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It is time to solve Nigeria’s problems, not protest — Shettima

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Vice President Kashim Shettima on Friday said despite the hardship Nigerians are facing due to the Federal Government’s economic reforms, they should prioritise constructive action over protest.

Shettima made this appeal when he announced the FG’s participation in the Grand Challenges Nigeria Project during a high-level meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The global health initiative was designed to combat malnutrition and food insecurity in partnership with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr Stanley Nkwocha, revealed details of the meeting in a statement signed Friday titled, ‘Nigeria taps into global health initiative to fight malnutrition, food insecurity.’

Shettima said, “This is the time for us to solve our problems, not to protest. The right to protest is guaranteed in most democracies around the world, but when you can start the agitation and you don’t know where it will end, it is a road to anarchy.

“We appreciate what Nigerians are going through, and our heart goes out to them. The oil subsidy has been an albatross on our neck for 50 years.

“Once the harvests start coming, we believe it will have a positive effect on the common man.”

Shettima’s comments follow growing calls for nationwide protests against economic hardship under the slogan #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria. The protest is scheduled for August 1 – 15, 2024.

He continued, “I wish to call on you to advocate for diplomacy, engagement, and patience.

“The President is very much committed to the Nigerian project, but it’s like a percolation project.

“When a woman is giving birth, it’s a very painful process, but once the child is delivered, it is a cause for celebration.”

As part of the government’s response to the nutritional crisis, Shettima reiterated the government’s commitment to the Nutrition 774 Initiative, explaining that “catalytic initiatives like the Nutrition 774 Initiative are meticulously designed to incentivize positive changes across our communities.

According to Nkwocha, The GCNg Project, in collaboration with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, is set to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in addressing public health and food system challenges.

Shettima said, “The true challenge lies in seamlessly integrating these advancements into our existing low-resource settings.

Shettima urged the Nutrition Society of Nigeria to “push the boundaries of innovation and deepen your collaboration with the government and other stakeholders.”

Accordingly, the leader of the NSN delegation, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, called on the Vice President as Chairman of the Nutrition Council of Nigeria to spearhead the government’s component of the project and galvanise ministerial support for it.

He said, “We were able to key into the global Grand Challenges project, which is largely funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“We want the government to own this project and identify the partner agency or ministry that will sign the MoU.”

Earlier, Senior Programmes Manager for Grand Challenges Nigeria, Godwin Bamsa, provided context on the initiative’s global impact, noting that since 2003, the Gates Foundation has invested over $1.6bn in health and innovation projects across 118 countries.

He stated, “The Grand Challenges project represents a transformative approach to solving critical health and nutrition issues in Nigeria.

“Our goal is to empower communities to take ownership of these solutions, ensuring sustainable impact across Nigeria.

“With the government’s partnership, we have the potential to revolutionise not just Nigeria’s health and food systems, but agriculture, science and technology, innovation, and other key sectors.”

Other members of the delegation were NSN President, Professor Wasiu Afolabi; NSN Board of Trustees Member Professor Ignatius Onimawo; immediate past President of NSN, Dr Bartholomew Brai; NSN Vice President North, Dr Aliyu Maimuna Ladidi; Chairperson, NSN FCT Abuja Chapter, Major Edith Ogheneovo Nwachinaemere (retd.); and NSN Council Member, Dr Salihu Abubakar

Devil pushed me to kill my friend for ritual —Osun herbalist 

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A herbalist based in Oba-Oke, Osun State, Ganiyu Kehinde, arrested by the police for killing his friend, Emmanuel Collins, has said he committed the act in a bid to get human parts that would be used for money rituals.

Kehinde was among the suspects arrested across the state for various crimes paraded by the police at Osun Command’s headquarters in Osogbo on Friday.

Giving the facts of the case, Osun Police Command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said it was reported at Oke-Odo Division in Osogbo that a Ghanaian, Collins, aged 35, was killed by a yet-to-be-identified individual.

“Police detectives swung into action, and through intelligence led to an investigation, one Kehinde Ganiyu ‘m’ intimate friend to the deceased was arrested. He confessed to the commission of the heinous crime and stated that, on 9th July 2024, at about 9:00 pm, he went to the deceased’s residence with a knife, where he met him sleeping because he was sick.

“That he slaughtered the deceased with the kitchen knife and removed his throat. He added further that he dried the throat for three days before he took it to a bush called Igbo Imese Aiwosi Area, located at Oba-Oke village, where he burnt it in a clay pot with some ritual materials and later mixed the burnt powder with soap for money ritual (OSOLE).

“He confessed to having singlehandedly carried out the operation. The investigation is still ongoing, and the suspect will be charged to court after the investigation accordingly,” Opalola said.

