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Those pushing for Nigeria’s break-up are dreaming – Buratai

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Those pushing for Nigeria’s break-up are dreaming – Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has urged those wishing Nigeria disintegrate to perish the thought, predicting that the country would continue to remain a united nation.

Buratai spoke in Kuta, Osun State on Sunday at the 60th birthday celebration of Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude.

The event attracted a host of dignitaries, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, among others.

Buratai, who described Olowu Kuta as a detribalised Nigerian who has shown love to people across all ethnic groups in the country, said those agitating that the country should disintegrate must be ready to carve out their own part and move it to the ocean.

Noting that the experience of civil war had taught Nigerians that agitation to divide the country would always fail, Buratai called for unity to further enhance Nigeria’s development.

“You know that Nigeria is one, unless you remove those people who are agitating, and drift (them) to the Atlantic. We will remain one Nigeria, anybody who wants to leave Nigeria should carry the part of the land and take it to the Atlantic; not within the Nigeria territory. It is very clear the level of integration.

“There are many Hausas here, there are many Yoruba and Igbo in the North. So, we should not allow politics to becloud our sense of unity and sovereignty.

“Anybody that says that he wants to leave Nigeria is a dreamer because we had bitter experience during the civil war. So it is not something that we will joke with,” Buratai said.

He advised Nigerians to embrace peace and focus on development, adding that the country should work more to further cement its unity by taking concrete actions that would bring about development, and not by mere utterances.

In his remarks, Oba Oyelude said he would continue to champion the cause of unity and progress for Nigeria, and called on well-meaning Nigerians to work for the country’s unity and progress.

UK election: Lessons for Nigeria

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UK election: Lessons for Nigeria

THE United Kingdom has a new leadership amid changes in the House of Commons in the July 4 polls. While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was sent out of Downing Street, Keir Starmer was voted into government. The election was seamless. Nigeria must draw lessons from this to save its distressed democracy and bolster confidence in voting, and democracy.

Starmer’s Labour Party won 412 out of the 650 seats, translating into a huge majority in the Commons. The Tories lost 121 seats, the Liberal Democrats garnered 72 seats, while other parties scrambled for the remaining seats. Given the parliamentary nature of the UK, Labour, which exceeded the statutory 326 majority, made its party leader the prime minister. The election and the continuity of governance were seamless.

The campaigns were decorous, devoid of unpalatable name-calling in the habit of Nigeria’s political class. The contestants campaigned based on critical issues affecting the country. Reports stated that Starmer expressed concerns for education, healthcare, and the high cost of living; he gave pragmatic answers, promising to improve the lives of Britons.

Unlike in Nigeria, UK citizens voted with their valid photo ID, displacing the cumbersome process of voter registration, voter accreditation, and collection of voter cards that frustrate many eligible Nigerians. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, at least six million Permanent Voter Cards were not collected during the 2023 general elections.

There is adverse voter turnout in Nigeria. While the UK had a 60 per cent voter turnout, Nigeria’s voter outlook is abysmal. It steadily dwindled from 57.4 per cent in 2007 to 53.7 per cent in 2011, 43.6 per cent in 2015, and 34.75 per cent in 2019. INEC disclosed that it reached a 44-year low at 27 per cent in 2023. This highlights a lack of confidence in the electoral system. It is compounded by waves of hate speech, ballot snatching, arson, violence, and deaths during every election cycle.

The UK election remains an example: it was held on July 4, and the winner was declared on July 5. The British monarch, King Charles III asked Starmer to form a government on the same day, according to the law. Prime Minister Starmer announced his first cabinet appointments on the same day. Lawmakers who won or retained their seats returned to the parliament to begin making laws.

Comparatively, when a Nigerian governor or president is declared winner by INEC, they are ushered with elaborate swearing-in, buoyed by eloquent speeches in expensive banquets, and treated as emperors instead of servants to the people. An impoverished public bears the overhead cost. This should change.

For the UK, the Conservative Party conceded defeat without a backlash and is expected to form a shadow government, thus providing ample checks and balances, and policy alternatives in every aspect of British life.

Nigeria’s opposition parties should follow suit. They should constantly proffer viable alternatives to the policies of President Bola Tinubu. This will help to keep it on its toes and save the country from the socioeconomic scourge.

