The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Buhari

  • Presidency calls for Joint Effort from All Stake holders to tackle poverty Among women

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to tackle poverty among women, as Nigeria joins other countries to mark the 2021 International Women’s Day (IWD).

     

    Orelope-Adefulire said this at the weekend in a statement she issued in commemoration of the 2021 IWD with the theme; “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.”

     

     

     

    Celebrated worldwide, the IWD is a day set aside to assess the progress being made by efforts being made in the struggle for social, economic, cultural, and political inclusion of women as well as for advocacy for actions on acceleration of gender equity.

     

    Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, Orelope-Adefulire noted that just like in the other parts of the world, COVID-19 had exacerbated gender inequalities in Nigeria, especially among the poor, with many women finding it difficult to cater for their families as a result of loss of their livelihoods as engendered by the pandemic.

     

    She noted that the Federal Government has positively responded to the challenge in various ways, citing the Special Cash Grant Project through which 135,000 women rural women across the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory are already benefitting from “one-off” grant of N20,000 each.

     

     

     

    In addition, Orelople-Adefulire noted that the President had at the inception of COVID-19 in Nigeria directed the expansion of the Social Safety Net Register to accommodate more beneficiaries of the government’s cash transfer programme while women are also major beneficiaries of the of the various initiatives under the N2.3 trillion economic stimulus plan of the administration.

     

    She added that while COVID-19 has made many women poorer, it has been established that SDGs cannot be achieved without tackling the issues of poverty and gender inequality.

     

    “This means all hands must be on deck to end the poverty among women as parts of efforts to ensure no one is left behind through sustainable initiatives targeted at job creation and expansion of economic activities across the country,” the presidential aide said.

     

    She therefore urged other stakeholders to join the battle to tackle poverty among women, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

     

    “Even as I commend President Muhammadu Buhari over these initiatives which are consistent with his national vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years, I will urge other stakeholders to join in the efforts to ensure that more of our women are brought into the mainstream of social-economic activities in Nigeria,” said the president aide who also paid tributes to women at the front line of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic at various levels in the country in the statement.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Buhari Orders Total War on Bandits, Kidnappers and Insurgents

    It is time to take decisive action against banditry and kidnapping in the country, the National Security Council decided on Tuesday.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a total war on bandits, kidnappers and insurgents.

     

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan also urged Chief of Defence Staff Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor and Service Chiefs to take the battle to bandits, who are continuously breaching the security of the country and its people.

     

    Lawan spoke after the Senate cleared the military chiefs, following their appointment by the President.

     

    National Security Adviser Major Gen. Babagana Monguno, who announced the President’s directive after the security meeting, also said the President had declared Zamfara State a no-fly-zone with immediate effect, in response to recent security challenges in the state.

     

    He said the President ordered the security chiefs to recover all areas under the occupation of insurgents, bandits and kidnappers across the country.

     

    According to Wikipedia, a no-fly zone, “also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly…Aircraft that violate a no-fly zone may be shot down.”

     

    The President also approved the imposition and enforcement of a ban on all mining activities in the state, until further notice, as part of efforts to curb rising insecurity.

     

    Monguno said the intelligence and security communities had been mandated to go after all non-state actors, whose activities had been fuelling chaos and place them under surveillance.

     

    According to him: “The President has approved, based on our recommendation, the imposition and enforcement of a ban on all mining activities in Zamfara State with immediate effect, until further notice.

     

    “He has directed the Minister of Defence and the National Security Adviser to deploy massive military and intelligence assets to restore normalcy to that part of the country.

     

    “He has also approved that Zamfara State be declared a no-fly-zone with immediate effect.

     

    “Now all non-state actors that have been causing problems for innocent people, not just in Zamfara State or the Northwest zone, but also the Northeast and other parts of the country in the Southsouth, have been placed under surveillance by the intelligence agencies; we’ve had a lot of reports coming in; collusion with people from all walks of life.”

     

    The President, he added, had ordered the intelligence and other law enforcement outfits in the country to go after persons of interest on the nation’s security watchlist.