Responding to questions from journalists, Kehinde, who claimed to be an herbalist, admitted killing the deceased, adding that he used the throat for money ritual soap.

He said I am a herbalist. “The deceased was my friend. I could not tell what came over me. I met him sick, and I attacked him and killed him for a money ritual. The devil pushed me to kill my friend for a money ritual. After killing him, I removed his throat and used it to prepare a soap for money ritual, which I had. I have done similar soap for four Yahoo boys before. Devil pushed me to do it.”

Also paraded was a 22-year-old Effiong Saviour, who, in Ipetumodu, allegedly attacked a woman with a cutlass and robbed her of her handbag containing a phone, GTB ATM card, and N6,000 after inflicting machete cuts on her.

Warning against acts of criminality, Opalola said all suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of an investigation into their various crimes, urging the residents to volunteer timely information that would prevent crime.

Tinubu unlikely to push for Nigeria’s restructuring — Odinkalu

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A former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said that the chances of restructuring the country under President Bola Tinubu’s administration are slim.

Odinkalu noted that owing to the “mechanics of presidentialism,” it remains unlikely that a sitting president would champion the devolution of more powers to the federating units.

The former NHRC boss said this on Friday when he was featured as a guest on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, a sociocultural programme of Channels Television.

“President Tinubu is now seeing Nigeria from the centre, not from the circumference. I’ve lived in Lagos for clearly 40 years and I have tried to tell my friends that Lagos is not Nigeria; Lagos is Lagos. And I say this as a full-time Lagosian. Lagos is not Nigeria. All that he was talking about is different when you are the President.

“So, the idea that Tinubu is going to come to the job with an idea of restructuring is not likely to fly. The mechanics of presidentialism make it unlikely that an incumbent President is going to advocate the cannibalisation of that power. Even if the president were to be enthusiastic about that, the presidential team, many of whom would lose relevance, would slow the workings.

“So, you are going to have two levels of resistance – one from the occupant of the office himself but more also from the people around him who don’t have an interest in seeing that happen. So, the redesign of Nigeria from the centre is going to be very difficult,” Odinkalu said.

In his remarks about a new constitution, the human rights activist noted that Nigeria rather needs what he termed a “constitutional settlement.”

He said this would ensure Nigerians discuss “the things that matter and bind us together, the things we want and wish to have.”

Odinkalu stated, “I am not of the idea that we need a new constitution. What we need is a constitutional settlement. A constitution is a text, anyone can write it…A constitutional settlement precedes a constitution and we have never really had one; the closest we came to one was in 1971…but the military stepped in.

“We need a constitutional settlement to precede a constitution; to say, all of us in Nigeria, communities, ethnicities, whosoever we are, we discuss the things that matter and bind us together, the things we want and wish to have, and you guys should make a constitution of it.”

Recall that Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, while delivering a public lecture in celebration of the 50th anniversary of According Nigeria Limited in late February 2024, maintained that decentralisation would be essential to address hunger and lack of productivity among the citizenry.

He said some politicians were afraid of restructuring as they interpreted it to mean the dissolution of the country; hence, he preferred to use expressions like reconfiguration and decentralisation instead of restructuring.

Soyinka said, “We speak about food hunger because it is real. But palliatives are temporary stop-gap policies. They do not reach the heart of the problem. This is why we need to decentralise development as massively as possible.

“To anticipate accustomed banal responses, let me state quite clearly that no one has ever claimed that decentralisation – a precise word I personally prefer – will end hunger in the land or terminate religious conflicts and other forms of national malaise, no. We simply insist that this is central to the incomplete mission of nation-being. It is essential to activities of basic existence such as food production, and access to such products.”

He noted that decentralisation will enable the government to “come closer to the people and productivity can be manifested,” adding that “it is about time leaders stopped taking this nation for a ride.”

The significance of the country’s restructuring was also stressed by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere.

Both groups noted that restructuring would drive the nation’s security, economic, and social developments.

Adeleke backs Osun royal fathers on food price control 

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The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned artificial inflation induced by market middlemen, lauding traditional rulers in the state for their approach to stop activities of those fixing prices of food items.

In a statement by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday, Adeleke also tasked the State Food Security Implementation Committee to move faster in their assignment, expressing happiness that traditional rulers in Osun State have acted to regulate food prices and curtail negative activities of middlemen in the marketplaces.

According to the governor, the actions of some members of the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers on price control have assisted the government in its quest to address food insecurity in the state.

He praised the traditional rulers for impressing on market leaders the need to avoid unnecessary price increases, calling on all other traditional rulers in to engage market leaders on the urgency of price moderation. 