Unfortunately, Nigeria’s elections are mired in litigation from pre-election to the post-election periods. This not only rouses tension and uncertainty, but it also dents our nascent democracy and gives room for the courts to displace the legitimacy of the voters for the adjudication of the gavel.

Urgently, Nigeria’s democracy must evolve or perish. It must shed reckless and expensive campaigns through policies that boost elections. It must firmly protect the rights of the voter and implement a flawless system to enhance elections in the country. Politics must be based on critical national issues to achieve sustainable democracy in Nigeria.

Ogoni people support NDDC, seek East-West road completion

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Ogoni people support NDDC, seek East-West road completion

The President, Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People, Fegalo Nsuke, has promised to support the various activities of the Niger Delta Development Commission, seeking more developmental projects in the area.

Nsuke said this was not the time for the Ogoni people to be divided, but to unite and form a common front for the betterment of the oil-rich area.

Nsuke was responding to complaints that the Ogoni ethnic nationality was not invited to the just-concluded three-day Niger Delta stakeholders’ summit organised by the NDDC.

A statement signed by the Secretary-General of MOSOP, Alex Akori, on Saturday, quoted Nsuke as saying that the summit could not have come at any better time than now that the region needed all the support to attract development to the area.

Speakers at the summit, including former President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momo; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and others urged the NDDC to embark on human development projects that would positively impact the lives of the people.

Nsuke said, “We have appreciated the decision of Mr President to prioritise the issue bothering on the Niger Delta development and we in Ogoni are so blessed with fertile arable land, irrespective of the environmental pollution by oil majors, good enough for rice, tomato, onion farming among others.

 “However, we will expect greater transparency and accountability in the affairs of the NDDC to ensure that its impact can be more strongly felt in the region.

 “MOSOP is ready to partner with the NDDC under the leadership of the current Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, to see Ogoniland as a veritable location to invest resources in the agriculture sector to boost agro-farming for food security not just in the Niger Delta region, but Nigeria as a whole.”

The MOSOP leader promised to partner with the NDDC, calling for cooperation between the people and the commission.

“We as an ethnic nationality will want to state our strong resolve to partner with the Federal Government and the NDDC MD in particular, in the interest of our people.

 “We call for a new dawn to encourage cooperation between the people and the NDDC despite the misunderstandings that have emanated over the handling of the East-West Road,” he stressed.

He added that MOSOP would want to see a speedy resolution of all issues surrounding the East-West Road project to enable contractors to return to the site and complete the same

 “We will work with the present management of the NDDC and on that note, we want to express confidence that the NDDC will willingly cooperate with our initiatives to speed up the completion of the East-West Road project.

 “We also want to use this opportunity to call on Mr President to ensure that the activities of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project in the clean-up of Ogoni are further strengthened.

“As much as we are appealing for sufficient funds for the NDDC to execute its projects, we want the HYPREP to be thoroughly sanitised for the good of the Ogoni people,” Osuke submitted.

FRSC warns against speeding on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

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FRSC warns against speeding on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway

The Ogun Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps has advised motorists, especially commercial buses, to reduce their speed while approaching the toll-gate area of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The Sector Commander, Anthony Uga, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Ota.

Uga was reacting to two separate accidents involving two commercial buses, in which four persons got injured and two died after getting to the hospital.

The sector commander said the advice had become necessary to prevent avoidable crashes, particularly along the toll-gate corridor.

“There is a need for commercial buses to exercise patience as a result of the huge businesses going on around the axis. In addition, we have also noticed the indiscriminate parking and picking of passengers by commercial motorcyclists on the highway,” he said.

Uga said the FRSC would soon embark on public enlightenment at the motor parks to sensitive motorists to the dangers of flouting traffic rules and regulations.

The sector commander said the command would also look into ways of relocating the commercial motorcyclists from the road to a safer place.

He implored pedestrians to always exercise caution while crossing the road to avert disaster around the toll-gate area.

Uga also enjoined traders to desist from displaying and selling their wares by the roadside, to prevent crashes.

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Sanwo-Olu orders clampdown on vandals

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Sanwo-Olu orders clampdown on vandals

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has tasked the ministries of environment and works to clamp down on persons removing manholes and carrying out illegal waste disposal in the state.

The governor condemned the removal of manholes and dumping of refuse into drainage systems, capable of causing flooding and environmental hazards.

Speaking to Lagos Island residents on Sunday, Sanwo-Olu expressed dismay at the destruction of government properties meant to prevent flood and environmental issues.