     

    He said: “I can assure you there’s quite a handful of people on our watch list. They will be trailed, they will be routed out and they’ll be brought to book.

     

    “They’ll be prosecuted and they’ll be made an example of, and anybody who wants to use this situation to blackmail the government should also think.”

     

    Referencing the recent eviction of herders from forest reserves in Ondo and the anti-criminal herder sentiment across some states, the government warned against ethnic profiling.

     

     

    Monguno said: “We are not going to be blackmailed. The government has the responsibility to assert its will. Citizens can reside wherever they want to reside. Anybody who is a criminal should be brought to book.

     

    “The president has also warned against ethnic profiling. We have (had) enough of chaos. Any individual that thinks he can cause disunity should have a rethink.”

     

    At a separate event, Lawan charged the new Chief of Defence Staff and service chiefs to take the fight to bandits and insurgents.

     

    He spoke during plenary after the upper chamber confirmed the service chiefs’ appointment.

     

    He said: “We are in a very serious situation. The security situation must be improved, and the buck is now going to stop on their tables as far as operations are concerned.”

     

    Similarly, former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki urged President Buhari to involve opposition parties, international friends and other critical stakeholders in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges.

     

    He spoke with newsmen shortly after a two-hour closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

     

    According to him, the security problems facing Nigeria are beyond what the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or the President could surmount unassisted.

     

    Saraki, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation and Strategic Committee, was accompanied by former governors, Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Shehu Sema (Katsina) and former Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mulikat Akande Adeola.

     

    He said: “This is a huge problem that cannot be left to just the government and the ruling party; I think this is the time the opposition, the ruling party, our international friends, all of us must come together on the round table because the challenges before us are enormous and we need to address them.”

     

    Also on Tuesday, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi responded to the abduction of pupils in the North, by commencing the construction of perimeter fences in all Ekiti public schools.

     

    Fayemi said work on the fences would be intensified to ensure maximum security, in addition to deployment of security personnel across the state’s 16 council areas to enhance the security of life and property.

     

    “The government of Ekiti State…has ensured that primary and secondary schools across the 16 local government areas of the state are adequately protected.

     

    “In doing so, school fencing projects are ongoing. Also, the government has improved on security surveillance across the state, deploying more personnel to strategic locations for effective coverage”, he said during his monthly ‘Media chat’ programme.

     

    He canvassed for state police as the only viable solution to the growing insecurity.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Bishop Chukwuma criticizes Buhari’s tenure for inability to handle corruption and Insecurity

     

    Anglican Bishop of Enugu and Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Emmanuel Chukwuma, has dubbed the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari worst in history of Nigeria in terms of fight against corruption and insecurity.

    Chukwuma in an interview in Enugu claimed the president pays lipsservice to insecurity while pandering to ethnic and selective tendencies.

    The fiery prelate did not spare the former service chiefs who were recently confirmed ambassadors by the Senate. He alleged they were corrupt people that should have been probed for the huge sums of money that passed under them without results.

    “We spend a lot of money for defence, a lot of money is being pumped into these areas and nothing efficient and that is why I am annoyed that these people who carted a lot of money in defence are now being asked to go and spend this money abroad as ambassadors in one country or the other. It is a shame. That is the highest way of corruption and I totally condemn it because these people have made a lot of money and they should be probed. The outgone service chiefs should be seriously probed.

    “It is absolutely unfortunate and criminal for them to be given ambassadorial positions. They do not have any credibility to be so appointed as far as I am concerned. If they had ended Boko Haram and insecurity then you can say they did well. But now they did not end anything and you are giving them more opportunity to go and eat the money they have taken when they should be probed.”

    He also faulted the government-supported negotiation between Sheikh Gumi and bandits, saying theyshould instead be dealt with decisively for bringing troubles to Nigerians.

    He advised the new service chiefs not to subscribe to negotiation with bandits, urging them to be decisive in their fight against insurgency.

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Buhari and Governors to discuss Fuel Price on Thursday

    Governors of the 36 states will discuss the issue of fuel price on Thursday.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Sunday after a bipartite meeting of the Federal Government and the organised labour at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa Abuja. Leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress represented the organised labour.

