The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

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  • Edo Train attack: 2 traditional rulers, 5 Others Arrested

    Edo Train attack: 2 traditional rulers, 5 Others Arrested

    The Edo State government has said that two traditional rulers and five other persons have been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of 20 passengers from Igueben train station in Edo state on January 7.

    The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, disclosed this yesterday in Benin while briefing journalists shortly after the state executive council meeting.The success story in the kidnapping is that seven persons and two village chiefs have been arrested in connection with the incident.

    He added that two persons remaining in captivity of the kidnappers had been rescued by security agencies.

    (Daily Trust)

  • Osinbajo Presides Over First FEC Meeting Of 2023

    Osinbajo Presides Over First FEC Meeting Of 2023

    The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is presiding over the first Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting this year at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.

    Present are the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Doctor Folasade Yemi-Esan; and the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Doctor Adeola Ipaye.

    Before the commencement of the Council meeting, members held prayers led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare and his Aviation counterpart, Senator Hadi Sirika.

    In an unusual development, over 20 ministers and their ministers of state attended in person.

    Ministers in attendance include those of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo; Health, Osagie Ehanire; Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk; that of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite.

    Also present are the ministers of Labour and Employment, Doctor Chris Ngige; Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; Agriculture, Mohammad Abubakar; Aviation, Hadi Sirika; Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; Niger Delta, Umana Umana.

    The ministers also included those of Special Duties, George Akume, Power, Abubakar Aliyu; Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi; Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare; Justice, Abubakar Malami, Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo and Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi.

    Others are Ministers of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum; Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo; Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh; Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada; Petroleum, Timipre Sylva.

    President Muhammadu Buhari who went on an official trip to Nouakchott, Mauritania, for the Third Forum of the African Conference for Peace is expected back into the country today.

    Buhari, who was honoured by the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum with ‘Award for Strengthening Peace in Africa’ on Tuesday, told other African leaders that Nigeria and other regional bodies on the continent and the rest of the world are working assiduously to deal with existential threats to the very existence of humanity.

    The President also noted that the country continues to engage bilaterally and multilaterally to comprehensively win the war against the insurgency and other related terror groups through kinetic and non-kinetic approaches.

    (Channels)

  • Putin confident Russia will win in Ukraine

    Putin confident Russia will win in Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he had “no doubt” Moscow would emerge victorious in Ukraine, despite military setbacks in the nearly year-long offensive.

    Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February last year, and in September announced a military mobilisation to prop up Moscow’s forces in the pro-Western country.

    Despite a number of military defeats, victory was “guaranteed, I have no doubt about it,” Putin told workers at a factory in Russia’s second city Saint Petersburg.

    “The unity and solidarity of the Russian people, the courage and heroism of our fighters and, of course, the work of the military-industrial sector” will secure victory, he added.

    Putin also praised the Russian defence industry as he spoke at the plant, which is part of Russian missile manufacturer Almaz-Antey.

    “We have something to rely upon and this cannot but inspire that victory will be ours,” he said.

    Putin was visiting his native Saint Petersburg to mark the 80th anniversary of Soviet forces breaking the siege of Leningrad as the city was known at the time.

    His comments came a week after he replaced Russia’s top commander in Ukraine, a move that followed a string of defeats on the battlefield in Ukraine last year.

    There is some concern in Russia over how long Moscow’s so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine has gone on for, with the offensive’s anniversary approaching.

    Putin once again defended his goals in Ukraine, where he initially sent troops to “de-Nazify” the pro-Western country.

    “We are absolutely justified in saying that we are fighting neo-Nazism,” he said.

    (Vanguard)

  • Emefiele to meet with Govs over withdrawal limit

    Emefiele to meet with Govs over withdrawal limit

    Governors of the 36 states have planned to meet with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, on Thursday over the present withdrawal policy and the redesigned naira notes.

    The governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum through its spokesperson, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, in a statement Tuesday night said the governors would exchange ideas with Emefiele on “the economic and security implications of the current withdrawal policy and naira redesign.

    On October 26, 2022, the CBN disclosed its decision to redesign the naira notes and subsequently directed Nigerians to change their naira notes from the banks on or before January 31, 2023.

    Spokesperson Bello-Barkindo said the Chairman of the NGF, who is the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, had invited Emefiele to meet with the governors on Thursday at 9:00 pm, virtually.

    The spokesperson while referring to the NGF’s Director General, Mr. Asishana Okauru, noted that the virtual meeting would focus on the latest apex bank’s withdrawal policy and naira redesign.

