Television Nigerian

To deflect attention away from his subpar performance in Edo, Governor Obaseki attacks the Tinubu government, according to the information minister.

The Nigerian government has criticised Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, claiming that he is criticising President Bola Tinubu’s economic decisions and actions regarding the elimination of fuel subsidies and the reform of the foreign exchange market in order to divert public attention from his alleged subpar performance in his state.

In a statement issued by the federal government and signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, Governor Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an opposition party, was warned that the election process is over and that he should act with more statesmanlike behaviour.

In order to have a more informed public discourse, the minister, who pointed out that the federal government’s response was based on a statement attributed to Obaseki and published by ThisDay Newspaper on Thursday, said it was critical to clarify some narratives.

“The statement attributed to Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, which was used as the lead front page story in ThisDay Newspaper of today (Thursday, August 24, 2023) did not come as a surprise to anyone,” Idris said. For a more informed public discourse, it is necessary to make clear some narratives, though.

“Since joining the Peoples Democratic Party, Governor Obaseki’s poor performance at the state level has come to light. He has done this by focusing on the nation’s economic problems as cannon fodder. Despite the fact that leaders frequently hold opposing viewpoints, it’s important to ground discussion in reality and on observable outcomes.

“Governor Obaseki’s remarks regarding the Federal Government’s choices regarding fuel subsidies and reforms to the foreign exchange market may have neglected the bigger picture of the economy.

“It is well known that Nigerians, State Governors from all political stripes, and international organizations—such as the World Bank and IMF—along with a variety of economic experts, have consistently argued for the elimination of fuel subsidies due to the fiscal distortions and burden they have caused on the economy.

“This burden includes many months of zero accretion to the Federation account by the NNPC, which left states and local governments with less money from FAAC as a result of payment for fuel subsidy, which the national oil company regularly charged to the Federation account.

For context, it should be noted that Edo State, led by Governor Obaseki, has significantly benefited from the removal of fuel subsidies. This is demonstrated by the more than doubling of Edo State’s FAAC allocation between June and July 2023, compared to what it had previously received.

‘Our suggestion? The emphasis should be on how the Edo State Government will use available resources to drive impactful projects that genuinely uplift the people of Edo State rather than diving into narratives that do not give the full picture.

“President Tinubu’s policies at the national level are based on foresight, with the main objective of creating a robust and sustainable economy. Where important economic decisions are made, the National Economic Council, this vision is frequently echoed.

We want to make it very clear that President Bola Tinubu’s bold and courageous economic decisions made since taking office are the only reason Edo State, along with the other 35 States and the FCT, can access more FAAC revenue.

Because they were the ones that had to be made to reposition the country’s economy for greater output, these decisions have received praise from all over the world. We still don’t know what might have caused Governor Obaseki to level such flagrantly false accusations against the Federal Government.

“Constitutionally, Governor Obaseki is a member of the National Economic Council (NEC), where important decisions on the issues he discussed in his media address were made by his colleagues while they were seated in council with the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima.

“Even though Governor Obaseki will have an explanation to give the people of his state for why he missed the two NEC meetings held during the current administration, we would like to let him know that his colleagues praised President Tinubu for having the guts to get rid of the ghost of fuel subsidies, which had for years crippled the finances of the three tiers of government. To contribute ideas and support the group’s vision, Governor Obaseki’s attendance at these meetings would be beneficial.

“Contrary to the false impression being spread by Governor Obaseki, at the most recent NEC meeting, which was held last week, the council made broad decisions on many interventions to help households.

“One of the decisions approved the immediate distribution of N5 billion to each of the states to purchase food items for later distribution to families, while the states work to clean up the social registers in preparation for cash transfers that will benefit up to 20 million of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.

In order to address the rising cost of living and support working people in maintaining a decent standard of living, the NEC also established a committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage with labour unions and the general upward review of salaries for public sector workers.

This is in addition to ongoing initiatives to provide 11,500 CNG-powered mass transit vehicles for accessible public transportation, fertiliser supplies to farmers, and assistance to farmers in their efforts to cultivate 500,000 hectares of arable land to plant staple crops for human consumption and industrial use.

“The Federal Government recognises the current challenges Nigerians are dealing with and is working very hard with the states and local governments to provide assistance to our people. Through extremely difficult times, President Tinubu is leading our nation.

“We have absolute faith that we will soon turn the corner and enter a prosperous future. At this point, it is more important than ever for leaders at all levels to work together cooperatively to improve the lives of Nigerians, rather than engaging in pointless political games.