    Briefing journalists on their resolutions, Ngige said labour had investigated the report of the Technical Committee on Premium Motor Spirit Pricing Framework as agreed at the last meeting and made its submissions, even as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) presented its report.

    He said: “The labour side saw that NNPC were making some points and like I said, it is work in progress. Governors are going to discuss this on Thursday. They have discussed this at the National Economic Council (NEC) and so everybody is involved because we find ourselves in dire straits. There is no money for subsidy.

    “The NNPC said what they are doing is import dependent. Deregulation is import dependent but they are doing bulk purchasing. So, they can get discounts. They are also using foreign exchange that is discounted for them. They are not buying from the parallel market. All these things will be put in basket and a price will emerge from it.”

    Prodded further by journalists, Ngige maintained that the Federal Government has finished with the organised labour on the issue of fuel price.

    On the issue of electricity tariff, the minister disclosed that the meeting adopted the report of its Ad-hoc Technical Committee on Electricity Tariffs, made some adjustments and transformed the committee into an implementation committee to implement the recommendations made, including mass metering.

    “You will start seeing members of the committee with the Minister of Power, going around now and making sure DISCOS put meters for people, because there are reports that they don’t want to be distributing meters and that they want to be doing bulk billing and estimated billings and we don’t want that.

    “There is also a resolution as regards gas companies reducing gas pricing for gas sold to power companies, GENCOS and the rest of them, so that the price of electricity per unit will go down and the consumers will benefit from it. We have given the marching orders for them to do so.

    “Some paper works have to be done and once that is done, price of electricity will go down and once it goes down, the consumers will benefit.”

    He said the committee also recommended that those forcefully migrated by distribution companies from lower paying bands C and D to upper bands A and B should petition the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)

    “They will be brought back and the DISCO will be sanctioned.”

    Ngige, however, announced that the social dialogue between the Federal Government and labour has been adjourned to April as the two standing committees are still working.

    Earlier, Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustafa, congratulated the organised labour for their sacrifices at this time of economic difficulty, which has been rewarded with Nigeria’s exit recession in the third quarter of 2020.

    He said all the projections, including the reports of economic sustainability committee put in place with robust response to COVID-19 pandemic provided clear evidence that Nigeria was on its way to exit recession in the first quarter of 2021 ‘but we beat them to it in the third quarter of 2020’.

    “This could not have been achieved without the support of the organised labour and the working population of the country because you were the one that drives the economy and ensured the petroleum sector, the lifeline of the country’s economy, is not disrupted. If we have had disruptions, it would have been difficult for us to exit recession in the first quarter of 2021, let alone, the fourth quarter of 2020.

    Mustafa thanked the leadership of the organised labour for the maturity they have always shown to the discussion of very important national issues and expressed optimism that they would achieve whatever they want “if the spirit is sustained.”

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Cocoa and Plaintain Farmers asks Buhari to save them from herdsmen attack through an SOS message

    The Cocoa and Plantain Farmers Association of Nigeria (CPFAN) has sent a save-our-soul message to President Muhammadu Buhari over the destruction of farms and killing of farmers by criminal herdsmen.

     

    The farmers, who spoke at a press conference in Akure, warned that food production in the country would nosedive if the activities of herdsmen were not checked.

     

    National President of CPFAN, Chief Ayodele Ojo, said farmers need protection to go their farms.

     

    Chief Ojo, however, commended President Buhari for providing “effective fire-fighting equipment to solve some of our endemic agricultural problems.”

     

    Ojo said the fire-fighting pump was useful in putting out fire on their farms during the dry season.

     

    He noted that the over 28,000 members of COFAN in 20 states currently cultivated more than 20,000 hectares, and have the potential to cultivate more than 50,000 hectares.

     

    He called for CPFAN members to be included in the medium term credit facility and N-CARES project as well as other Federal Government interventions.

