National News

Killings: Lawmakers knock Buhari, President meets security chiefs

Published

2 years ago

July 29, 2022

Killings: Lawmakers knock Buhari, President meets security chiefs

The opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly on Thursday said there was no going back on their plan to impeach the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, if he failed to resolve the insecurity in the country within six weeks.

The lawmakers, consisting of the Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressives Grand Alliance members, contended that insecurity had reached the peak under Buhari’s regime.

They spoke about the same time that the President was meeting the nation’s security chiefs under the auspices of the National Security Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

This happened as bandits again raided Pinau village in the Wase Local Government of Plateau state and killed six persons.

But restating their six-week ultimatum to the President at a press briefing in Abuja, the opposition lawmakers said they were tired of the worsening insecurity in the country and could no longer keep quiet over the state of the nation.

Addressing journalists after a closed-door session, the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu said they were ready to fight the President ‘tooth and nail until the insecurity issues had been resolved.’

Elumelu said, “They (Senators) have given six to eight weeks for Mr. President to address the insecurity that is, of course, affecting this nation, and I want to also join on behalf of my colleagues, also to say that upon the expiration, we will proffer ways of ensuring that we will gather all the signatures.”

Buttressing his Senate colleagues, Elumelu said that the ultimatum was beyond the issue of the opposition party but a unanimous agreement between the lawmakers.

He said, “And let me make it clear. Those who are thinking that it is only the issue of the PDP or the minority caucus, no. Many of our colleagues under the bipartisanship are affected. Many of them are affected. So, they may not be speaking but we may be speaking for them. And when the time comes, everyone will come out.”

Elumelu also responded to the comment by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu on Wednesday night where he described the impeachment threat as “performative and babyish antics”, stating that time would show the President the reality.

Elumelu said, “I heard somebody this morning saying it is a laughable attempt. Perhaps, when the action starts, the person will find out that it’s not a laughable action. It’s real and we will not stand to allow this nation to collapse. We think that it is high time the insecurity of this nation is addressed.

“The nation has been awash with what happened yesterday (Wednesday) in the Senate where our colleagues had to walk out in protest as to the state of the nation as regards to the issue of insecurity in the nation. Concurrently, even though we did not do it exactly the way they did it, we also drew the House attention as to what is happening in Nigeria, most importantly in FCT.’’

Elumelu further lamented that the problems of the country were too enormous and if they didn’t rise to the occasion, the nation was on the verge of collapsing.

He said, “ And of course, we also have the issue of oil theft which has risen, now making it difficult for us to earn income from oil revenue.

“And these and many others are the reasons we are joining our colleagues in the Senate to ask Mr. President to address the insecurity of this nation within six and eight weeks. Otherwise, we will find the constitutional means to ensure that we serve him an impeachment notice.’’

Senate Minority leader

Earlier, the Senate Minority leader, Philip Aduda also noted that they were not rescinding their decision to impeach the president if he failed to meet their demands.

He said, “Our actions yesterday (Wednesday) were spontaneous from the issues that were raised on the floor of the Senate. I am sure that members of the press must have interacted with our various colleagues to know that this issue is not just about the PDP caucus but it is a bipartisan issue.

“We all agreed that the security architecture is failing and there is a need to salvage it immediately and we also agreed that we must issue; for some who do not know, the issue is to issue an impeachment notice to the President because the primary responsibility of the government is the protection of lives of the citizens. Once that is not done, then, there is a problem.”

The senator further said that they had invited their colleagues at the house to further explain things to them and know where they stand on the issue.

Also, the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, Gershom Bassey, said that they were committed to ending the security issues in the country, and if the President didn’t solve the challenges, they wouldn’t have a choice but to use the constitution.

“This six-week (ultimatum) is just the last straw; we have been giving this recommendation, motions, and budgetary support since 2018. We have been talking about insecurity since 2017,’’ he noted.

