News
AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:
AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:
- President Tinubu Taking Wise, Statesmanly Decisions – Assures VP Shettima
- Lists subsidy removal, other policies as options taken to save Nigeria
- Says nation’s economy will witness positive changes after the sacrifices
By: Our Reporter
Again, Vice President Kashim Shettima has implored Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he steers the ship of state through the economic turbulence and storm he met on ground on assumption of office.
“Soon, Nigeria’s economy will experience significant growth once we’ve overcome these sacrifices. Positive changes will soon be evident across all economic indicators – inflation, per capita income, GDP numbers, poverty reduction, food security, and all aspects close to the hearts of our people,” he declared.
Senator Shettima made the appeal on Thursday during the 2nd Chronicle Roundtable organized by 21st Century Media Services, publishers of 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE, as part of its public service enlightenment series, at Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja.
The Vice President who was the Guest Speaker at the roundtable explained some key policy decisions taken by the Tinubu administration as well as its Economic and Social Agenda, including the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, which he described as the ‘biggest elephant in the room’ before President Tinubu took charge.
Appealing for patience and time to address the serious challenges he said they met on ground, especially the nation’s ailing economy which was already tottering towards an eclipse, Shettima said, “We look forward to the positive impact on the economy that will be brought by some of our new initiatives in the oil and gas sector, creative arts sector, the newly rejigged steel and solid minerals sectors, our housing sector, the blue economy, and the digital sectors, to mention but a few.
“There is no doubt that there’s a time to plant and a time to reap. In between those times, we appeal for patience and seek collective sacrifice from all, especially from us. We wish there were a way to treat this ailment without surgery”.
While delivering his speech titled, “Because These Shortcuts Are Not The Right Ways,” the VP noted that though the decision to remove fuel subsidy was quite tough considering its negative impact on the lives of the citizens, it became an inevitable option when it was discovered that the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari did not make provision for it in the 2023 budget.
He explained: “His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, chose the option that would save the life of the nation, instead of one that would merely prolong its imminent and predicted economic death. Before we took charge, the biggest elephant in the room was the question of fuel subsidy removal.
“We understood why our predecessor made the decision to remove it and refused to budget for it in their final fiscal year. The year before we took office, Nigeria’s debt service-to-revenue ratio had grown to 111.8%. The anticipated debt crisis may sound like fancy economic jargon to the man on the street, but you and I are in a better position to understand how such miscalculations have played out in other countries. It’s an economic death sentence.
“In plain terms, our debt servicing was such that if you earned, say, N100,000, the entirety of the money wasn’t only paid to your debtor; you were forced to borrow an additional N11,800 to pay the debtor. How do you intend to survive this, and how many more loans before you become a pariah?
“We are not even discussing the nation’s budget deficits, diversions of resources from critical sectors of the economy, and corruption masterminded in the subsidy regime.”
Acknowledging that government is a continuum, the VP said whoever had “succeeded the previous government would have either chosen to steer the ship through the storm as President Tinubu is doing or jumped ship and let the country implode.”
He observed that those who contested the presidency with President Tinubu did not feel morally justified to question the decision to remove fuel subsidy because it was part of the solutions they also tabled before Nigerians.
“This was because, whether in handling the subsidy matter or the forex crisis, they had also promised the solutions we had adopted. Those who attempted to eat their words were instantly proven wrong by data, history, and their antecedents—those emotionless reality checkers,” he pointed out.
Senator Shettima regretted that for long Nigeria had endured economic sabotage, leading to the resolve by Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Yemi Cardoso, and the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, “to take matters into their hands to neutralise the overpowering influence of currency manipulators who had conspired to frustrate our reforms.
“Today, I stand proud to say that their interventions have translated into desired results, and Naira’s pushback against all odds is an inspiring journey that doesn’t have to be learned in Buenos Aires, as some would want us to do,” he added.
Earlier in his opening remarks, chairman of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and former Finance Minister, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, praised the content of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration, describing it as one of the most detailed and carefully crafted policy document in the history of the country.