     

    Other needs for farmers, according to him, include motorised sprayers, mechanical diggers for planting plantain, solo sprayers, agrochemicals, improved cocoa seedlings and plantain suckers.

     

    Chief Ojo further appealed for Federal Government’s assistance in capacity building for farmers to meet up with international market standard in terms of post-harvesting handling and packaging of  plantain and cocoa.

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • Nigeria records her worst global rating on corruption, scores 149 out of 183 countries surveyed

     

    Nigeria has recorded her worst global rating on Corruption Perception Index since 2015.

    In the 2020 index released yesterday by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the country’s chapter of TI, Nigeria scored 25 out of 100 points, dropping to 149 out of the 183 countries surveyed, taking the nation three steps down from the 146 scored in 2019.

    In the report, Transparency International said the reason behind Nigeria’s worst ranking stemmed from an absence of transparency, nepotism, lack of adequate anti-corruption legal frameworks, the prevalence of bribery and extortion in the Nigerian Police and corruption in the security sector, among others

    Reacting, the presidency faulted TI’s report, saying Buhari’s administration deserves credit for diminishing corruption in the public service and will continue to vigorously support prevention, enforcement, public education and enlightenment activities of anti-corruption agencies.

    In a statement, yesterday, the presidency said TI’s report is not an accurate portrayal of the facts on ground.

    “In the coming days, the Government’s Technical Unit on Governance Research (TUGAR) will be providing more detailed information on the sources of the TI data.

    While this is being awaited, the examination carried out on their 2019 report showed that 60 percent of their data was collected from businesses and other entities with issues bordering on transparency and the ease of doing business at the ports.

    “Although this is a government ready to learn from mistakes and make corrections, the economy of this country, in its fullness, is bigger than the sea ports we have.

    We are also not unaware of the characters behind the TI in Nigeria whose opposition to the Buhari administration is not hidden.

    “We have repeatedly challenged TI to provide indices and statistics of its own to justify its sensational and baseless rating on Nigeria and the fight against corruption. We expect them to come clean and desist from further rehashing of old tales.

    “A naira denominated review that excludes recoveries in dollars, pounds, euro shows that a sum of N1.2trillionn was recovered by EFCC between 2009 — 2019. N939billion of that total was recovered between 2015 – 2019 with less than N300billion recovered in the first six years.

    “Additionally, preventative instruments deployed by this administration such as Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) coverage expansion and the removal of 54,000 ghost workers from federal civil service saving us N200bn annually serve as evidence that perception is not reality.

    “Organisations should be factual in their analysis and be prepared to rely on inputs outside of sensational media reports and age-old narratives which have not been updated to reflect today’s reality in Nigeria concerning its globally-respected war on corruption…”

    Meanwhile, anti-corruption crusaders in Nigeria have reacted to the 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report of the Transparency International (TI), which suggests that corruption is becoming more endemic in the country.

    Former Chairman, (TI), Nigeria chapter, Gen Ishola Williams (retd), said: “At all levels of government in Nigeria, from the president to the governors, we all know what the TI is saying is true. Check throughout the world, how many countries do you know that has made it a habit to gather every month to share money to the states and local government areas and no body asks what happened to all the money that is shared?

    “President Buhari has given up on his promise to fight fraud, embezzlement, corruption or whatever he calls it. He just admitted less than 48 hours ago that the APC finds it difficult to deliver on some of their programmes, and one of their major promises is to fight corruption. Go through the national dailies or check online any day, you see stories that will make you very sad. We don’t need the TI to tell us that corruption is still endemic in Nigeria. In fact, if TI knows the true reflection of things in Nigeria, we should be at the very bottom.”

    Executive Director, Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, argued that the TI’s report is based on perceptions by the CPI, which may not necessarily reflect the truth.

    “The perception may not necessarily be the true reflection of the reality. From all indications, corruption crimes are no longer committed with brazenness as before. But, if the perception says corruption is on the rise, then where is the data and the facts and figures behind the perception? At our own level, we don’t have that data, what we suspect is that because more corruption cases are exposed and taken to court; there are now more information on how corruption is committed by who, when and how, that makes it easier for data hounds to easily get information from just anybody and make it seem as if there is more prevalence of corruption. Until the perception meets reality, we believe that the fight against corruption has taken a new dimension and that corruption crimes are more difficult to commit. We don’t have any data from TI to suggest that corruption is getting worse than before,” he said.

