleric.

Aliyu, in a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja by her SA Media, Mr Austine Elemue described Late Sheikh Muhammadu Alkali, described as a revered scholar of Islām who never relent in his effort towards Da’awah works, also noted his immense contributions in the establishment of Government schools through the defunct Universal Primary Education (UPE) Scheme, in Plateau province, Gwoza, Madagali, Mandara, Biu, Chibok and beyond.

The minister in her condolence message said she was saddened over the death of the Muslim scholar, educationist, super permanent secretary and a seasoned administrator, noting that the vacuum his death has created would be hard to fill.

“The Late Sheikh Muhammadu Alkali, was a true scholar who served his students and the people of Fika Emirate with love and distinction.

“My deepest sympathies to the Government and people of Yobe State, Fika Emirate Council and the people of Fika Emirate, for this great loss. May ALLAH put him in a special place from where he will be watching us, the people who loved and cherished him. They say there is nothing so kindly as kindness, and nothing so royal as truth. These are the very few qualities of the Late Sheikh.

“I take solace therefore in the belief that death can never take a good man away from the hearts of the people he inspired, the legacy remains and continue throughout generations. He was a great cleric and father to many,” the message reads in parts.

The Minister therefore, pray that the Almighty ALLAH grants him Aljanna Firdaus and the family, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Experts Decry Abuja Residents’ Apathy Towards COVID-19 Vaccination , As Only 96,559 Has Been vaccinated

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

…Says Exercise To End 14th Of May

Almost Two months into the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination exercise in the nation’s capital , some medical experts have decried the apathy towards the exercise, that has resulted in low coverage of eligible persons especially in the rural areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to the experts, this foretell dangers to the well-being of the entire population of the nation’s capital, in the wake of the prevailing devastating effects of the pandemic to the society.

Saying, available statistics as at May 6, 2021, revealed that a total of 96,559 have been successfully been vaccinated during the first round of the COVID-19 vaccination exercise which is expected to end this Friday, May 14.

Speaking to this, the Programme Officer, Immunization Services in FCT, Mrs. Salome Tor, however, described as unfortunate that there is so much apathy towards the COVID-19 vaccination especially among rural dwellers in the FCT.

Tor spoke while giving the FCT COVID-19 vaccine accountability profile at a one-day media orientation workshop on the exercise, organised by the FCT Primary Healthcare Development Board, in Abuja.

According to her, “As at May 5, 2021, there is 104,700 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at the FCT cold store, as balance of the 123,700 received for the exercise in Abuja.

” The exercise has been ongoing for about two months now, no death have been recorded, but only 47 mild and 2 severe (those with rashes) reactions were recorded.

“We have a minimum of three health workers in each team, they have all been distributed into the six area council, all the government hospitals in the FCT are selected location for this vaccination.

“We also have temporary fixed post team; these are special teams who visit various organisations or special location. We urge people to go and vaccinate before the exercise closes,” she stated.

According to the programme officer of the vaccination programme, those eligible for the vaccine are 18 years old and above in the Territory.

Also, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, cautioned that deliberately avoiding vaccination posed imminent dangers to everyone in the nation’s capital.

Ndaeyo noted that FCT Administration is working toward making sure that 80 per cent of people in a community gets vaccinated to have immunity over the virus.

According to him , “We need at least seven out of 10 people to be vaccinated to be able to withstand the SARS 2 virus of COVID-19.

“I consider that as a deliberate hazard that will become hazardous to the community, so we advice that people shouldn’t put themselves in that position, they should go ahead and take the vaccine.

“We started this vaccination in FCT on March 15, the country at large started it on March 5, we have not seen anybody with serious complains about the vaccine in FCT.

“Why are people waiting, they should go ahead and take this vaccine in the health facility within the 62 wards of the FCT, the vaccine is safe.”

Similarly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Consultant to FCT healthcare board, Abdulrasheed Jimoh, stressed the need for the media to help develop attitudinal change in the mind of the public about COVID-19 and the vaccine.

He, therefore, urged members of the public to do away with myths and lies about COVID-19 vaccine.

NAFDAC Sensitises Micro, Small, Medium Scale Entrepreneurs On Product Registration, Value Addition

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

                                            

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has begun a nationwide sensitization campaign on product registration and value addition for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise operators across the country.

thye Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye reiterated the critical role MSMEs play in the nation’s economy. while speaking at a one-day sensitization campaign on MSMEs registration and product value addition organized by the Agency in collaboration with Yobe State government in Damaturu.

Adeyeye who was represented by the NAFDAC Zonal Director, North-East, Dr Bukar Usman mni, said that the Federal Government had identified MSMEs as very critical to the economy of the nation.

She said; ‘’Therefore, the Agency, whose mandate is to register some of these products, decided to embark on sensitization across the country’’, Prof Adeyeye was quoted as saying in a statement signed by NAFDAC Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola on Sunday in Abuja.

