Category: News

President Bola Tinubu is currently in a closed-door meeting with Governors from his party, under the aegis of the Progressives Governors Forum.

The specific agenda for the meeting remains undisclosed.

Notably, 15 Governors, including those from Imo, Kwara, Benue, Kaduna, Ekiti, Cross River, Ogun, Borno, Yobe, Kebbi, Jigawa, Ondo, Kogi, and Sokoto, are in attendance
Additionally, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, whose election victory was affirmed by the Supreme Court today, is also present at the meeting, taking place in the council chambers of the presidential villa.

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The Apex Court says Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party governorship candidate’s appeal challenging the Appeal Court decision affirming Sanwo-Olu and his deputy lacks merit, and is therefore dismissed on that ground.

In a unanimous decision, the Apex Court panel stresses that acquisition of US citizenship doesn’t disqualify a person seeking to run for governor. It says being a citizen of Nigeria by birth makes one qualified to run.

Hence, the quest by the Labour Party to void the victory of the APC in the Governorship Election in Lagos State fails.

The Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) is seeking to collaborate with the Enugu State government in areas of mutual interests that would contribute to the ease of doing business and boost economic activities by encouraging people to invest in the state.

This development was disclosed on Thursday by the Chairman, Barr. Amos Azi, when he led a delegation of the tribunal on a courtesy visit to the Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, at the Government House, Enugu.

The IST Chairman, who expressed delight over the victory of the governor at the Supreme Court, further commended his administration for the laudable achievements recorded in less than one year in office.

According to him, the IST is a specialized fast-track civil court established pursuant to section 274 of the Investments and Securities Act 2007 for the resolution of disputes arising from investments and securities transactions in the Nigerian Capital Market as part of the Federal Government’s reform initiative for the financial sector.

While stating that the Enugu Zonal Office was established in 2009 with a view to reducing costs to prospective litigants and creating affordable access to justice, considering the strategic and unique role the state has been playing in the zone, the Chairman bemoaned that its zonal office had been operating in a rented residential apartment with perennial increment and other costs.

“The Tribunal has since its inception in Enugu adjudicated over 30 cases with a collective monetary value of about ₦1.2 billion, and it is hoped that with an adequate enabling environment and stakeholders engagement, the Tribunal is likely to witness a deluge of cases, which will serve to address the concerns of many investors thus boosting economic activities not just in Enugu State but the entire South East geo-political and economic zone,” he added.

He also called on the people of the state and the entire zone to consider investing in the capital market as that would expand their economic base, saying acquiring shares in performing companies would yield good dividends for them.

Reacting, Governor Mbah reiterated the administration’s commitment to partnering with every institution that would add value to the state, adding that Enugu State had been supporting a large number of federal agencies operating in the state over the past years.

Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai, assured of continuous collaboration with the tribunal and other agencies as the relationship would foster economic and investment justice, reinforce investor’s confidence and facilitate quick resolution of disputes.

“This courtesy call exemplifies our commitment to fostering collaboration and promotion of investment justice. It also speaks to our fidelity to investment agreement, honest and quick resolution of investment dispute, financial and economic stability especially as we work assiduously to grow the economy of our state from $4.4 billion to $30 billion,” he maintained.

Governor Mbah called on investors to see the state as the most investor-friendly state with the recent reforms in all the MDAs that would encourage the ease of doing business.

“Our administration remains steadfast in creating an environment conducive to investment, and the insights shared during this engagement will undoubtedly contribute to the formulation of policies geared towards making Enugu State the choice destination for investors,” the governor added.

The Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, Wednesday, commissioned a number of projects which included the 1.8 kilometers Afia Nine, Onuato, Onyiuke roads, Independence Layout, 270 modern shopping complex, Akwatta, and new secretariat/administrative complex in Enugu North local government area of the state.

The governor, while commending the executive chairman of the council area, Hon Emeka Onunze, for his investments in critical infrastructure in line with the focus of his administration, said the newly constructed roads and the Akwatta shopping complex would not only create job opportunities for the people, facilitate ease of doing business, they would also assist in driving the economy.

“What we are witnessing today is in line with the plans of this government; to constantly keep making investments in critical infrastructure needed to create opportunities for our people and needed to drive the economy of our people. And when you invest in road network, it is a moment for our people because our economy is essentially road driven. Both goods and services are road driven. So, any investment in road has a multiplier effect for services and goods. In that way we keep lifting our people out of poverty, we keep increasing our GDP because for all those people who sell on this road, for the time lost before this road was constructed, you are going to see a reduction in that time,” he said.

Represented by the State Deputy Governor, Barr Ifeanyi Ossai, the governor expressed delight over the current trend in the local government administration in the state, saying they had started giving priority to capital and other meaningful projects that would grow the economy of the state and add value to the lives of the people they were meant to serve.