    Former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, noted that the federal government has a strategy on corruption, but said it needs more coordination in three important areas, namely, investigation, prosecution and assets recovery. He said that, crucially, the anti corruption strategy must be concerned with speed of justice, otherwise, its impact will be affected.

     

    Buhari administration, APC title holders in corruption- PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said Nigeria’s rating in the 2020 corruption index report by Transparency International (TI) has confirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is the most corrupt administration in the history of the country.

    The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said: ”This descent into the abyss of corruption only goes to show that President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance is a mere swindle used to delude Nigerians, while the vaults were laid open for APC leaders and officials of the Buhari administration to plunder.

    “Indeed, the record of unbroken decline from 136th in 2016 to 144th in 2018, 146th in 2019 and now 149th in 2020, under President Buhari, the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion’, settles the now notorious fact that the Buhari administration and the APC are title holders in corruption.

    “Nigerians can now see that what the APC and the Buhari Presidency did, upon assumption of office, was to simulate a holier than thou attitude, deploy the instrument of propaganda to deliberately castigate the PDP with false corruption allegations, just to divert public attention and create a safe atmosphere for APC leaders to loot our nation to her knees.

    “The fact remains that no matter how lies and falsehood try to prevail, the truth will always come to light at the end of the day.

    “From the oil and inland revenue sectors to security, health, agriculture, food security, healthcare, transportation, road infrastructure, power, education, environment, among other critical sectors, none was spared from the kleptomaniac fingers of corrupt APC leaders and the cabal in the Presidency.”

    The opposition party added: “Nigerians can now see that our alert on the allegation of the stealing of over N15 trillion by APC leaders and political cronies in the Presidency was not just an opposition propaganda, but a patriotic stance which the APC and its administration has not been able to counter.

    “The Buhari administration has failed to go after APC leaders and cronies allegedly involved in the stealing of over N9.6 trillion as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, the over N3trillion in fraudulent oil subsidy regime as well as trillions stolen from agencies including, the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Social Investment Programme as revealed by First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the COVID-19 funds among a litany of frauds.

    “The financial rot in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the Buhari administration, including stealing of recovered funds, underscores the level of corruption under the APC.

    “It is equally appalling that the decay has reached a frightening situation where, under Mr. President’s watch, employment opportunities are sold to young boys and girls at alarming costs ranging between N1.5 and N5million.

    “Moreover, the Buhari Presidency has failed to open up on its yearly budget for Nigerians.

    “Now that the Buhari-led APC administration has been further exposed, our party charges Nigerians to join in the demand for the APC, as a party, to commence the processes of refunding the N15 trillion stolen by its leaders before exiting our political firmament in 2023.”

     

     

     

    President lacks competence to fight corruption –Yakassai

    Elder statesman, Tanko Yakassai, said TI’s ranking is an accurate reflection of the situation of the country and didn’t come as a surprise to him, but insisted that there isn’t likely to be any improvement because, according to him, President Buhari lacks the competence to fight corruption.

    “Most of what is happening now is what I had said in the past. Since the inception of this administration, how many people have been arrested and successfully prosecuted? I am not talking about cases that preceded the administration. The president campaigned saying that he would fight insecurity and corruption, but can we say that this government is actually fighting corruption? The ranking of Transparency International is a reflection of the situation in this country and it is unfortunate. The fact, however, remains that no matter what the Presidency says, Buhari has never had the competence or the capacity to fight corruption,” Yakassai said.

    Also reacting, the founder and former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, said: “I don’t think what the president is doing is enough because, if it is, we would not have this type of testimonial from Transparency International. Whether anyone likes to give credit to the opinion of TI or not, it is a wakeup call for the government. Even before this report came out, most Nigerians have been feeling the impact of widespread corruption, especially in areas that tend to hurt our economy like Customs, Immigration and the Police. In the issue of Immigration, many who are not supposed to be in the country are now being credited with insecurity. Anytime you hear of herdsmen killing, we are told that the Fulani herdsmen causing the problems are from neighbouring African countries like Niger; that is the failure of immigration.