Also, the lawmaker representing Osun East Senatorial district, Senator Francis Fadahunsi said that the senators including some from the ruling party, had agreed on serving the impeachment notice but some people were still trying to serve their personal interest and were resisting the decision of the Senate.

The PUNCH on Wednesday reported that Senator Smart Adeyemi of Kogi West, Senator Bulkachuwa Muhammed of Bauchi North and Senators are the APC senators who have openly declared their support for the President’s impeachment.

Plateau attack

Confirming the latest bandit attack, residents of Pinau community said the hoodlums arrived in the area around 3:pm on Wednesday, shooting sporadically, which led to the death of the six persons while many others were injured.

Garba Kasuwa, who escaped the attack, said the bandits came in large numbers on motorcycles carrying heavy guns.

He said “Before the arrival of the bandits, hundreds of residents of the community had already fled because of the fear of being attacked and that is why the casualty figure is not much. The few ones that remained, some were killed; about six of them. The bandits on arrival asked people to lock themselves in their rooms.

“They broke our shops and stole food items and other properties. They also kidnapped some people. The situation is pathetic.”

The Spokesman for the Military Taskforce, Operation Safe Haven in charge of maintaining peace in the state, Major Ishaku Takwa, however, said that troops of the taskforce had been deployed in the community to restore calm.

Before the attack , the residents of the community had raised the alarm over their safety following the withdrawal of soldiers from the area, a development that forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes to neighbouring villages.

“I will call you later on the incident because I’m right now in a meeting with the Force PPRO”, the police public relations officer of the Plateau state command ,Alabo Alfred told The PUNCH in Jos, when contacted.

In a related development, the Defence Headquarters has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, not to panic on account of the terrorist attack on the Presidential Brigade Guards on Sunday in which eight personnel were killed.

The incident led to the hasty closure of schools by the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, sparking apprehension among residents.

But speaking at the bi-weekly briefing on troops’ activities on Thursday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Bernard Onyeuko claimed 30 terrorists were killed during the attack on the troops.

He added, ”Troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Force Battalion in conjunction with the air component of ‘Operation Whirl Punch’ conducted a clearance patrol around Bwari general area between 24 – 26 July 2022. Troops successfully cleared Kawu and Ido villages.

“Consequently, about 30 terrorists were neutralized and their enclave and hideout destroyed. Ground troops also recovered six motorcycles, two AK47 rifles, one fully loaded LMG magazine, amongst others, during the mop up.”

Reacting to allegations that troops were benefiting from the ransoms paid by abducted victims, the Director, Defence Information Major General Jimmy Akpor said the military high command was unaware of the development.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria in Bwari area council, Titus Awyebemye, killed during the attack on the presidential Guards Brigade has been buried on Thursday.

CAN warns

Also, the outgoing President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, has admonished the President to holistically address the security challenges in the country.

Ayokunle, who stated this during a valedictory church service held in his honour in Abuja on Thursday, stressed that the insecurity in the country was no longer a child’s play.

Commenting on the security situation, the presidential candidate of the PDP and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has assured the people of Zamfara State that rescue is on the way.

The National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd), while speaking with journalists after the National Security Council meeting, said the President and the security agents were aware of the dire security challenges facing the country.

Monguno said, “We are in a very difficult situation and the Council understands. Mr President understands people’s concerns about the growing insecurity. But I can assure you that there’s no straight cut and dried method of dealing with this thing unless all of us embrace each other.

“I know people are weary, people are tired, people are beginning to gravitate to other places for self-help. The truth is that help is rooted in everyone working for the other person.”

According to him, the Security Council has agreed on new strategies to curtail the menace, assuring Nigerians that there will be a renewed momentum against terrorism.

He explained: “Again, the members of the armed forces have made a commitment that in the coming weeks, they have already started working on a new strategy to deal with these snippets of violence.

“And they’ve given their word, their commitment to the President that there will be a change in momentum, regardless of the fact that there might be certain institutional limitations which they face. But they understood the enormity of the responsibilities.”