President Tinubu has warned that the time for politics and politicking is over. In order to create a stronger, more viable, socially cohesive, and more prosperous Nigeria, we are now in the serious business of governance.

says stand force deployment preparations are in high gear.

According to Omar Touray, the president of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, neither the sub-regional organisation nor any plans to invade the Niger Republic have declared war on its citizens.

This was stated by Touray on Friday at a press conference on the Niger and ECOWAS Member States in Transition held at the Commission’s Abuja headquarters.

A standby ECOWAS force was activated to restore constitutional order in Niger after leaders of the Economic Community of West African States Commission bloc pledged to explore all options for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

On July 26, a military coup led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former head of the presidential guard in Niger, overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum.

Following the coup, former colonial powers France and the European Union cut off their financial and security assistance to Niger, and the United States issued a warning that its own assistance might be in jeopardy.

Britain had denounced attempts to undermine Niger’s democracy, peace, and stability and declared its support for ECOWAS in its mission to bring about stability in the country.

Touray said that there have been inaccurate representations of ECOWAS decisions or actions in reestablishing democracy in the Niger Republic to support his point.

He declared that the ECOWAS would use all necessary means, including standby force, to bring back civil rule in the Niger Republic.

Touray also mentioned that the Niger Republic, as a member of the bloc of countries in the West African region, abided by its rules and regulations regarding the deployment of measures to support its fight against terrorism in order to ensure the restoration of democracy, peace, and security in the community.

The President emphasised that plans are well under way to send the standby force to Niger and urged the Niger junta to pay attention to ECOWAS because it will not accept a coup d’état.

According to Touray, ECOWAS will not permit Nigeriens to suffer at the hands of the Niger junta.

Later on, more information…

The Nigeria Customs Service’s Kebbi State Command has confirmed that two of its employees were killed by gunmen in the state on Thursday who were thought to be bandits.

In a press release he made available to newsmen in the state on Friday morning, the command’s spokesman in the state, Assistant Superintendent of Customs Mubarak Mustapha, confirmed this.

According to the statement, a shootout broke out between the team and suspected bandits driving a Toyota Corolla along the Bunza-Dankingari-Koko road as they conducted a stop-and-search operation.

“On Thursday, August 24, 2023, at around 01:30 a.m., while conducting a stop-and-search operation based on reliable information along the Bunza – Dakingari – Koko Road, a team of Kebbi Area Command officers and men of the Nigeria Customs were engaged with heavy gunfire by suspected bandits in an ash-colored Toyota Corolla vehicle.

Alhaji Kabiru Shehu, a customs inspector, and Abdullahi Muhammad, a customs assistant II, both members of the Command, paid the ultimate price in the ensuing melee.

The officers have since been buried using Islamic customs.

The Command has started a manhunt for the suspects in order to apprehend and prosecute them while also praying for the deceased’s peace.

According to the statement, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, the Customs Area Area Controller, expressed his condolences to the families for the tragic event and prayed that God Almighty would give them the strength to deal with the loss.

Assuring such informants of strict confidentiality, the CAC also exhorts members of the public to offer information regarding the whereabouts of alleged smugglers and other criminals.

7,000 Kano natives are enrolled at Bayero University Kano, and the Kano State Executive Council has approved the disbursement of N700 million to pay their tuition.

N854 million was also set aside for the Auren Zaurawa Mass Wedding Initiative.

On his verified X page, formerly known as Twitter, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made this information public.

In response to the nation’s economic crisis, the State Executive Council decided to approve N700 million for Kano students attending the BUK on Wednesday, according to the governor.

The governor stated, “As part of our efforts to soften the biting effects of our current economic reality, the Kano State Executive Council under my leadership has today approved the release of the sum of N700m to settle tuition fees for 7,000 students of Bayero University Kano.

“Further information about the initiative will be made available as soon as possible.”

the creation of a special committee to resolve outstanding pension arrears for retirees from the Kano State Civil Service; the rehabilitation of three pedestrian bridges at Bayero University Kano Old Campus, Aminu Kano College of Legal and Islamic Studies; and the release of the sum of N854 million for the first phase of the Auren Zaurawa Mass Wedding Initiative. The governor added this on Thursday.

Golden Tripod Limited, a Chinese company with offices on Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo, has been ordered to move to the Akwa Ibom State’s Ibom Industrial Park in the state’s Itam, Itu Local Government Area.

He also gave the Environment Commissioner and the Internal Security Commissioner instructions to look into the company’s operations and submit a report within 48 hours.

Eno said it was improper to locate factories in the middle of a city when he gave the order on Thursday as work on the 2.2 km Tabernacle Road project off Ikot Ekpene Road began. He claimed that according to the report he had, there were consistently harmful emissions coming from the factory.

