Gbandi Again!!!
Re: Redeployment of Senator Victor Umeh, a necessary change for diaspora

By: Emmy Ekong, Warri.

Barely 24 hours after the redeployment of Sen. Victor Umeh from the Senate Committee Chairman on Diaspora and Non-Govermental Organizations (NGOs), Hon. Kenneth Gbandi, a man renowned for not seeing anything good in Nigeria and Nigerians, has taken to town again in his usual stock in trade of running down achievers and compatriots as if he has no other job, which, in fairness, he does not. So, may be he has created an oversight function for himself to keep him busy, albeit a very mischievous one.

This time around, he took on Sen. Umeh, who has achieved greatness during his short tenure on
his last committee assignment as well as a Senator representing his people well.

It is obvious from his write up that he did not get the attention of Senator Umeh who refused to be dragged into petty, tribal politics.

It is worthy of note that most of the allegations labelled against him on the issue of diaspora voting is not correct. His view is that a lot needs to be put in place before subjecting the Diaspora to vote to avoid breach in any form whatsoever. To me, this is not a bad opinion, an opinion echoed by many.

As a Senator, he has his fundamental human rights to air his own opinion on any matter.

Similarly, regarding the condusive Investment Climate Policies, it is not the responsibility of the Senator to create that for the Diasporas beyond his legislative duties which he has performed creditable well. It is the duty of the Executive arm through its Ministries, Departments and Agencies. Such responsibilities are being handled by Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, as well as Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM). The Commission every November holds the annual Nigerian Diaspora Investment Summit, (NDIS), a platform where business owners and prospective investors meet and interacts for possible investment opportunities.

Sen. Umeh attended the past two events since inauguration of his Committee and had the opportunity to interact with the Diasporas in attendance. The Diaspora in the last five years have been investing massively in healthcare, good business, education, ICT, agriculture. And a lot more is on the way, with the Minister of Trade promising soon to be rolled out targeted incentives.

Am equally aware that , NiDCOM in collaboration with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has the Diaspora Mortgage Housing Scheme Project, a project designed for the Diaspora to own their own properties in any part of the country without loosing funds
Senator Umeh’s legislative backing has been crucial
In a nutshell, it will be unfair for Gbandi and his cohorts to rubbish the achievements of the Distinguished Senator on the alter of opposition.

Umeh has in many occasions identified with the Dispora Communities and has been so acknowledged.

Encomiums still continue to pour in on his most recent robust engagements in Canada and South Africa, and his demand for intervention in cases of Nigerians in foreign Prisons.

On the issue of board for the Diaspora Commission, this is at the behest of Mr President and has nothing to do with the Senator, even though, the whole world knows that Gbandi is desperately lobbying for it since the establishment of NIDCOM, so as to turn it to be another sit-tight NIDO Europe where Gbandi refused to vacate the seat even after the expiration of his tenure. Thanks to Gbandhi and his handful of cohorts, NIDOe is now torn apart . And with the Oronsaye report which recommends NiDCOM to be an agency rather than a Commission ,the status of the board is unclear.

Let me use this opportunity to advise the newly appointed Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs, Natasha Akpoti to be wary of slippery critics like Kenneth Gbandi and concentrate on her legislative duties geared towards achieving excellence for her Kogi constituencies as well as Nigerians in the Diaspora. Gbandi ’s criticism, in less than 24 hours of Senator Natasha’s appointment is just an attempt to lick her boots. She should consult widely and intelligently so that she will not fall prey to the likes of Gbandhi.

We wish Senator Umeh well in his new Chairmanship position but one thing is certain. The Diaspora community would miss his wealth of knowledge, words of encouragement and wisdom.

Gbandi Again!!!
Re: Redeployment of Senator Victor Umeh, a necessary change for diaspora

Zulum Applauds Tinubu for approving the reconstruction of Alau Dam

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N80 billion for the reconstruction and upgrade of Alau Dam.

Alau Dam collapsed on the 10th of September, 2024, triggering a devastating flooding of Maiduguri metropolis and parts of Jere Local Government Areas of Borno State which affected more than one million people and the destruction of many properties.

In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described President Tinubu’s approval as exhilarating.