He stressed the need for the Renewed Hope Agenda document to be reviewed and integrated into the medium and long-term development framework of the country, noting that policy consistency with a long-term vision to transform critical sectors of the economy, is the way to go.
Dr Usman also commended the administration’s establishment of a central coordination delivery unit to track the performance of programmes, policies and key interventions of the Federal Government, insisting that the monitoring of key performance indicators in the policy document was critical to the success of the government.
On his part, the CEO of 2nd Chronicle Newspaper, Malam Mahmud Jega had while welcoming guests to the event, said the need to critically analyse government policies and programmes was not just an expectation from the media but indeed borne out of the necessity to collectively contribute in shaping the nation’s development trajectory.
Also present at the event were the Minister of Information, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed; Chairman of 21st Century Chronicle, Amb. Gbara Awanen; notable leaders in the media industry, Dr Ishaq Moddibo Kawu; Mallam Garba Shehu; Mr Segun Adeniyi, and Malam Mahmud Jega, among others.
AT 2ND CHRONICLE ROUNDTABLE:
Cattle Readers Association moves to sensitize farmers, pastoralists in Yobe
By: Yahaya Wakili
The National President of the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Hon. Khalil Muhammed Bello, together with some zonal and state officials of the association, has embarked on a house-to-house sensitization tour between farmers and pastoralists across Yobe State.
In continuation of the tour, the National President and his entourage stormed at Machina Emir’s palace to notify the royal father of the importance of the peace mission and seek emir support for the success of the exercise within the emirate.
Hon. Khalil Muhammed Bello informs the emir that the association is a body purposely registered and formed to eradicate any form of misunderstanding and wanton conflict between farmers and pastoralists in Nigeria.
“It is in line with this that the association began the onerous task mission of sensitizing farmers and pastoralists in Yobe State on the importance of living in peace.” Bello said.
He commends His Royal Highness, the Emir of Machina, for his relentless efforts towards ensuring peace and harmony between the diverse ethnic groups of the emirate.
In his response, the Emir of Machina, Alhaji Dr. Bashir Al-Bashir Bukar Machinama, commends the National President of Kulen Allah for initiating the house-to-house sensitization of Yobe state farmers and pastoralists on the importance of peace.
“Peace is paramount in every human settlement, hence the need for all hands to be on deck towards propagating the peace” Bashir Machina said.
He assured that the emirate would continue to do its best to strengthen peace within his domain.
The emir urges the leadership of Kulen Allah to fully sensitize both farmers and pastoralists to the need to live in peace with one another, because nothing would be achieved without peace anywhere in the world.
The National President strongly commended Governor Mai Mala Buni CON, Chiroman Gujba, for encouraging and supporting the exercise under reference and called on federal and all northern governors to emulate Governor Buni towards promoting peace and unity between their state pastoralists and farmers.
Hon. Khalil Muhammed Bello presented a later appointment as State Patron to the Emir of Machina, Alhaji Bashir Al-Bashir Bukar Machinama.
Cattle Readers Association moves to sensitize farmers, pastoralists in Yobe
ECOWAS Court Dismisses NGO’s Claims of Rights Violations by the Nigerian Government
By: Michael Mike
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has dismissed the claims of human rights violations brought by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that asked the Court to hold the Federal Republic of Nigeria liable for breaching its international obligation to protect human rights.
Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, Judge Rapporteur who delivered the judgment on Thursday said the Court dismissed all claims of rights violations due to lack of facts and evidence in support of the allegations, and ordered the NGO to pay a nominal cost of N100,000 to the Nigerian government.
The initiating application with suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/40/21 was filed on 22 July 2021 by The Registered Trustees of HEDA (Human and Environmental Development Agenda) Resource Centre, a registered NGO focused on anti-corruption, and non-partisan human rights and development in Nigeria.
The suit was premised on alleged failure of Nigeria to guarantee the rights to life, dignity of the human person, physical and mental health, and right to healthy environment for Nigerians particularly those residing in the oil producing areas of Nigeria.