I need a report on the products this factory produces in the next 48 hours, Commissioners for Environment and Internal Security.

I am aware that there are frequently harmful emissions in this area. Please first ascertain what they do, then relocate them right away to the industrial park. The governor said, “It is not appropriate to cite factories in the middle of a city.

The governor promised that with new government innovations, the industrial park would provide a favourable environment for industries to thrive while urging investors to use it.

“That park has been divided into 150 plots, each between 4,000 and 5,000 square metres in size.

“What we’re saying is that people who are prepared to launch businesses should visit and research the industry they want to launch. We will allot land for them after they inform us of the anticipated start date and the anticipated workforce size.

“We’ll enclose it with a fence. We’ll build a police station there, secure a power plant for the area, and provide water access as well. It will function just like any other industrial park anywhere in the world, allowing us to allocate land for your project there,” he continued.

It was your wish to have a government that will come and remember the poor and rural residents, the governor said when discussing the Tabernacle Road project. You selected that type of government. I kept my promise to you, and this is the democratic dividend. We came here to express our gratitude to the Uyo and Itu communities for their support during the election.

In providing an overview of the Tabernacle Road project, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service Professor Eno Ibanga stated that in addition to road construction, the project involves significant de-flooding work to reclaim the entire area and will provide relief for the residents of Uyo and Itu LGAs.

He assured that his Ministry would make sure that contractors met the requirements provided to them by the state government by saying that the 2.2 km road project will be completed with a 0.97 km underground drain that will empty into the Calabar-Itu road drainage.

A Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, sentenced two individuals, Emmanuel Choice and Ojuola Akande, to three months in prison on Thursday for stealing motor parts from a truck that belonged to the Dangote Cement Transport company.

In a separate ruling, the court also handed down a six-month prison term to one Olaiya Abdulrahman for reckless driving that resulted in Olusegun Olusanya’s injury.

The prosecutor, Lawrence Olu-Balogun, noted that on August 22, 2023, Emmanuel and Ojuola stole two sets of tyres, two sets of rims and one drum hub worth N976,715.00 from the trailer body marked DT/7579/CH and two sets of tyres, two sets of rims and one drum hub worth N976,715.00 from the trailer body marked DT/7736/CH belonging to Dangote Cement Transport, Ibese.

The defendants, he said, violated Sections 516 and 383 of the Criminal Code Vol. II Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria, 2004, by committing offences that were on the verge of being felonies, such as stealing.

The charge stated, in part, “That you Emmanuel Choice “M,” Ojuola Akande “M,” and one other now at large on August 22, 2023, at or about 3:00 a.m. at Dangote Cement Transport Premises, Ibese, in the Ayetoro Magisterial District, did conspire within yourself to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Vol.

“That you Emmanuel Choice ‘M’, Ojuola Akande ‘M’, and one other currently at large on the same date, time, and location in the aforementioned Magisterial District did steal Four tyres, Four rims, and Four drum hub from Trailer body marked DT/7736/CH and Two tyres, Two rims, and one drum hub from Trailer body marked DT/7579/CH valued at N976,715.00k only property of Dangote Cement Transport

The victim, 53-year-old Onasanya, suffered body injuries as a result of Abdulrahman’s careless driving on August 12, 2023, Olu-Balogun noted. The incident occurred along Afami Road in the Yewa-North local government area of Ogun State.

According to Olu-Balogun, the Federal High Way Act, CAP 135 of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, which is applicable in Ogun State, violated and penalised Abdulraham’s offences under sections 6(1) and 13(1)(a).

The charge stated, in part, “That you OLAIYA ABDULRAHMAN ‘M’ did drive the şaid vehicle on the Public Road in a manner which was dangerously, recklessly and knocked down one Onasanya Olusegun’m’ 53 years a security operative at Dangote Cement Transport, Ibese, as such caused bodily injuries includ…”

“That you OLAIYA ABDULRAHMAN ‘M’ on the same date, time, and location in the aforementioned Magisterial District did cause bodily injuries to one Onasanya Olusegun’m’ but failed to stop or attend to the injured person in order to secure for him medical attention nor report the accident to the nearest Police Station, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 13 (1) (a) (c) and punishable under Section 13 (2) of the Federal High Court Rules

The two-count charge levied against them was accepted as guilty by all of the defendants.

Emmanuel and Ojuola were sentenced to three months in prison without the option of a fine after Chief Magistrate E. O. Idowu found the defendants guilty of the crimes, while Abdulrahman was given a six-month sentence with the option of a N10,000 fine if he could pay N200,000 to the victim who had been injured.