According to him: “We are happy that the councils in Enugu State are beginning to do infrastructures that are sustainable; they are beginning to migrate from councils of recurrent activities, to a place where councils act in manners that trigger economic development. Of course, they are taking a cue from the leadership of Governor Peter Mbah. If you look around our state, most of our councils, especially those outside the urban cities are huge investors in agriculture currently, and are synergizing with the State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization in programmes like Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ).”

Noting that local government is an independent component of the federal system of government, the governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to partner with the third tier in areas of development, economic growth, human capital asset, and eradication of poverty by supporting their programmes with resources for the benefit of the citizens.

“You must also recognize that the councils are independent arm of government; so what we can do with them is partnership. We encourage them, and the economic commission is working with them on projects they invest their resources, and we support them to ensure that the will of the government and the benefit of our government get to our people,” he added.

He, however, charged local government chairmen and those working with them to look inward, be more creative, share experiences and learn from their colleagues in order to boost their productivity, add value to the society, and invest in projects that would improve the standards of living of their people, enjoining them to emulate the Enugu North council chairman and speed up development.

Speaking earlier, Onunze appreciated the governor for the opportunity and support his administration had been receiving from the state government throughout the period of projects lasted.

He said the projects were initiated to complement the efforts of the state government to reposition the state and make it a hub of investment, maintain that the shopping complex would boost the presence of economic activities in the area, and also generate revenue for the state.

“I want to thank the state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah for the opportunity to serve the people and for the conducive environment for us to thrive. All these projects couldn’t have been possible without his encouragement and support.

“The governor has become an inspiration and enabler to us in the third tier. Within the few months of his administration, we have started seeing huge changes in terms of performance and productivity, infrastructure, water, empowerment, security, and general growth,” the chairman noted.

He said the administrative office was named after the governor because of his good governance metrics and impact across the state, even as he assured that the established maintenance culture in the system will ensure that completed projects and those under construction will not be abandoned.

Recall that the state government announced on September 6, 2023 that it would partner with local government areas in the state to fund development and other human capital projects across the local councils by providing 60 percent of the fund needed for the designated projects.

COAS commends Enugu gov’t as partner in fight against insecurity, to address security dark areas in state

…As Mbah requests military barracks for Isi-Uzo

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has assured that the Army would strengthen security efforts in a few dark areas in Enugu State, such as Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, commending the government and people of the state for being good partners in the fight against insecurity.

Lt. Gen Lagbaja said the desire and effort of the Government of Enugu State aligned with the goal of the Army to expand the frontiers of peace and stability for law-abiding citizens to thrive and thanked the governor and good people of Enugu State for the support provided to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Garrison,103 Battalion and other deployments across Enugu State.

This was even as the governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, commended the Army for the immense support to his government’s efforts to boost security in order to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion and also called for army barracks in Isi-Uzo area to ensure permanent security in that part of the state.

Lagbaja, who was accompanied by the Army high command, gave the assurances during a working visit to the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday, as part of his effort to assess operational situations under the jurisdiction of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army.

He said: “Following my assumption of office as the Chief of Army Staff on the 23rd of June last year, I have taken time out to visit the formations and units of the Nigerian Army to assess the deployment of our troops across the country in a bid to address some challenges confronting the troops in order to improve their operational effectiveness.

“I have been rest assured of the support of the governor of Enugu State as well as the other governors in the South East to the efforts of our troops to create a stable, peaceful, and enabling environment for the economy of the South East to thrive.

“The desire of the Nigerian Army aligns perfectly with that of the government and the good people of Enugu State; and that is to rid our society of criminal elements and to ensure that peace and stability prevail for law-abiding citizens going about their lawful businesses.

“I have taken note of the brief of the GOC, 82 Division, and even my private chat with His Excellency, Dr. Peter Mbah, the governor. The Army Headquarters will address all issues raised, including having boots on the ground in Isi-Uzo with the desire to rid the area of criminal elements and to ensure that economic activities thrive in that area.

“The army headquarters will take steps to address some dark areas that have been pointed out in a bid to expand the frontiers of our peace and stability in this state.

“I also want to pledge a continuous support of the formations and other units of the Nigerian Army to the effort of the Enugu State Government to ensure that peace reigns in the state. The Nigerian Army will continue to remain a loyal and worthy partner to you towards realising your wonderful plans for the people of Enugu State. ”

Speaking, Governor Mbah said his administration was on course to fulfilling the promises it made to the people of Enugu State because the Army had been very supportive of his government’s efforts to stamp out every trace of insecurity in the state.

“We executed a social pact with the people of Enugu State. We promised them that we envisioned an Enugu State that would be one of the top three states in the country in terms of gross domestic product, GDP, and that we were going to grow our economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

“We also said to them that we were on a mission to make Enugu State the premier destination for investment, business, tourism, and living. We recognise that this growth will not come from the public sector. It would all come from the private sector, and the private sector investment does not agree with insecurity, which is why we spared no time in declaring war on insecurity.

“I must also, at this point, recognise and acknowledge the tireless efforts and commitment you and your men have invested in securing Enugu State. Today in Enugu State, we can proudly say that we are on the path of fulfilling those promises we made to our people.