“I am most gladdened by this uncommon expression of leadership and good governance by our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for approving this monumental amount to reconstruct and upgrade the dam,” Zulum stated.

“I regard this decision to reconstruct the dam as the most gladdening tiding, not only for the millions of farmers and fishermen and the innumerable other people conducting various economic activities in and around the dam, but to the state government that is striving to resuscitate and reposition agricultural production as the most critical economic activity for the rebuilding and stabilization of our society devastated by Boko Haram insurgency,” Governor Zulu reiterated.

The governor expressed confidence that the reconstruction of the dam will effectively forestall the occurrence of flooding that may aggravate the vulnerability of a population devastated by insurgency.

He described the decision as Mr. President’s expression of irrevocable commitment to rebirthing Nigeria for rapid prosperity in all aspects of societal life according to emerging imperatives with the Renewed Hope Agenda as potent tool.

The governor recalled Mr. President’s personal sympathy visit to Maiduguri during the disaster and the quantum of support of food and non-food items provided which greatly alleviated the suffering of the affected victims.

Zulum conveyed the heartfelt gratitude of the government and entire people of Borno State to President Tinubu for his rare show of carrying all sections of the country along in terms of the distribution of critical projects and programmes.

He assured Mr President of the government and entire people of Borno State’s continued support for his people-oriented and national development policies, programmes and projects to renew the Hope of Nigerians for rapid growth and sustainable prosperity.

Zulum Applauds Tinubu for approving the reconstruction of Alau Dam

Drug war: UNODC Assures NDLEA of Additional Support, Partnership

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has assured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of further support and renewed partnership in its ongoing effort to rid Nigeria of substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

The assurance was given on Wednesday when the new Country Representative of UNODC in Nigeria, Mr. Cheikh Toure led a team of his top officials on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja.

Toure, while acknowledging the leadership role NDLEA plays in drug law enforcement in Africa and particularly the West African sub-region, said his visit was to re-engage with the agency on how to cascade the successes recorded at the national level to the states.

He said this is because the drug scourge is at the basis of most of the security challenges at the subnational level.

According to him: “It is very important for us to re-engage and re-energize the relationship between UNODC and NDLEA and I think that me coming here today is to tell you I want to re-engage and reinvigorate our relationship so that it serves Nigeria as a whole and also the rest of this sub-region by following your lead.

“NDLEA has been our partner and even facilitated our implementation in Nigeria. So, I want a re-engagement of UNODC with NDLEA to see how together we can develop a greater plan to support the remaining implementation of the master plan and going forward, the new stages of engagement with Nigeria. And one thing that we want to look at is how NDLEA can provide increased capacity building to West African member countries so that together we fight this menace and share best practices”

In his remarks, Marwa appreciated the global body for its support to the agency over the years while expressing confidence that the new Country Representative will take the existing relationship to a new height. While listing some of the numerous achievements the agency has attained in the areas of drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction in the past four years with support of local and international partners including the UNODC, the NDLEA boss said the visit by the team provided the opportunity to present before them some of the areas they should consider in their support for the agency.

He asked the UNODC to support the agency’s Alternative Development Programme, which is the first in Africa, aimed at providing alternative means of livelihood for cannabis growers. “And so, if we are able to provide an alternative, that would be good for them and for society. And so that’s one of the areas that I would like greater collaboration. We need some support on this.

“The drug use survey is another project that we need support. The one published in 2018 is quite stale and we need a re-assessment, and I remember two or three years ago in Vienna, I spoke to the Director of UNODC directly on the need. Happily, now it’s in your sights I understand. So, that’s a most welcome development for us to reassess, to see what is the prevalence now, and what are the new trends and so on and so forth.

“The National Drug Control Master Plan is another area of need. The current master plan is 2021-2025. Another one is due. So, that’s certainly one more area that we would work together towards. Then capacity building and training. This is key to our work, because every organization, the bottom-line is the personnel. So, this capacity building has helped us and we need more master trainers. Let me conclude with the tools; we need handy field test kits. You can check and see what’s going to be possible now, what will be possible next year, and so on. Just to help us continue to do the work that we’re doing.”

Drug war: UNODC Assures NDLEA of Additional Support, Partnership