‘’NAFDAC considers Yobe State as an excellent partner in executing our mandate in the state, which is why we are here to sensitize and educate these entrepreneurs on the basic tips, clues and easiest way to register their products, so that they can add value to commodities, especially agricultural commodities, without compromising quality and safety of the products,’’ she said.

Adeyeye further explained that value addition entailed transforming or converting raw materials into finished or semi-finished products, while maintaining product quality, adding that at the end of the sensitization the Agency hoped to increase the number of people engaged in adding value to their products by registering their products with NAFDAC in order to safeguard the health of the public.

The NAFDAC DG maintained that this would have a multiplier effect on the individual families, on the economy of the communities and also the state as a whole by improving its internally generated revenue IGR.

Adeyeye urged over 700 participating micro, small and medium scale entrepreneurs, and scores of groups at the event to always deal with the agency directly in getting their products registered, as opposed to going through various consultants and middlemen.

She explained that consultants and middlemen have been the reason for the increasing problems and high cost of registration, faced by the MSMEs in easily getting their products registered.

“Part of the problem we have had in the past regarding high registration costs is due to interactions of MSMEs with consultants hence, we urge them to deal directly with the agency,” Adeyeye said.

In his remarks, Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni described the sensitization as part of the recovery process from the destructive activities of Boko Haram in the state.

Buni said the state government partnered the Agency so as to extend the reach of locally produced goods to market both within and outside the country.

Ogun Nets N21bn IGR In Q1, Eyes N30 Billion In Second Quarter

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

In spite of the decline in its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) last year due to the effects of COVID-19, Ogun State Government raked in N21 billion in the first quarter of this year.

Governor Dapo Abiodun disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the state has perfected plans to generate over N100 billion in 2021.

Abiodun spoke at a special Iftar (breaking of fast) with members of the House of Representatives, House of Assembly, State Executive Council, and the Body of Permanent Secretaries. He stressed that his administration was committed to putting the state on a strong financial and economic footing through creative governance.

The governor said the dip in the state’s IGR in 2020 was due to drop in earnings from the Pay As You Earn (PAYE), tax incentives given to industries in the state, and lack of revenue from the education sector.

He said the target for the second quarter of 2021 was N30 billion.

Abiodun said, “Our IGR dipped in 2020 and there are some reasons for that – there was no Pay As You Earn (PAYE) for us during the COVID-19 period, we gave incentives to industries because they couldn’t work during that period, and because we are the education capital of the country, a lot of our IGR was coming from the tertiary institutions and because there were no students in schools, the revenue did not come in.

Let me tell you what the good news is, the good news is that first quarter of 2021, we already got N21 billion.

“Last year, we did N58 billion, so we’ve already gotten half of what we got last year in one quarter. This present quarter, we will do at least N30 billion, and by the end of this year, by the grace of God, we will do over N100 billion in Ogun State.”

The governor added that his administration discovered that Land Use Charge was not being paid in the state, stressing that it inherited a database of 14,000 people from the previous administration. He said the discovery led his administration to put in place mechanisms, which had helped the state to realise a database of Land Use Charge for over 1.5 million people. “This will translate into a lot for our administration,” he stated.

Abiodun stated that his administration would soon launch Ogun State Land Administration and Management System (OLAS) to help residents of the state who had built on government property to come and regularise their papers.

“That system using ICT, we are going to ensure that all those that have built, we are starting with government owned property alone, all those that have built on government property will have to come and regularise their papers,” he said, adding, “We are not talking about those that built on any other land, we are talking of government land alone, so we bring them in to regularise their papers.”

Commenting on the state of the nation and the intended reversal of the new minimum wage by some states, the governor said his administration, being one of the first to sign the minimum wage into law, was committed to the continuous payment of the new wage to its workforce.

He stated, “Not only did we implement it, my colleagues are now reversing the minimum wage because they can’t pay it. Some of my colleagues have even asked me if I am sure I can keep on paying the minimum wage, I told them that Ogun State is not like other states, that in Ogun State, we have to keep on paying the wage.

So, I am committing to the very excellent public service that I have that I will continue to pay the minimum wage.”

Abiodun urged members of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to democratically put their best candidates forward at the forthcoming local government elections in the state. He assured that everything would be done in consonance with the principles of democracy.

COVID-19: Nigeria Faces High Risk As Ruthless South Africa Variant Hits Ghana, Togo, 21 Others, WHO

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The B.1.351 variant of the coronavirus, first found in South Africa, is spreading in 23 African countries, the World Health Organisation has said.

Speaking in an interview the WHO Regional Virologist, Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, noted that the strain presented the same symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, and breathing difficulty, among others, regular with the original COVID-19.

Gumede-Moeletsi also listed the affected Africa countries to include Kenya, Cameroon, Cote D’ ívoire, Malawi, Mauritius, Togo, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Ghana, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea, Seychelles and Tanzania.

The Nigerian Medical Association and health experts have, however, called for caution among Nigerians and the Federal Government as the strain hit neighbouring countries.