“We also want to assure you on our part as a government that we are going to continue to provide necessary support to sustain and indeed improve the state of security in Enugu State.

“We have also made a lot of commitments in investing in our people because we recognise and understand that a number of these challenges may also require some non-kinetic approaches,” Mbah said.

President Bola Tinubu has summoned the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over his alleged involvement of the controversial N438 million contract scandal involving the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.

The Nation newspaper reports that Mr Tunji-Ojo was summoned by the president on Tuesday.

The minister is expected to explain his role in the contract awarded to New Planet Project Limited, a firm linked to him.

A leaked memo being circulated online showed that a firm linked to the minister, received a substantial sum labeled as ‘consultancy fees’ from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Mr Tunji-Ojo had earlier in a television interview denied any involvement in the contract, explaining that he resigned his directorship of the company in 2019.

”I am not a signatory to the company,” he said.

“And actually, I was shocked because the company in question was a company where I was a director. About five years ago, I had resigned from my directorship.”

Mr Tunji-Ojo said he co-founded the New Planet Project with his wife 15 years ago but resigned as a director in 2019 upon winning a seat in the House of Representatives.

However, he remained a shareholder in the company.

“Of course, to the best of my knowledge, public service rules do not prohibit public officers from being shareholders. What public service rules say is that you cannot be a director of which I had resigned about five years ago.”

President Tinubu, on Monday, suspended Mrs Edu for allegedly diverting over N585 million to a private account.

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The Enugu State Government has continued with the replacement and extension of pipelines in areas without water across the metropolis and its outskirts, raising hope of capturing more residents without access to clean and potable water.

The state governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, who was on inspection tour to some of the ongoing extension projects in some parts of the capital city on Monday, charged residents to take ownership of the water facilities and protect them against sabotage and vandalisation, warning those deliberately vandalizing state assets, leading to frequent leakage of water and a huge cost to the government, to desist from the illegal act or face severe consequences.

Speaking to newsmen in Enugu, the governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said different security measures were being taken including kinetic and non-kinetic measures such as engagement with the beneficiaries of the water project to guard against activities of vandals, adding that law enforcement agents were on the lookout for those destroying the water facilities.

“We anticipated that those that benefitted in the past through selling of water at a very high cost in Enugu will feel the need to continue to work against the vision of the governor, Dr. Peter Mbah. So, part of what they are doing is not something that we did not anticipate in our strategy. But the incident you have seen cannot be compared to the quantum of the incidents you would have heard if it hasn’t been for some intervention plans we put in place. So, people have gone around doing all sort of things, going around cutting and vandalizing water collection points. Stealing the heads, and in some instances, breaking the pipes completely. Two things we have thought about doing as a government; one is to provide adequate security in some of these locations, but more importantly, is for communities to take ownership of the infrastructure being brought to their communities.

“These are people that have not had water for over a decade. So, we brought water to them, put those fetching points as first line intervention pending when reticulation gets to their homes. We expect to work with the local government chairmen, the councilors, the presidents-general and community leaders to be able to now say to them, government is doing what they have promised and to ensure the sustainability of the infrastructure, you have to be committed in that process. And that’s the conversation we had in that process. The conversation we had with them earlier, and there was commitment but you do know in these things, there are going to be instances where people are going to push an agenda that is contrary,” he said.

According to him, the administration gave a timeline of 180 days to make water available to the people and was able to meet the target within the timeframe, saying the extension work at Abakpa, some parts of Independence Layout, and other new areas in the metropolis was necessary to ensure that all homes in the state have access to safe-drinking water as promised in the governor’s manifesto.

He maintained that most of the pipes that were being replaced with modern and globally accepted ones were those laid by the former Premier of the Old Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara, which had not only outlived their lifespan but had become unsafe for the transportation of water for consumption.

“It is important to note that the 180-days timeline to bring water to Enugu was achieved, over 60,000 cubic meters of water coming into Enugu. What His Excellency is doing right now is ensuring that reticulation and also ensuring that these old pipes, like what you are seeing now which were all laid during the Michael Okpara era, are replaced. Some of them are outdated, some are asbestos, and we are replacing them across the whole city to ensure safety and the quality of water that Enugu people will be getting. So, when we released the quantity of water with that pressure, most of these things blew up, and most of you remember all over Enugu and on social media pipes were blowing up.

“So, what we are doing now, His Excellency has asked me to come and inspect to see the level of work being done to replace and get water to the last mile which is to the people while we are doing expansion work around reticulation to areas that were not initially piped or connected. That is what you noticed we did in Abakpa. The same thing we did in Coal Camp, and now we are around Independence Layout to make sure that this connects to Independence Layout and also down towards Ogui around Obiagu area. We are in a hurry to make sure we achieve what we have set out to achieve. Most of the contractors will be back to site tomorrow and we have asked them to come to the office to look at their work plan and ensure that there are very stringent measures and monitoring to what we have agreed with them at the beginning of this project,” he further explained.