    He said, “For the virtual meeting, the agenda is titled, “The Economic and Security implications of naira redesign and withdrawal policy.

    “The discussion promises to foster participation and dialogue between various stakeholders including governments and civil society organisations to come up with a solution to the lingering issue.”

    The reporter reported how the CBN pegged the maximum weekly limit for cash withdrawals across by individuals and corporate organisations to N500,000 and N5 million, respectively.

    Initially, the CBN reduced the weekly over-the-counter cash withdrawal limit for individuals to N100,000 and that of corporate organisations to N500,000.

    It also reduced withdrawals at Automated Teller Machines and point-of-sale terminals to N20,000 daily.

    (Punch)

  • Gates Foundation to spend $8.3bn to fight poverty, inequality in 2023

    Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mark Suzman, has announced that it will spend $8.3 billion in 2023 to continue its work fighting poverty, disease and inequity.

    He also shared examples of how the Foundation uses its resources, voice, and convening power to call attention to and help find solutions for problems that otherwise might be neglected.

    The budget—the largest in the Foundation’s history, is a response to multiple crises that threaten to stall or reverse global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    These include war, economic turmoil, climate-related disasters, and large decreases in vaccinations for preventable infectious diseases, all of which have taken a significant toll on the world’s poorest people.

    “The board of trustees’ approval of the budget puts the Foundation on track to meet its commitment to reach an annual payout of $9 billion by 2026—and represents a 15% increase over the 2022 forecasted payout.

    “This is the toughest period for global health and development in recent memory, but in some ways, it’s also the reason we exist,” Suzman said.

    “To help meet the great needs ahead, we are doubling down on our commitment to our core mission: ensuring everyone can live a healthy and productive life.”

    He said people in low- and middle-income countries, particularly women and girls, are facing the severe consequences of intersecting global crises, yet the world has so far failed to step up with the necessary political will and resources to respond.

    In his annual letter, Suzman addressed questions about the scale of the Foundation’s influence and its access to global leaders.

    Using examples from the Foundation’s work on climate adaptation, malaria, and U.S. education, he detailed how the Foundation catalyses and advocates for solutions, brings diverse voices to decision-making tables, and fills market gaps.

    He also discussed the role the Foundation plays in setting global health and development priorities.

    “The Foundation doesn’t set the world’s agenda—we respond

    to it,” Suzman said, referencing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

    Highlighting areas where the Foundation makes big bets, Suzman reflected on the unique role of philanthropic capital, particularly in times of crisis.

    “From improving vaccination rates to advancing women’s economic power, the foundation uses its funds, expertise, relationships, and voice where it can make the biggest impact measured in lives saved and opportunities created for all to reach their full potential.

    “It does so by funding innovations that may not be financially attractive or feasible for the private sector or governments, stepping in where markets fail, and investing in R&D that would otherwise never leave the lab.

    “Our role is to ensure that decision-makers—be they school board members or cassava growers or health ministers—have the best possible options to choose from

    and the best possible data to inform their decisions,” Suzman said. “And where there’s a solution that can improve livelihoods and save lives, we’ll advocate persistently for it.”

    (Sun)

  • Labour Minister Presents Certificates Of Registration To CONUA, NAMDA

    Labour Minister Presents Certificates Of Registration To CONUA, NAMDA

    The unions appealed to the government to pay their withheld salaries, saying their members were not on strike with ASUU last year.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has presented certificates of registration to the Congress Of University Academics (CONUA) and the National Association Of Medical And Dental Academics (NAMDA), two breakaway labour unions from the Academic Staff Union Of Universities (ASUU).

    Speaking at the official presentation of certificates to the two unions in Abuja, the labour minister warned the unions against incessant industrial action and urged them to embrace dialogue whenever they have a misunderstanding with their employers.

    Ngige maintained that the Federal Government will continue to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy on any union that embarks on industrial action.

    The presentation of these certificates of registration to the leaders of CONUA and NAMDA by the labour minister signified the birth of two labour unions in Nigeria’s academic system.

    The two unions came into the limelight in October 2022 in the heat of an eight-month strike by ASUU.

    The minister urged the new unions to operate within the provisions of the labour laws.

    In their respective comments, the unions appealed to the government to pay their withheld salaries, saying their members were not on strike with ASUU last year.

    The Nigerian university system has suffered serious setbacks in recent times, owing to incessant industrial actions by academic and non-academic staff, a development that has severally disrupted the academic calendar.

