The Katsina State Government has urged hotel owners associations and other licensed operators to join the state government’s ongoing fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of criminality.

Mukhtar Gidado Abdulkadir, the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, who gave the advice while receiving the executive members of the hotel owners’ association in his office, acknowledged the important security role they played, particularly in assisting security operatives in locating criminal elements who usually hide in certain places before carrying out their evil acts.

Abdukadir also urged them to be vigilant and security conscious at all times, alerting security personnel to any suspicious people or movements so that appropriate measures could be taken.

“Government would partner with your association to increase internally generated revenue,” he said.

Read Also:  Anambra: Election observers hail INEC, NYSC for professional conduct of poll

The group’s Chairman, Abubakar Mohammed Ujudud, told the Commissioner that they were at the ministry for familiarization and to inaugurate their new officers, who are expected to oversee the group’s affairs.

“The group, with over 30 members, has invested over N10 billion in the state’s economy and will always come closer to matters that concern the government,” he said.

President Mohammadu Buhari has been urged to sign or issue an Unexplained Wealth Order to strengthen the anti-corruption fight, according to Li Ndume, who claims that corrupt politicians and civil servants are known for marrying multiple wives and buying expensive cars.

Mr Ndume made the statement on Saturday in Ibadan, while speaking at the University of Ibadan’s 2021 Distinguish Leadership Lecture Series.

The lecture, titled “The Unexplained Wealth and the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria,” took place in the university’s Trenchard Hall.

The senator also urged President Buhari to persuade the National Assembly to pass the Proceeds of Crime Bill in a timely manner, “regardless of partisan bickering over the management of the proceeds recovered.”

“Our crusade against this monster (corruption) should begin with politicians, top government officials, civil servants, and local government employees,” he said. “It is not difficult for the perpetrators to identify these officers’ tendencies, such as acquiring landed properties both inside and outside the country, having large bank deposits, buying expensive cars, or marrying so many wives.”

Mr Ndume went on to say that Mr Buhari’s administration must go even further to protect whistleblowers, calling for a review of the whistleblower policy that emphasizes patriotism rather than monetary rewards.

Read also: The government of Ogun has promised to attract more investment, according to IGR

Whistleblowers, he says, must be active at all levels, including local levels, and they must not be scared, but must be protected by law at all costs.

He urged anti-corruption agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to treat whistleblowers with respect.

Whistleblowers who spread false information, on the other hand, should be prosecuted, according to the lawmaker.

He also stated that the Code of Conduct Bureau must request that all public officials declare their assets and have their claims verified on a regular basis.

The lawmaker also tasked the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other relevant agencies with ramping up anti-corruption awareness.

Private schools in Ebonyi State have been ordered to update their Internally Generated Revenue documents immediately or face sanctions, according to the state government.

Obianuju Aloh, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, delivered the charge at Abakaliki’s Old Cabinet Office.

Read also: The government of Ogun has promised to attract more investment, according to IGR

She claims that the state government, led by Governor David Umahi, has improved the lives of Ebonyi citizens, and that private schools should pay state taxes in exchange.

To improve the quality of education in private schools, the minister recommended that schools use government-approved textbooks and hire skilled and educated instructors.

The Annual Renewal/Operational Fee, Waste Management Fee, Fire Service Fee, and Development Levy are among the fees and levies that have been accepted as IGR from private schools, according to Chairman of the Internal Revenue Service Agwu Nweze.

The chairman, Celestine Okoro, said the fees and levies were outlined in the Ebonyi State Revenue Law 2021 and that private schools should pay them on time.

Kingsley Igboke, State Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), said the meeting allowed the group to share ideas on private school development with the government.

Mr Igboke told the administration that the organization would assist in improving education for the state’s overall prosperity, and that private institutions would gladly pay the IGR owed to the government.

He went on to say that members of the association would continue to retrain instructors, improve infrastructure, use government-approved textbooks, and keep the learning environment clean.

Through the implementation of sustainable policies and infrastructural development, the Ogun State Government has pledged to attract more local and foreign investments into the state in order to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (lGR).

Mr Kunle Somorin, the State Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja that the state government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, is committed to boosting the state’s industrial development and revenue.
“The mantra of collectivism is embedded in the determination to ensure the state’s industrial development, which is driven by public-private partnership initiatives.”
This has contributed significantly to the state’s long-term socioeconomic development and individual prosperity.

“Some of these genuine investment initiatives have begun to yield positive results, repositioning the state as the preferred destination for investors.”