He warned that those caught would face severe consequences.

In a video shared by TVC, the governor said, “Manholes installed at strategic locations have been removed and we see refuse being dumped on these drainage channels and a whole lot of them have been blocked.

“This is completely unacceptable, and it is a shame on those that are doing it. They do not deserve to be amongst us.

“To destroy not only government properties, (but) manholes that will preserve and protect your environment from flood and environmental issues! What could be the commercial benefit that you’d waste and destroy such investments?

“So the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Works and Infrastructures are going to be setting up gangs and if by whatever means you are caught, there are huge consequences to it.”

The governor also inaugurated the re-introduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise campaign in Lagos State.

Sanwo-Olu called for the cooperation of all residents and stakeholders in making the exercise a success.

In May, officials arrested one Abba Mohammed for allegedly vandalising and stealing iron from concrete barriers in the Odo Iya Alaro area of the state.

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Ogun APC felicitates Osoba @85

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Ogun APC felicitates Osoba @85

The All Progressives Congress in Ogun State has felicitated former governor Olusegun Osoba as he clocks 85 years today (Monday).

The ruling party described Osoba as “an iconic and commendable leader, who has raised a generation of leaders across the globe”.

A statement on Sunday by Ogun APC Publicity Secretary,  Tunde Oladunjoye, quoted  the chairman of the party in the state, Chief Yemi Sanusi, as describing Osoba as “one of the pillars and leading lights of the party, who continues to support the party with all his resources and from whom the party has benefitted immensely from his exemplary leadership.”

“Another occasion of your birthday is an opportunity for us to thank God for your life and living.

“As someone who has impacted positively on countless people around the globe, we join others in wishing you continuous years of good health, vitality and prosperity. Thank you for raising a generation of leaders. Many happy returns of the day, sir,” the Ogun APC said.

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P’Harcourt refinery undergoes licensing, minister defends rehabilitation exercise

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P’Harcourt refinery undergoes licensing, minister defends rehabilitation exercise

The Port Harcourt Refining Company is currently undergoing various licensing processes following the supply of crude to the plant after it was mechanically completed in December 2023.

Senior officials at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited disclosed this on Saturday. Similarly, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, earlier insisted that the plant was at its final rehabilitation stage.

“The mechanical work at the Port Harcourt refinery has been completed. Also, crude oil has been sent to the plant. What is being awaited now has to do with licensing and the like. Now, these licenses are given based on some set of time-frames.

“Some officials involved in issuing these licenses are still observing the plant. Some of them came in last month and they are still there checking everything. They will also have to test-run the plant and all this will be at their pace. Most of them are foreigners and you can’t rush them.

“They have their integrity to protect, for if anything contrary happens at the refinery, the officials might be held accountable and their insurance firms would have to pay for any damage. So it is not entirely on our part when it comes to the takeoff of the refinery,” a petroleum ministry official, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to talk about the matter, stated.

In March this year, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mele Kyari, said the Port Harcourt refinery had received 450,000 barrels of crude oil and would begin operations in April. This, however, did not happen.

Kyari had disclosed this at a press briefing after he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the various Turn Around Maintenance projects of the country’s refineries.

“We did a mechanical completion of the refinery, which was what we said in December. We now have crude oil already stocked in the refinery. We are doing the regulatory compliance tests that must happen in every refinery before you start it, and I assure you that this Port Harcourt refinery will start in the next two weeks.

“Completing the mechanical work means that you are done with the rehabilitation work, now you have to test to see how it works. Of course, we have also completed the mechanical work on the Warri refinery. It is also undergoing regulatory compliance; processes that we are doing with our regulator, and this will soon be completed and it will be ready.

“Kaduna refinery will be ready by December. We have not reached that stage in Kaduna, but we promise Kaduna will be delivered by December,” the NNPC helmsman had stated.

On the volume of crude pumped to the plant at the time, Kyari had said, “All crude lines are active and have delivered over 450,000 barrels into the Port Harcourt refinery.”

Earlier at a press briefing on developments in the oil sector on Friday, the petroleum minister defended the ongoing work at the Port Harcourt refinery, as he told journalists that it often takes time before refineries start pumping out refined products after their mechanical completion.

Lokpobiri cited the Dangote Petroleum Refinery as an example, stating that the plant did not start releasing refined products immediately after its inauguration by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023.