“I task our royal fathers to engage market associations and stop exploitation of our people. We must engage market associations to ensure that voluntary price control is introduced. 

“We recognise the importance of market associations. We see them as strong partners in governance. To that end, we call on them to join hands with the government and traditional institutions to lower food inflation.

“I am also directing my Special Adviser on Markets to move quickly to support our royal fathers in this new drive to institute traditional price control. The ‘Iyalojas and Babalojas’ (market leaders) should be integrated into the implementation process,” the Governor directed.

Meanwhile, Adeleke has directed the Food Security Implementation Committee to move faster to ensure the realisation of a secured and accessible food supply value chain in Osun State.

He tasked the committee to quickly come up with actionable plans, deliverables and timeliness, noting that food security is a matter demanding urgent attention.

Adeleke has not borrowed since becoming governor -Aide

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The Spokesman to Osun State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, has said his principal is governing the state without drawing credit facilities and without taking security votes.

Olawale, in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Friday, said the clarification was in response to figures credited to some opposition politicians, who had alleged governor Ademola Adeleke, of increasing Osun debt and of accessing security votes to the tune of billions of naira.

Rasheed who said the allegation was mischievous, said Adeleke is pursuing his many governance initiatives within the confines of available resources from federal allocations and internally generated revenue.

The statement partly read, “The Debt Management Office is the national debt data repository. According to the DMO, Osun owed foreign lenders the sum of $91,779,393.97 as of December 31, 2022, and by December 31, 2023, the external debt profile of Osun stood at $87,247,488.51.

“From the figures above, Osun’s external debt dropped. The noticeable difference in the naira value of Osun’s external debt was due to the significant devaluation of the naira. In 2022, a dollar averaged at N460, and so on. The naira value of $91,779,393.97 Osun’s external debt in 2022 was N41bn compared to 2023 when a dollar averaged N1,400, which is essentially why despite the fact that Osun’s debt reduced to $87,247,488.51, the naira equivalent was N78bn”, Olawale narrated.

“On the allegation of security services votes included in the uploaded budget performance report, let me clarify that the subhead only referred to the cost of various security services and operations across the state which is different from the conventional concept of security votes as drawn by most state governors.

“The security service funds in the identified subhead were used among other interventions to service special peacekeeping operations, provide logistics support to quench inter communal clashes and support the operations of the different security agencies across the state.”

He added that the funds meant for various security related services are accessed through normal approval processes with appropriate records kept.

“We however firmly affirm that Mr Governor did not and is not drawing any personal security votes as is the convention before his assumption of office. This is in line with his avowed commitment to free state resources to execute his ambitious five point agenda,” he averred.

FUNAAB deputy vice chancellor warns against violent protest

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The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB, Kolowole Adebayo, has cautioned Nigerians to avoid the destruction of infrastructure while expressing their grievances to the federal government.
Adebayo stated that when lives, government infrastructures and properties are destroyed, it becomes a riot, not a protest.
He spoke on Friday during the burial ceremony of Titus Odedina, father of former Ogun Commissioner of Agriculture, Samson Odedina.
Adebayo said: “If a protest means to tell your leaders that you are not happy, please provide something for us, then a protest is okay. But when it comes to damaging community infrastructure and burning down houses, that’s no longer a protest, that’s a riot. So let us define what we want to do: are we protesting or are we going to riot?
“If you go on a riot, the laws of the land are there to deal with you; if you have something to protest you can protest but don’t damage our collective property. If you burn a hospital because you are hungry, then when you are sick, where would you go?”
He asserted that while Nigerians have been blessed by God, all should embrace the culture of providing for themselves through agriculture.
“God has blessed us with everything we need. There is soil, rain and even our energy; it is left for us to decide whether we want to use it for food or other things. Someone hungry cannot stay on the internet, so let us all farm, however small, in our backyards; that would change the dynamic of the food system.
“We all need to use our extra time productively as a form of recreation that also gives us food on our table,” he said.
In his remarks, former commissioner Samson Odedina described his late father as a man of peace who would be greatly missed by all.
“He is a great family man, a man of peace; he’s a global role model for a peaceful marriage. We learn everything from him: music, humour, entrepreneurship and family unity. We’ll greatly miss him,” he said.
FUNAAB deputy vice chancellor warns against violent protest

NSCDC orders tight security around govt facilities

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has instructed all State Commandants and their personnel to safeguard the nation’s critical infrastructure in light of the upcoming nationwide protest.

A nationwide protest, scheduled for August 1 to 10, has been creating considerable tension and eliciting diverse reactions from Nigerians.