The NSA also revealed that Council will soon conclude its special investigation on the July 5 Kuje Correctional Center attack and would punish those who, by neglect of duty, allowed the massive escape.

“Council is in the process of winding up the Special Investigative Panel on the Kuje incident. And the idea is to come up with recommendations, hold those who are supposed to be held accountable for their deeds and to ensure that this type of thing never ever, ever happens again in this country,” Monguno stated.

Citing last Friday night’s attack on the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army Presidential Guards Brigade, the NSA argued that no country can win an asymmetric warfare without the help of its citizens.

Monguno argued that the casualties could have been avoided if citizens were more generous with information.

PUNCH

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National News

PLANNED PROTESTS: *TAC DG URGES RESTRAINT, SAYS PRESIDENT TINUBU POSSESSES ABILITY TO ADDRESS NATION’S CHALLENGES

Published

9 hours ago

July 26, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

PLANNED PROTESTS: *TAC DG URGES RESTRAINT, SAYS PRESIDENT TINUBU POSSESSES ABILITY TO ADDRESS NATION’S CHALLENGES

By: Michael Mike

Nigerian parents have been called upon to appeal to their wards to desist from participating in any activities that may risk their lives or the lives of others.

Director General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, who made the call, Friday, in Abuja during an interactive session with newsmen, described the planned nationwide protest as an ill-wind that blows no good.

He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to address the current challenges being faced by Nigerians,while also stressing that most of what Nigerians may be considering internal challenges at the moment are actually fallouts of what the entire globe is currently witnessing.

Buba observed that all the current economic and development indices across all areas of life in the country point towards an era of positivity for Nigerians and advised all aggrieved persons to, rather than engage in any form of agitations that may pull the country back from the gains already made by the Tinubu Administration in the past one year, toe the noble path of dialogue.

“It is common knowledge that no progress can be made in a time of chaos.So it beats the imagination why any sane person will at this material time want to resort to protests to make a point.What point if I may ask?

“Nigeria is not an island.We are all witnesses to cost of living crisis across countries of the world,even in the most developed ones.We cannot be completely insulated from such realities being felt in the UK,in the United States, France, Russia,South Africa and such other places.It is not easy anywhere now across the globe; and there are factors that are causing all of this.

“All of these have arisen as a result of the ongoing war in places like Russia and Ukraine,which are major hubs in grain production and distribution.There is also the problem in the Middle East,where the Israeli-Hammas conflicts have snowballed into parts of Lebanon,Iran and the rest of that economically important corridor. You know this is the hub of oil production.Every tension in that area has a serious backlash on the global oil market and on the economy itself generally.Again,I’d like to stress that we are not insulated from any of these global challenges, including the effects of global warming!

“My advice this time is to give His Excellency,Mr President and his lieutenants time and offer the Renewed Hope Agenda the enabling environment and the requisite co-operation needed for the desired results to come.These required results cannot come from any form of disorders or negative eruptions nationwide.I can categorically tell you that the President we know and voted into office is not sleeping on anything concerning Nigeria. He is the father of the nation and no father will sit down and watch his home go into flames.

“Again, it bears repeating here that a period like this must be witnessed before we start to fully enjoy the golden era that awaits Nigeria. Mr President has continued to emphasize this fact. So, we have a group of leaders who know what they are doing and if you ask me, all that they need now from us to succeed are our prayers and goodwill. Protests have never put food on anyone’s table. Instead, what you get is what Kenya is facing today, which should even be a wakeup call for Nigeria as the big-brother country to rise and remain ever peaceful and united. Together, we know we must win.”

The former federal lawmaker, who also revealed the global respect and goodwill, which the President Tinubu Administration has continued to attract for itself for the impactful in-roads being made by the Technical Aid Corps Scheme, using technology transfer and diverse volunteering efforts in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and beyond, said it would be absurd for Nigerians at home to chide an Administration that has in the last one year continued to win notable accolades abroad for the various policy and economic decisions it has brought to bear on the arena of political governance and social sector re-engineering.