Dangote refinery first released diesel into the Nigerian market in March 2024, followed by aviation fuel, but has yet to release petrol, which is largely consumed nationwide.

“Port Harcourt refinery is still in the final stage of rehabilitation. After the flares at the refinery in December  (2023), a lot of work has to be done. Recall that Dangote refinery was commissioned by (former) President Buhari before he left. But when did they start producing products? It took a long while.

“So it’s not just as easy as Nigerians may think. The best example is that between when Buhari commissioned the Dangote refinery and when it started bringing the products it took a long time. So I believe that within a short time we will get clarity on it (Port Harcourt refinery),” Lokpobiri stated.

The minister, however, stated that though he normally received briefings from NNPC on the status of the plant, he had always asked the company about when the refinery would eventually be completed.

“I would like you to also go to NNPC. They awarded the contract. They report to me. But they awarded the contract. They are the people who are paying for the contract. And it’s always good to get the information right from the source. I get briefed from time to time.

“The same question people are asking me is what I’m also asking them (NNPC). When are we going to actually get this thing done? But they always said, look, Dangote refinery took some time. So it’s not just as easy as we think.

“And I think all of you here are witnesses to the Dangote refinery. When it was inaugurated by Buhari and when they started bringing our products. Even up till now, they haven’t started bringing out PMS. It takes time. But our own as a government is to ensure that we support them in any way we can,” Lokpobiri stated.

He, however, assured Nigerians that the government was working hard to ensure that the refinery commences the release of refined petroleum products in earnest, as this would impact positively on the country’s economy.

Nigeria records 135 building collapse incidents, 26 deaths – Report

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Nigeria records 135 building collapse incidents, 26 deaths – Report

Nigeria experienced 135 building collapse incidents and at least 26 deaths between 2022 and 2024, with the most recent incident occurring in Kubwa, a suburb in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, a report by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild stated.

BCPG is a professional organisation in Nigeria that aims to prevent the collapse of buildings and promote safe and sustainable building practices nationwide.

The guild is made up of experts in the fields of building construction, architecture, engineering, and other related professions.

This recent trend of building collapse incidents has raised concerns about the safety and integrity of structures across the country.

BCPG stated that the first building collapse in Nigeria occurred in October 1974 in Oyo State, resulting in 27 deaths. Since then, there have been numerous incidents, including the tallest building collapse in Lagos on November 1, 2021, which killed 52 people.

The guild stated that in 2022, a record 62 building collapse cases were reported nationwide, with Lagos accounting for 20 incidents. The following year, 2023, saw 52 recorded collapses, with Lagos leading again with 17 incidents.

A building collapse occurred on May 30, 2024, on Lagos Island, when a four-story structure crumbled, entrapping an unknown number of individuals.

As of 2024, there have been 17 recorded building collapse cases, with Lagos having five, Anambra having three, and Kano, Niger, and Plateau having one each.

Investigations by the guild revealed that professional ineptitude, including excessive loading, use of substandard materials, faulty design, poor workmanship, and weak foundation, contributed significantly to the collapses.

The frequent occurrence of building collapse cases in Nigeria has raised concerns about the need for stricter enforcement of building codes and regulations to prevent such incidents and protect lives.

The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria has called for sanctions on developers responsible for the recent collapse of buildings in Abuja, following three collapses in three days.

Chairman of the Council, Dr Samson Opaluwah, blamed government negligence in enforcing laws and regulations and demanded thorough investigations and punishment of culprits.

He said, “This collapse, unfortunately, has continued to happen, especially in areas that we can refer to as urban centres. Centres where professionals and professionalism should be extolled to the highest.

“The challenge we have now is government enforcement of its laws. We need to punish those who have been found wanting in the past.

“In all the published reports and investigations done by the FCT, we have not seen any advertised punishment to those found wanting.”

He insisted that until measures were put in place to punish offenders, the situation would remain the same.

“Every building that collapses has a reason why it collapsed. And if the reason is human error, that error has to be addressed. If it was due to negligence, poor conduct, or misbehaviour, then there should be punishments and sanctions. And that is what we stand for as a council. We stand for punishing culpable individuals,” he stated.

Ogun intensifies road repairs, erosion control

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Ogun intensifies road repairs, erosion control

The Ogun State Public Works Agency has commenced preliminary work on Laderin Road linking Prof. Wole Soyinka Train Station, Osoba Bridge, Lagos-Abeokuta Road, Adatan Road, and Igbore-Ijeja Road, among others.