Various groups involved in organising the protest have indicated that it was triggered by the rising cost of living and the economic difficulties experienced by the public.
NSCDC Commandant General Ahmed Abubakar Audi, through a statement from the Corps’ Public Relations Officer Babawale Afolabi on Friday, underscored the core mandate of the organisation.

He highlighted the NSCDC’s dedication to protecting vital infrastructure, including oil pipelines, electrical power installations, communication equipment, and railway facilities.

Additionally, Audi reaffirmed the Corps’ commitment to the Safe Schools Initiative and all government-provided utilities designed for public convenience and comfort. Under his leadership, the NSCDC remains fully devoted to ensuring the security and safety of these essential services.

The statement read in part, “The Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni OFR, has reiterated the stance of the Corps in line with its core mandates concerning the proposed nationwide protest, affirming that the NSCDC will not allow any act of violence, disruption of peace, law and order, destruction of properties, looting, vandalism of critical national assets and infrastructure, amongst others.

“Dr Audi emphasised the core mandate of the NSCDC, noting that under his watch, the Corps is wholly committed to the protection of oil pipelines, electrical power installations, communication equipment, railway gadgets, the Safe Schools Initiative, and all utilities provided by the government for the comfort of the masses and public consumption.

“He noted that any act of destruction or vandalism of these critical assets and infrastructure would have a debilitating effect on the economy of the nation and the Corps, having upscaled its intelligence and operational mechanism, is ready to combat any attack against government infrastructure.”

The NSCDC Commandant General acknowledged that the current difficulties are not unique to Nigeria.

However, he cautioned Nigerian youths to avoid being manipulated by anonymous and anti-government figures who may have hidden agendas and ulterior motives behind organising such protests.

The statement continued, “The NSCDC is a Federal Government paramilitary agency with statutory roles and responsibilities, and we remain the lead agency in the protection of all critical national assets and infrastructure across the nation.

“Consequently, I have directed all State Commandants, Provosts of Colleges, and Heads of various formations to be on red alert, ensuring that the protection of all critical infrastructure and assets is taken very seriously.

“Our commitment to the protection of the lives and property of the Nigerian people is paramount, and we will not fold our arms and allow some fifth columnists to instigate Nigerians and its youth against the Federal Government under the pretence of staging demonstrations or protests.

“Notably, the present economic hardship is not limited to Nigeria alone; it is a global phenomenon that nations of the world are facing serious and critical economic downturns, including inflation and food supply shortages occasioned by climatic and environmental changes and other factors which the government in power is making concerted efforts to resolve while ameliorating the pains of the people.”

He urged cooperation and patience with the government through dialogue, purposeful engagement, and non-violent methods.

Additionally, the NSCDC leader encouraged student organisations nationwide to reconsider and utilise the Student Loan Scheme, which offers interest-free loans designed to support Nigerian youths in pursuing both formal education and vocational training.

It stated, “While we wish to acknowledge the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens to hold peaceful protests, it has been clearly proved, and indicators have shown that desperate criminals and non-state actors may hijack the proposed protests.

“Based on the foregoing, the NSCDC and other security agencies are working in synergy to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order, state of anarchy, pandemonium, vandalism, robbery or breach of public peace.”

Snoop Dogg Ignites flame as Paris prepares for opening ceremony

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American rapper Snoop Dogg held the flame aloft as the Olympic torch relay neared the end of its 68-stage trek through France ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.

The flame was also borne by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and a string of beaming, waving, volunteer carriers.

“The relay is over,” said an official preparing to drive away from the last stop on the Canal Saint Martin in a car carrying the slogan “flame relay.”

“Next stop: the cauldron.”

The heavily-guarded flame was headed into the centre of town ready for the final lap of its long journey, ending with the revelation of which star would run the final leg and light the cauldron to officially start the Games.

The last day of the relay was entitled the “Epilogue.”

The torch had passed through some smarter Paris addresses, on July 14, the Bastille Day national holiday, and July 15, before circling the suburbs.

It started its final journey in Saint-Denis, home of the main Olympic Stadium and the Athletes’ Village, on Friday, before sailing down the still-industrial Canal Saint-Denis and under the motorway that surrounds Paris into the traditionally blue-collar 19th-arrondissement, braving occasional drizzle.

At the Athletes’ Village, Bach and former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon took turns as torchbearers.

“Now the real thing starts. We’re all in sports. We know that what happened until now is just training. You can feel the vibe among the athletes and the organisers,” Bach told a crowd of athletes.

Yiech Biel, who ran the 800m for the Refugee Olympic Team at Rio in 2016 and is an IOC committee member representing South Sudan, found the experience moving.