PLANNED PROTESTS: *TAC DG URGES RESTRAINT, SAYS PRESIDENT TINUBU POSSESSES ABILITY TO ADDRESS NATION’S CHALLENGES

National News

Tinubu Acknowledges Nigerians High Migration Rate

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Tinubu Acknowledges Nigerians High Migration Rate

By: Michael Mike

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday acknowledged that Nigeria ranks amongst the top 10 countries with most travelled citizens on the globe.

Tinubu while quoting a United Nations figure, recognized the complexity and the scale of migration among Nigerian citizens.

Speaking at the opening of the 2024 National Diaspora Day Celebrations, with the theme “Japa Phenomena and its Implications for National Development,
Tinubu who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, acknowledged the significant contributions of Nigerian citizens living abroad to the country’s development.

The President while citing data, noted that 169 million international migrant workers left their countries of origin primarily to seek work, “with Nigeria having a significant diaspora population.

He added: “Currently, the United Nations ranked Nigeria amongst the top 10 countries with the most international migrants,” even as he shared his personal experience, having lived in the United States before returning to Nigeria.

He appealed to Nigerians in diaspora to bring back their experiences to contribute to national development.

The President highlighted the historical context of migration, from the transatlantic slave trade to the current global mobility competing for talent and skills.

Tinubu identified the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and presidential town hall meetings with diaspora communities, as some of the programmes aimed at engaging the diaspora in national development.

He said that the positive effects of global immigration includes huge remittances of funds to middle-income countries, with Nigeria receiving $21.9 billion in 2023.

The President encouraged Nigerians in diaspora to continue contributing to critical sectors of the economy and commended the Central Bank’s reforms, which have increased Forex and stabilized the currency.

The President also emphasized the importance of Nigerians, both at home and abroad, developing their country and encouraged participation in programmes with tremendous impact.

Speaking earlier, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, revaled that Nigerians in Diaspora remmited about $100 billion from diaspora remittances in the last five years.

Dabiri-Erewa said the contribution of the Diaspora community to national development cannot be over-emphasized.

No fewer than 1,000 participants are expected at the 2-day 2024 diaspora day celebrations.

She said: “Let me also state that the contributions of the Diaspora community to national development cannot be over-emphasized.

“According to the World Bank statistics recently, Nigerian Diaspora has remitted over 99 billion US dollars into the system in the last five years. This is huge and highly commendable.

Dabiri-Erewa stressed that Diaspora is one area that needed to pay more attention to.

She said, “So, this is a sector that we need to pay more attention we haven’t pay attention to it We need to do a lot more. So we have to tap into the enormous resources we have with the diaspora.

“We are still scratching the surface. And that’s what I will say.”

On the much expected diaspora voting bill, she said the Bill which is been sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas has already scaled the first reading, noting that this is a huge plus for the administration.

She said: “It is worthy of note that the long awaited Diaspora Voting, which has been a consistent topic of discussion among the Diaspora community, has now passed the first reading in the Parliament, which is a huge plus for this administration.

“The Bill was sponsored by no other persons than Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdulahi from Kano state. “

Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas said Nigerian Government was committed to Diaspora Elengagement for national development.

Abbas who was represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kalu announced plans to explore ways to grant voting rights to Nigerians in the diaspora, recognizing their relevance to nation-building.

He said a constitutional amendment bill has been presented to the House of Representatives, and the government is committed to making progress on this issue.

The government he said acknowledged the significant contributions of Nigerians in the diaspora to the country’s development, particularly in areas such as education, agriculture, ICT, transportation, and healthcare.

He also expressed gratitude to the diaspora community for their efforts and encouraged them to continue making a positive impact.

On his part, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio acknowledged the brain drain phenomenon, where talented youth seek opportunities abroad.
He therefore stressed the need to create an environment that fosters technological growth and entices skilled professionals to return home.

The National Assembly, he said stands ready to enact necessary laws to support the return of skilled professionals and contribute to the country’s growth
He also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to remain committed to Nigeria’s progress and invest in local initiatives.