    (Channels)

  • Inferno: Mbah, Enugu PDP guber candidate, sympathizes with victims of shopping plaza fire

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Peter Mbah has sent his sympathies to the victims of the fire incident which gutted many shops and goods worth millions of naira at Agu Nwede Plaza, Agbani Road, Gariki-Awkunanaw in Enugu metropolis.

    In a statement issued by his media office on Tuesday, the governorship hopeful described the midnight fire incident as tragic, sad, and unfortunate.

    Mbah, who expressed regret that the victims’ means of livelihood have been affected by the incident, urged public spirited individuals and corporate organizations to help provide succor to them.

    He commended the men of the Enugu State Fire Service, good-spirited individuals and leaders of Afor-Awkunanaw market for their timely intervention which he noted checked further spread of the fire.

    Dr Mbah expressed happiness that no life was lost, praying that the Almighty God will grant all the victims a speedy recovery from their losses.

    Dan Nwomeh
    Head, Peter Mbah Media Office

  • Youths set police station ablaze over Rev Achi’s death

    Youths set police station ablaze over Rev Achi’s death

    With barely three days after Reverend Isaac Achi of the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Kafin Koro Deanery was gruesomely murdered by yet to be identified gunmen in Kaffin-koro, Paikoro local government area of Niger state, some angry youths on Tuesday morning set the Kafin-koro police station ablaze.

    The Police was also said to have shot and killed one of the youths during the fracas.

    Trouble was said to have started, when some Christian women comprising ECWA and Catholic women group converged on the premises of the burnt Parish in Kafin Koro on Tuesday morning to offer prayers against those who carried out the gruesome murder of Rev Achi and for God to expose them including praying for the repose of the death of the Reverend Father when a detachment of police from Kafin-koro police division stormed the place to offer protection for the praying congregation.

    The congregation who came from all the villages within Kafin Koro district, were said to have vehemently resisted the voluntary offer of protection from the police whom they accused of not doing anything to rescue Late Reverend Achi from the hands of the invading gunmen.

    The congregation therefore asked the police to leave in protest, hurling stones and sachet water at them.

    It was gathered that the police however retreated back to their station but shortly after the prayers by the congregation, they were said to have marched in a peaceful protest through the major road of the town chanting anti police slogan to the Police Division to register their grievances over the inability of the police to save Reverend Achi from the hands of his murderers despite several distress calls by the deceased and later his younger brother, Paul Sikiti.

    It was in the point that the police were said to have opened fire, shot a middle-aged man who died on the spot and this resulted in the peaceful protest turning violent.

    In the ensuing violent confrontation with the police, some unidentified people among the protesters were said to have set the police station on fire and burnt the entire building down asking the police to leave the town since their presence had no security meaning to the community.

    Recall that before the gruesome murder of late Reverend Achi, Kafin Koro and its environs have come under severe attacks from gunmen, leading to the killing of a number of people while scores were abducted and ransom running to millions of naira paid to the abductors.

    Both the government and the police are yet to issue a statement on this latest development.

    Meanwhile the Catholic Diocese of Minna, Niger state has announced the burial arrangements of the late Reverend Father Achi.

    In a statement in Minna on Tuesday and signed by Very Reverend Father Amanchukwu Emeka, the Diocese indicatef that Thursday, 19th has been slated for the wake keep mass, while Friday is being scheduled for the funeral mass and final interment at the St. Micheal Catholic Cathedral in Minna, the Niger state capital.

    (Sun)

  • Fire razes 15 shops in Enugu market

    Fire razes 15 shops in Enugu market

    About 15 shops with goods worth millions of naira have been completely razed down at Agbani Road, in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened on Monday night.

    The affected shops were situated at Agu Nwede Plaza, Agbani Road, Gariki-Awkunanaw in Enugu metropolis.

    Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that a shopping plaza that housed electrical shops, hair salons, phone accessories, a cafeteria, and motor/motorcycle parts, caught fire at about 11 pm on Monday night.

    One of the witnesses, who gave his name as Onyebuchi Omerie, said the entire building would have been completely razed but for the intervention of residents who raced to the area on time to help douse the ravaging inferno.

    Omerie said that though no one could actually state how the fire started, various accounts said the inferno that gutted the shopping mall started from refuse in the gutter that someone set fire to but it spread and attacked the building.