Relying on Articles 1, 4, 5, 16 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the Counsel representing the NGO claimed that despite the prohibition of gas flaring by an Act of government “Association of Gas Reinjection Act of 1979, gas flaring persisted, thereby exposing the people living in the oil producing areas to hazards including cancer, lung damage, deformities in children and skin problems.
He further claimed that environmental pollution from gas flaring contributed to global warming and climate change, adding that Nigeria’s failure to tackle it, has resulted in damaging effects on lives, the environment and monetary loss.
The NGO asked the Court to declare the continuous gas flaring in Nigeria as illegal and a gross violation of fundamental rights, and that the Nigerian government is obliged to stop gas flaring in Nigeria. It also demanded orders of the Court compelling the government to enforce gas flaring regulations against defaulters, and direct it to collect fines from defaulters.
In response, the State of Nigeria denied all the claims made by the NGO. The Counsel for the Respondent averred that the claims lacked facts and evidence, and were baseless, and urged the Court to dismiss them.
In its findings, the Court noted that the Respondent adduced proof of updated laws on regulation of the petroleum industry and other implementation measures taken to improve the environment in oil producing area and decrease gas flaring. It also noted that the NGO did not counter the submissions of the Respondent concerning its efforts to protect host communities.
As a matter of fact, the Court observed the failure of the NGO to provide any evidence supporting its claim of loss of lives, breach of the right to dignity of the human person, breach of right to physical and mental health, and lack of provision of a healthy environment owing to gas flaring. The Court therefore dismissed the claims for lack of proof.
Also on the panel were Justice Dupe Atoki and Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Gonçalves.
ECOWAS Court Dismisses NGO’s Claims of Rights Violations by the Nigerian Government
UNICEF , NEMA Task Northeast States on Risk Analysis and Emergency Preparedness
By Francis Okoye
The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund ( UNICEF ) and the National Emergency Management ( NEMA Agency has tasked the states of North East on risk analysis and emergency preparedness.
Speaking yesterday during the launching of a 3-day exercise to develop contingency planning for Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states against emergency responses and risk analysis, UNICEF’s Emergency Manager, Andrea Malatesta, said the goal of the exercise is to enhance disaster response and preparedness, alleviating suffering in crisis-affected populations and communities.
He said the exercise aims to identify major risks and develop planning for better response and preparedness, focusing on various disasters including outbreaks, natural hazards like flooding and heavy rainfall.
He noted that the expected outcomes include three contingency plans, one for each state, which will be integrated into national contingency planning.
He explained the importance of preparedness and contingency planning for effective and efficient response. “This exercise aims to support communities in becoming better prepared and more resilient.
“By developing integrated plans aligning with national contingency plans, UNICEF strengthens disaster response and enhances the ability to respond to emergencies in the region,” Malatesta said.
Also speaking, the North-East’s Acting Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency, Surajo Garba, said the purpose of the contingency plan is to prepare for and respond to potential disasters, such as flooding, which can lead to diseases like malaria and cholera.
He mentioned that the plan aims to reduce the impact of disasters by identifying risks, developing response techniques, and engaging with local communities.
“The program is supported by headquarters and includes sensitization programs, jingles, identification of higher grounds, and mapping of local government areas.
“The team has been working with traditional rulers, government officials, and other stakeholders to raise awareness and distribute educational materials translated into different languages.The goal is to empower communities to prepare for and respond to disasters effectively.”
In his remark, the Secretary of Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mohammed Lawan Sheriff, said the workshop aims to enhance emergency response by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among ministries, departments, and agencies.
The SEMA’s Secretary encourages active participation, collaboration, and insight sharing among attendees to create a comprehensive and coordinated emergency response system.
He expresses gratitude to UNICEF and SEMA for their commitment to emergency preparedness and response, acknowledging their partnership and support in making the workshop possible.
UNICEF , NEMA Task Northeast States on Risk Analysis and Emergency Preparedness
Cattle Readers Association moves to sensitize farmers, pastoralists in Yobe
ECOWAS Court Dismisses NGO’s Claims of Rights Violations by the Nigerian Government
UNICEF , NEMA Task Northeast States on Risk Analysis and Emergency Preparedness
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