The National Diaspora Day 2024 provided a platform for Nigerians in the diaspora to engage with the government and discuss ways to drive national development. The event underscored the government’s commitment to diaspora engagement and its recognition of the community’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s growth.

Tinubu Acknowledges Nigerians High Migration Rate

National News

Lagos Wins State with Best Climate Governance Performance

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Lagos Wins State with Best Climate Governance Performance

By: Michael Mike

Lagos State has been ranked top among the 36 states of the country on Climate Governance Performance.

Gombe States was ranked second with Ebonyi State taking the Number 3 position, both Borno State and Ekiti State jointly ranked fourth.

Oyo, Kano and Zamfara States were ranked 34, 35 and 36 respectively, in the result announced on Thursday in Abuja at an event organised by the Departmentof Climate Change in the Federal Ministry of Environment in conjunction with Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP).

Speaking at the event, the President, SPP, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke decried that Nigeria is ranked as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world even though its contribution to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is minimal, noting that the country is vulnerable due to its complex agroecological zones, burgeoning urban and rural populations, extensive coastlines which is susceptible to sea level rise, and weak climate governance systems.

He added that with its significant impact on health, food security, livelihood, and economic development, climate change is emerging as a hot topic in Nigeria, increasing featuring in national discussions and political debates, noting that Nigerian government is committed to achieving net zero levels 2060 and has initiated some projects at different levels to facilitate the process.

He said: “The effective climate change governance at the subnational level demands the consideration and mainstreaming of climate action into all aspects of government policy-making and development planning. This must be strategically done with clearly set goals and an articulation of the method that will be used to attain the spelt-out goals.”

Okereke disclosed that the template for effective climate governance at the subnational level are vision and objectives, political will, institutional arrangements, policy framework, legal and regulatory framework, climate action plan and policy implementation, financial mechanisms, stakeholders engagement, training and capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, communication and awareness and integration with national and global efforts.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal said “Climate governance at the Sub-National level is essential for several reasons. It is at this level that the impacts of climate change are acutely felt. Lands in coastal communities are devastated by erosion while desertification is rampant in the Northern region of the Country. The Sub-National Governments are often at the forefront of implementing policies and actions that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of the people at the grassroots level, therefore, their role in driving climate action is indispensable.”

He noted that the Sub-National Climate Governance Performance Ranking was more than just a ranking, but a tool for motivation, collaboration, and accountability, adding that: “It highlights the best practices, identifies areas for improvement and fosters a spirit of healthy competition among our States and Local Governments. By celebrating the achievements of the top performers and providing support to those lagging behind, we can collectively elevate our national climate response. The criteria for this ranking are rigorous and comprehensive, reflecting the multifaceted nature of climate governance. The process encompasses policy formulation, implementation effectiveness, stakeholder’s engagement, resource allocation and measurable outcomes. This holistic approach ensures that our assessment is not merely quantitative but also qualitative, capturing the distinction of effective climate governance.”

On his part, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako said: “Nigeria, like many other nations, is experiencing the far-reaching consequences of climate change. From intensified droughts to severe flooding, the impacts are evident across our states, affecting lives, livelihoods, and our natural ecosystems. It is against this backdrop that we must recognize the pivotal role of our subnational governments in climate action.”

He added: “Today’s event is therefore to highlight the commitment of our 36 states and the FCT to climate governance and the strides they have made in implementing policies, strategies, and actions to combat climate change. The Subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking serves as a platform to celebrate these successes, identify areas for improvement, and foster healthy competition that drives progress.

“As we reflect on the results of the ranking that will soon be announced, it is essential to remember that this is not merely an evaluation exercise. It is a call to action, a reminder that climate change requires a collaborative and inclusive approach. Each state has unique challenges and opportunities, and it is through sharing best practices, learning from one another, and working together that we can build resilience and ensure a sustainable future for all Nigerians.”

Lagos Wins State with Best Climate Governance Performance