She said, “The symptoms for any variant or even the original coronavirus are still the same; cough, headache, fever etc. They are still the same as we know from the beginning of the pandemic.’’

Gumede-Moeletsi noted that social distancing, hand washing and wearing of face masks were recommended as preventive measures to curb the spread of the variant in the affected countries.

“The cases have decreased in South Africa. It indicates that the country has managed to contain the virus. There is a decrease in the number of hospitalisations and severe cases. The country is doing a tremendous job in controlling the spread of this particular strain.’’

Earlier, The WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, said during a virtual press conference during the week facilitated by the APO Group that new variants placed the continent at risk of a third wave.

He said, “The B.1.617 variant that was first found in India has been reported in at least one African country. The B.1.351 strain, first found in South Africa, is spreading in 23 African countries and the B1.1.7 strain, first found in the United Kingdom, has been found in 20 countries

With new variants circulating, low vaccination levels, population fatigue in adhering to preventive measures, and easing of restrictions, the conditions are present for a resurgence. The tragedy in India does not have to happen in Africa, but we must all be on the highest possible alert. Governments must maintain strong surveillance and detection systems, reassess and bolster their treatment capacities, step up the supply of critical medicines, including medical oxygen and ensure there are enough beds for severely ill patients.”

Insecurity : Umahi Says Southeast Fighting Two Wars Simultaneously

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

The Chairman of South East Governor’s Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has said that the people of the zone are fighting two separate wars.

Umahi made this known on Saturday in Abakiliki on the 7th day which marked the last day of the fasting and praying declared by the Christians Association Of Nigerian (CAN) Ebonyi State chapter aimed to seek the face of God towards resolving the security challenges in the state and country at large.

He said the two wars in the east are the killings of security operatives by the yet to be identified group and the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (lPOB).

The governor stressed that the actors behind the mayhem facing security operatives hijacked the ‘geninue’ agenda of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Umahi, who distanced himself from the secession course of IPOB, said: “So we have brought war against ourselves, now it is two different agenda that are being fought for in the south-east and our people are pretending, we have brought war on ourselves.
“The people that started this thing no longer has the control.

“Again, why are we killing security agencies? Why are we burning down police stations?

“The genuine agitations minus secession which started by a group of people has been hijacked.

He continued; “And if we don’t know, most of the security people that they are killing are from South East.

“And we say that they are being perpetrated from outside, [that] is not true.

“It is our people that are burning down the police stations, killing security agencies, snatching their guns, doing armed robbery and cultism.”

Islamic Council Tells Muslims To Look For Shawwal Moon Tuesday

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

,

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged Muslims across the country to look for the new moon of Shawwal on Tuesday.

The Deputy Secretary-General, NSCIA, Prof. Salisu Shehu, said this on Saturday in a statement made available to newsmen

The statement reads in parts , “Following the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the crescent of Shawwal should be searched for on Tuesday, 11 May 2021 equivalent to 29 Ramadan, 1442 AH.

“In preparation for the 1442 AH ‘Idul-Fitri celebrations, the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC) of the NSCIA has advised the President-General that the crescent of Shawwal should be searched for on Tuesday, 11th May 2021 equivalent to 29 Ramadan, 1442 AH.

“If the crescent is actually sighted by informed persons on Tuesday night and His Eminence is so advised by the experts, he would address the Press to declare Wednesday, 12 May 2021 as the first day of Shawwal (‘Id day).

“If, however, the crescent is not sighted on Tuesday night, Thursday, 13 May 2021 automatically becomes the first of Shawwal, 1442 AH (‘Id day).

“A press statement to that effect would be issued on Tuesday night,” Shehu said.

He, therefore, urged Muslims across the country to be on the lookout for the directive of the Sultan on the completion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

Police, Vigilante Group, Rescue 13 Kidnap Victims In Edo

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

The Operatives of the Edo State Police Command Saturday rescued
Thirteen kidnapped people from kidnappers den in Ahor bypass along Benin-Auchi road, Edo State.

It was gathered that the rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with local hunters and members of the Edo State Vigilante Security Network.

The victims were reportedly kidnapped on Thursday while travelling from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State, and Onitsha, Anambra State.

Speaking to newsmen in Benin, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu, said the command deployed drones and were assisted by hunters and members of the Vigilante in the operation.

He said the police acted on the information provided to track the kidnappers, adding that the officers took the courage to enter the forest for the successful rescue operation.

He said the police have identified up to seven kidnappers’ camps in the area, adding that they were going to carry out general combing of the areas so as to identify more of such in the forest and prevent the kidnappers from using the forest for their nefarious activities.

Ogbadu urged residents in the area to always provide relevant information about the activities of the kidnappers to the authorities, noting that the kidnappers always go to the communities to buy food and also interact with the people.

According to him, the rescued victims were taken to Magnus Eweka Police Cottage Hospital for thorough medical examinations before they will be handed over to the state government to assist them to proceed to their destinations.

Ogbadu assured that the command will carry out regular patrols and mount checkpoints along the road to dissuade criminal elements on the road.

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