The Special Adviser on Public Works, Babatunde Adesina, revealed this while featuring on a radio programme in Abeokuta, the state capital, saying the government had invited local government chairmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders in all 20 LGAs, to submit three roads for construction

The governor’s aide stated that the present administration was determined to provide good road infrastructure for the comfort of the people, noting that palliatives were being applied to roads that needed urgent attention.

“Since the inception of Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration, a huge amount of money has been invested in the reconstruction, rehabilitation and upgrading of roads, including federal roads across the state. In fact, over 500 kilometres of roads have been rehabilitated so far,’’ Adesina said on the radio programme.

Also, in efforts aimed at preventing flooding and averting the Federal Government’s prediction of river flooding in the state this year, the state government noted it had embarked on Flood and Erosion Control Intervention Exercise.

A Sunday statement noted that the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Flood and Erosion Control, Femi Akinwunmi, said the flood control exercise involved the dredging of river and stream courses as well as desilting of drainage channels statewide.

According to him, the rivers and streams undergoing dredging to avert river flooding in the state include the Opa-Aro River in Isheri, Ifo LGA, Oke Afa Stream in Magboro, Obafemi Owode LGA, Giyanu Stream in Ilase, Ipokia LGA, Sokori River and its tributaries and Labaiwa stream in Abeokuta North and South LGAs.

He said the Onibuku Stream in Iju in Ado Odo LGA, Odo Funfun River in Oja Odan in Yewa North LGA, Sensen River in Sagamu LGA and Yemule River in Ijebu -Ode LGA among others are also lined up to be dredged.

“The dredging of these rivers and streams and desilting of the drainage channels are meant to improve their water-carrying capacities through the removal of sand as well as free them from refuse dumped indiscriminately into them which inhibits the free flow of rainwater that brings about backflows that results into flooding and its unpalatable consequences.

“As a responsible government that cares for the well-being of its residents, the administration had no choice but to take on this responsibility to avert predicted river flooding in the state this year and free its residents from any of its consequences as rainy season should be a blessing to the people and not a curse.”

He appealed to residents of the state to play their part by desilting all drainage channels in front of their businesses and houses, and to shun dumping waste or refuse into drainages.

Last week, the Federal Government confirmed that it had activated various emergency centres across the country to help in tackling the flood situation in states.

It also urged residents living in flood-prone locations to move away from floodplains, stressing that responses from citizens in some of the affected states had been below expectation.

The government disclosed this through the National Emergency Management Agency, as some state governments announced the commencement of river dredging in their domains, while others ordered residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate.

Labour suspends planned strike in Abia

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Labour suspends planned strike in Abia

The Organised Labour in Abia State, on Sunday, suspended its seven-day strike ultimatum it issued to the state government, scheduled to begin today (Monday).

The labour union had threatened a strike over the government’s inability to sit for a dialogue over the payment of the expired N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award, as approved by the Federal Government.

Following the ultimatum, Governor Alex Otti met with the members of the organised labour in the state and directed the state Accountant General to liaise with the union within the next week, to reconcile the actual amount that the least paid worker in the state should receive as minimum wage, among other issues.

The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, alleged that the government was currently paying N20,100 while workers in the local governments received N18,000 as minimum wage.

The governor, however, said records available to him showed that the state was paying N30,000 minimum wage.

Otti, at the meeting, noted, “The state has been preparing itself for the implementation of the new national minimum wage.”

He added that there were a lot of reasons to justify an increase in the national minimum wage, including the removal of petrol subsidy, inflation, and harmonisation of the foreign exchange rate, among others.

Addressing the press on Sunday evening, Okoro warned the state government that failure to adhere to and implement the Memorandum of Understanding reached at the meeting by July 28 would force the union to begin an indefinite strike.

He said no other notice would be given to the government to proceed on strike.

Okoro gave the details of the agreement reached with the government to include the payment of the outdated N30,000 minimum wage and the N35,000 palliative wage award as approved by the Federal Government, payment of severance allowances to Directors and Permanent Secretaries compulsorily retired, payment of current leave allowances and payment of three months N15,000 monthly wage award from July to September 2024.

He also said the union advised the state government to look inwards on the payment of gratuity as much as it could.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ihechi Eneogwe, said for more than one week, the labour had been meeting with the state government on various issues begging the attention of the government.

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