    “I don’t know actually what caused the fire incident. I heard that someone set fire to a refuse in the gutter when they closed for business yesterday and the fire spread and caught the building that housed the shops. It was also said that the fire was caused by a Suya seller who probably did not put out the fire from his oven well,” a resident told our correspondent.

    He said that he lived close by and when he perceived the smell coming from the stalls, he thought that it was his generator that was producing the smoke only the discover that it was the shops that caught fire.

    “I live nearby. When I perceived the smell in the night around ten or eleven in the night, I thought it was my generator but when I came out to find out, I saw the shops in flame,” the resident said.

    He also said that when the Fire Service personnel came, they could not put out the fire because they lacked enough water.

    “It was people that started bringing water from everywhere that were able to contain the fire from consuming the entire building,” he also said.

    When our correspondent arrived at the scene of the incident, sympathisers were busy trying to recover some goods from the wreckage while some others looked on aghast at the gory incident.

    “What a tragedy that people should lose their source of livelihood this January and in this economic hardship,” a female sympathiser lamented.

    Confirming the incident to our correspondent when contacted, the Chief Fire Officer, Enugu State Fire Service, Engr. Okwudiri Ohaa, stated that contrary to Omerie’s report, his men were at the scene of the fire with about two fire trucks and successfully contained the fire.

    In his words: “The fire started around 11pm based on reports we gathered. We were called by 11.43pm and I immediately mobilized my men to the place. It didn’t take long for us to get there because the roads were free (almost midnight) and we were there with two trucks of water”.

    While restating the resolve of the state’s fire service to be prompt and serve diligently, he encouraged residents to always be on the look out to ensure that incidents of fire breakout are reduced to the barest minimum.

    It would be recalled that Enugu State Fire Service had, on Friday, January 13, 2023, distributed over 1,800 Fire Ball Extinguishers to over 50 markets in the state to help combat incidents of fire outbreaks.

    (Pacesetter/Punch)

  • 2023: No PVC, No Vote — INEC insists

    2023: No PVC, No Vote — INEC insists

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has maintained that the Permanent Voters Cards, PVC, is a critical document in the forthcoming general elections and registered voters yet to collect theirs before the deadline would not be allowed to vote.

    The Commission explained before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court that PVC is critical to the accreditation process for the general elections.

    Meanwhile, the electoral body had through its counsel, Abdulaziz Sani, SAN, urged the court to throw out a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2348/2023, seeking to compel it to allow voters with temporary voters card or proof of registration to cast their votes on election day.

    The suit accused the electoral body of an alleged plot to disenfranchise over 20 million eligible voters in the country.

    The suit was filed by a non-governmental organization under the aegis of the Incorporated Trustees of the International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, alongside two other plaintiffs- Emmanuel Chukwuka and Bruno Okeahialam.

    The plaintiffs told the court that they filed the suit for themselves and on behalf of registered voters about to be disenfranchised by INEC in the 2023 general elections.

    But in its counter affidavit, the INEC challenged the competence of the suit, insisting that the legal action was premature, frivolous and speculative.

    Unlike previous elections where such opportunity was available to prospective voters, the commission insisted that only those with PVCs that were duly authenticated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, would be allowed to cast their ballot.

    The electoral body told the court that it has already extended the time within which PVCs could be collected.

    While accusing the plaintiffs of failing to supply the court with particulars of the 29million persons they claimed may be disenfranchised, INEC, said the reason it extended the period for PVC collection was that so many fresh ones, especially in areas that were attacked, have been reproduced and ready for collection.

     

    “My lord, it is a mysterious submission that the BVAS use the last 6 digits of VIN. That is totally wrong and not true. In fact, I am hearing it for the first time. Without the PVCs, the BVAS cannot work.

    Even the election will surprise people. There are many innovations that I don’t want to divulge here.

    “As far as this suit is concerned, no particulars were provided to show that any PVC was destroyed. They should have waited until the expiration of the time for collection, which is January 29, before filing this suit”, an INEC lawyer submitted.

    He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the suit, adding that the 1st plaintiff failed to attach its Article of Incorporation to show that it has the mandate to embark on such public interest litigation.

    Justice Binta Nyako has fixed January 30 to deliver judgment in the suit.

    (Sun)

  • Service Chief’s intervention saves Emefiele from arrest as he arrives from vacation, resumes work -Source

    Service Chief’s intervention saves Emefiele from arrest as he arrives from vacation, resumes work -Source

    The intervention of one of the Service Chiefs yesterday saved Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele, from arrest upon return to Nigeria from his annual vacation abroad.