“You want me to cry, or what?” he asked.

Biel said, “It is an honour to carry this torch for the first time. I am representing millions of refugees who are not here today and also representing different athletes, different diversities and different communities, and that is what makes me so emotional to be here.”

– ‘Vive les Jeux Olympiques’ –

At the stadium, Snoop Dogg in a gold jacket before changing into his white relay tracksuit, tried out his French.

“Vive les Jeux Olympiques,” said the rapper, a special correspondent at the Games for US network NBC.

With the torch held aloft he danced, walked, ran and waved as the crowd shouted “Snoop!.”

“Imagine he’s acting crazy, he takes the flame, and he lights his joint with it!” said one spectator, Toufik.

From the stadium, the flame crossed the canal in Aubervilliers for a series of boat rides, cruising past concrete factories and housing blocks to Paris accompanied by a crowd of spectators, security, officials and even canoeists in fancy dress.

With each torch holding enough fuel for six minutes, progress was interrupted by frequent, choreographed, stops as one torch lit the next and cameras snapped and whirred.

“It doesn’t happen very often. It’s exceptional,” said Nathalie, who did not give her surname, from Aubervilliers as she stood on a bridge awaiting the flame.

The flame sailed under the peripheries and into Paris on a diesel-belching canal boat, the torch held aloft by its white-clad bearer to be greeted by a throng leaning over the rail on the next bridge.

The relay toured the Parc de la Villette, which turned into the Parc des Nations housing the ‘clubhouses’ of a string of countries, dominated by France in the Grande Halle, and including Brazil in a circus tent, and Mongolia in yurts.

The relay then took to the water and cruised down the Canal de l’Ourcq, as the growing crowd roared and took up a football chant, towards the Canal Saint-Martin and its final encounter with the symbolic cauldron.

AFP

Lagos govt shuts hotels, bars, others over environmental pollution

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The Lagos State government has shut down hotels and business outlets in the Ikorodu area of the state over noise pollution, and other environmental offences.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who confirmed this in a statement on his X handle on Friday, said the move followed a recent enforcement operation in the area.
He lamented that several establishments, including hotels, bars, gas filling stations, poultry farms, and lounges continued to flout the state’s environmental protection agency’s directives despite warnings.
The commissioner listed the affected businesses as Victory Hotel, Wendy Bar, Moore Gas Plant, Provider Farm and Poultry, Cloud 24, Little Palace Hotel, City Groove Lounge and Bar, Destiny Castle, and B.S. Gold Warehouse.
Wahab wrote: “As a result, these establishments have been temporarily shut down to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
“LASEPA emphasized the importance of businesses complying with environmental standards, reiterating its commitment to fostering a sustainable and harmonious environment for Lagos residents.
“With repeated warnings issued to businesses across the state, LASEPA remains resolute in its commitment to rigorously enforcing the State environmental laws, ensuring compliance and achieving a clean and sustainable environment befitting Lagos State’s status as the nation’s Center of Excellence.”
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Tinubu sends best wishes to team Nigeria as 2024 Olympic Games begins

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As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games officially opened on Friday, President Bola Tinubu has sent his warm wishes to Team Nigeria, consisting of 88 athletes who will be representing the country in 12 sports.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, on Friday, Tinubu expressed his full support for the athletes, assuring them of the backing of over 200 million Nigerians who will be praying and cheering them.

The President specifically mentioned his excitement to watch Nigeria’s flagbearer, Tobi Amusan, the current world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles, and other athletes compete with honour and dedication on the international stage.

Tinubu urged the athletes to exhibit the values of resilience, courage, respect, self-control, and good sportsmanship that Nigerians are known for.

The statement read, “On behalf of all Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu sends his best wishes to Team Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

“A total of 88 Team Nigeria athletes, including 63 women and 25 men, are proudly flying Nigeria’s flag in 12 sports at the Paris Olympics.

“The President assures these bold and courageous ambassadors representing the country of his full support and that of over 200 million Nigerians back home, praying and cheering for their success.

“As the Games officially opens on Friday, July 26, with the ‘Parade of Nations’, President Tinubu looks forward to watching the nation’s flagbearer, Ms.Tobi Amusan, the current world record holder in the 100 metres hurdles, and other athletes compete with honour and dedication on the international stage.

“The President enjoins the athletes to exhibit the resilience, courage, respect, self-control, and good sportsmanship that Nigerians are known for.

“President Tinubu urges the coaching crew, support staff, and Nigerian spectators who will be watching the Games in Paris to remain worthy ambassadors of the country.”

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11, will feature 10,714 athletes from 206 countries, making it a global celebration of sports and athleticism.