“Ogun is regarded as the country’s industrial capital, with the highest concentration of factories. The Agbara Industrial Estate alone is said to be home to over 400 different brands.

“Its strategic location as a gateway in the South-West, particularly its proximity to Lagos and as a windowpane to the Republic of Benin, remains a key advantage for industrial development,” said Somorin.

Read also: Re- CBN Spends N58.6 billion to print notes

The current administration, according to the chief press secretary, does not take those tremendous advantages, among other potentials, for granted, as over 60% of local and foreign direct investments have been drawn to the state.
Somorin also attributed some of the current administration’s successes to its inclusive government and the government’s determination to walk the path of growth with the people of the state.

He claimed that when the Abiodun government took office, it extended a hand of friendship to everyone in the state, including opposition politicians.
Somorin credited his principal’s decision not to exclude anyone from his administration for helping the administration achieve its goals over the last two years.

“Those who genuinely care about serving others embraced Gov. Abiodun’s ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda.

“They embraced so much that all of the House of Assembly members who were elected on the APM platform, including a former governor’s nephew and ex-cabinet members, have decamped and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“The ADC candidate, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, is now with us. Regardless of creed or allegiance, we have always maintained that this is an inclusive and participatory government.

“There can’t be a better way to ensure that anyone who wants to serve the people joins forces with the government,” he said.

He also denied insinuations of an APC faction in Ogun State, claiming that what happened at the alleged October parallel congress was nothing more than an attempt to create confusion in the state.

“There was no parallel congress in Ogun, as far as we are concerned.” What happened on the grounds of Ake Palace was an attempt to jeopardize the state’s security and an act of sabotage by the congregants.
“We all know who the provocateur is; he has so far turned down the governor’s olive branch,” he said.

On November 12, 2021, the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africa’s leading philanthropy for young African entrepreneurs, will announce the beneficiaries of the 2021 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme at an official Selection Announcement event in Lagos, which will be streamed live online. The groundbreaking hybrid event will introduce 4,800 African entrepreneurs selected from all 54 African countries to the Foundation’s annual program’s 2021 cohort.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation opens its application portal to African entrepreneurs with businesses that are less than five years old every year on January 1st. This year’s recipients were chosen from a pool of over 400,000 applications, with their innovative and impactful business ideas being the deciding factor. The selected beneficiaries will include both new start-ups and existing young businesses in various stages of operation across various sectors, in line with the Foundation’s mission to catalyze entrepreneurship in Africa.

Read also: In the midst of an inconclusive election, supporters flock to Soludo’s home

Each beneficiary has received world-class business management training and mentorship conducted exclusively on TEFConnect, the Foundation’s proprietary digital platform that provides capacity-building support, advisory, and market linkages to over 1 million Africans and counting, as part of TEF’s objectives to ensure that African entrepreneurs are well equipped to build investable and profitable businesses. Starting Your Business, Business Management & Fundamentals, Leadership & Business Growth, Marketing Strategy, Product Design, and Selecting & Building a Team were among the topics covered by the platform’s unique training curriculum.

Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, CEO of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, said ahead of the Selection Announcement event, “This year, with support from our global partners, we will be scaling our impact and empowering nearly 5000 entrepreneurs.” The economic recovery of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) following the Covid-19 disruption to economic activities remains a top priority for us at the Foundation in 2021. We are very excited to announce the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship program’s 2021 cohort. I believe the $5,000 we’re giving each entrepreneur will help meet some pressing needs and alleviate some of the pandemic’s burden.”

On Sunday night, supporters and well-wishers gathered at the home of Charles Soludo, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, in Isuofia, Aguata local government area, to await the election results.

The results of 19 of Anambra’s 21 local government areas were announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Hundreds of political associates, youths, and women flocked to Mr Soludo’s home in Isuofia to await the announcement of the results.

Read also: Despite the cancellation of the sit-at-home program, Anambra’s highways are deserted

Some residents predicted that the APGA candidate would come out on top at the end of the election.

Chioma Ocha expressed her delight at the prospect of a governor from her community.

Ms Ocha stated, “We are here to show solidarity with our brother and son while we wait for INEC to announce the final result.” “However, I’m especially pleased that my hometown of Isuofia will produce the next governor of Anambra. That is a huge accomplishment.”

Chinedu Ogubuiro also spoke, explaining that he came to celebrate with Mr Soludo ahead of INEC’s announcement.

“I’m a relative of Soludo’s, and I want to be there to celebrate with him when INEC announces the election results,” he said.

Mr Soludo, who sang along with the crowd, urged them to be patient.