    This is coming at a time the Directorate of State Services (DSS) denied ever storming the CBN headquarters to arrest Emefiele, with the apex bank spokesman saying he had resumed duty.

    Since Emefiele travelled overseas for his leave, there had been confusion and anxiety, triggered by the DSS’ attempt to get a court warrant to arrest him on allegation of terrorism financing.

    Daily Sun gathered that the Service Chief had got an approval for the jet that brought Emefiele back to the country to land at the private wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, where military men had been positioned.

    The presence of the military men had prevented any move by the DSS to attempt arresting the CBN governor.

    Sources revealed, however, that some top officials at the DSS had given the resignation of Emefiele as condition for him to be let off their hook and end the controversy, with pressures mounting for his sack.

    Meanwhile, the Senate said it is eagerly awaiting the CBN Governor to submit documents relating to the Ways and Means of the apex bank. Competent sources told Daily Sun that senators had vowed not to approve the 2023 budget until they see documents on the CBN loans with which the Federal Government financed budget shortfalls. Statistics showed that the Ways and Means’ debt rose from N17. 5 trillion in December 2021 to N23. 8 trillion in October 2022.

    To further quell the controversies over the Emefiele’s overseas’ spell, Osita Nwanisobi, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, said the governor proceeded on leave in December 2022 and resumed work on Monday (yesterday).

    The statement said: “The governor resumed with renewed vigour to perform his duty ahead of the first Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the year scheduled for January 23 to 24, 2023.

    “Mr. Emefiele remains committed to performing the task before him, in line with his oath of office and the policy direction of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “While thanking the public for keeping faith with the bank, we urge Nigerians to continue to support the policies of the bank aimed at ensuring a stable financial system and the Nigerian economy in general.”

    Also yesterday, the DSS denied rumours that its operatives stormed the CBN headquarters to effect Emefiele’s arrest.

    The Public Relations Officer of DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, in a statement said: “The attention of the DSS has been drawn to the false news making the round that its operatives invaded the Central Bank of Nigeria and arrested its governor, today 16/1/23 (yesterday). This is fake news and quite misleading.”

    Emefiele and the DSS have been in court over allegations of terrorism financing, the nation’s secret police seeking court orders to arrest him upon his return to the country from his annual leave.

    But the FCT High Court in December 2022 declined the prayer and further barred the secret service from arresting, inviting, or detaining Emefiele.

    The Presidency has kept mum since the DSS-Emefiele face-off started, with no sign about what President Muhammadu Buhari wants to do on the matter. Sources however hinted that pressure is mounting on the Presidency to remove Emefiele from office, even when there has been no proof about the alleged against him.

    (Sun)

  • 25m Nigerians at risk of facing hunger in 2023

    25m Nigerians at risk of facing hunger in 2023

    The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and Cadre Harmonisé, has released a scalding report, stating that 25 million Nigerians will experience food insecurity between June and August, this year, if urgent measures are not taken to address the trend.

    The figure is a projected increase from the over 17 million people currently at risk of food insecurity in the country, it said.

    The report said out of the 25 million expected to face hunger this year, 4.4 million people are those living in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.

    The Cadre Harmonisé (CH) research was conducted in 26 of Nigeria’s 36 states, including the Federal Capital Territory.

    It said: “Nearly 25 million Nigerians are at risk of facing hunger between June and August 2023 (lean season) if urgent action is not taken, according to the October 2022 Cadre Harmonisé, a Government led and UN supported food and nutrition analysis carried out twice a year. This is a projected increase from the estimated 17 million people currently at risk of food insecurity .Continued conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices are key drivers of this alarming trend.

    “Food access has been affected by persistent violence in the north-east states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) and armed banditry and kidnapping in states such as Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Benue and Niger.

    “The flooding is one of the effects of climate change and variability impacting Nigeria. More extreme weather patterns affecting food security are anticipated in the future.

    “Of the 17 million people who are currently food insecure, 3 million are in the north-east BAY states. Without immediate action this figure is expected to increase to 4.4 million in the lean season.

    “This includes highly vulnerable displaced populations and returnees who are already struggling to survive a large-scale humanitarian crisis in which 8.3 million people need assistance.”

    Meanwhile, CH’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, described the food security and nutrition situation across Nigeria as “deeply concerning.”

    Schmale said: “I have visited nutrition stabilization centres filled with children who are fighting to stay alive. We must act now to ensure they and others get the lifesaving support they need.”

    (Sun)