    “When you go to Customs, it is the cesspool of corruption in Nigeria and that has affected our economy so badly. Even in the civil service, there is hardly anything you can do, without encountering one maleficence or the other. In the police, the situation is also the same. What caused the EndSARS protests which nearly shut down the country is a result of the corruption in the police and it hasn’t even stopped. It’s almost like no agency of government can stand out as being exemplary as being corrupt free.

    “I won’t put all the blame on the president because he has done well in ensuring that the economy didn’t collapse because he came in during extreme scarcity even though the situation hasn’t improved. But I want to go straight to the institutions that are not doing well, so that those who are heading them should be shown the way out just like the service chiefs we re sacked after much outcry,”Okorie said.

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • INSECURITY: Buhari appoints new service chiefs to oversee security in the country

     

     

    The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing new service chiefs to oversee the security of the country.

     

    The chairman of the organisation in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, gave the commendation in Enugu.

    Ezekwueme noted that the appointments of new service chiefs were overdue but they were “a step in the right direction.

    “It is also in tandem with aspirations of Nigerians.

    “I commend President Buhari for listening to the cries and demand for appointment of new service chiefs.

     

    “There is no doubt that the new service chiefs would inject new ideals, energy, zeal and patriotism to improve security architecture of the country’’.

     

    The CLO boss called on the new service chiefs to device strategic plan to tame and decimate the activities of Boko Haram, kidnappers and insurgents.

     

    “Doing this will definitely restore absolute peace and tranquillity in the country,” he observed.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday approved the appointments of Maj-Gen Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff, Maj-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral AZ Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff and AVM IO Amao,  Chief of Air Staff.

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • CBN: FG records a deficit spending of N4.45 trillion in 10 Months

    The Federal Government has recorded a N4.45 trillion deficit spending in ten months.

     

    The deficit which climbed by 17 per cent, year-on-year (y/y), against N3.8 trillion recorded in the corresponding period of 2019.

     

    The sharp increase in deficit was driven by the decline in revenue which worsened in October, falling by 6.5 per cent, month-on-month (m/m) to N275 billion from N294 billion in September.

     

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed this in its monthly economic report for October 2020. Breakdown of the CBN economic reports from January to October last year showed 28 per cent, y/y, decline in FG’s retained revenue during the ten months period, to N2.88 trillion from N3.99 trillion recorded in the same period in 2019. In the same vein, the FG recorded 6.0 per cent y/y decline in expenditure to N7.33 trillion during the ten months period to October 2020, from N7.78 trillion in the same period of 2019. Narrating how the fiscal position of the FG worsened in October last year, especially the deteriorating trend in revenue, the CBN, in the report said: “The persisting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fiscal profile and operations of the Federal Government led to a huge deficit in October 2020. The estimated deficit amounted to N451.22 billion compared to the budget benchmark of N414.63 billion, the N418.50 billion in September 2020 and the N323.84 billion in October 2019.

     

    “The estimated fiscal deficit rose by 8.8 per cent and 7.8 per cent above the 2020 budget benchmark and the level in September 2020, respectively. The development was attributed to the 6.6 per cent decline in retained revenue,and the 1.9 per cent increase in aggregate expenditure relative to the level in the preceding month “The revenue profile of the FGN revealed a lingering challenge due to declines in statutory receipts and persistent shortfalls in FGN Independent revenue. The total retained revenue of N274.48 billion recorded in October 2020, was significantly below the budget benchmark and the level recorded in October 2019 by 43.6 percent and 52.8 per cent, respectively. “Releases to MDAs in respect of personnel cost and capital expenditure, were the major drivers of government expenditure in October 2020.

     

    At N725.70 billion, provisionally estimated aggregate expenditure of the Federal Government, rose by 1.9 per cent above the N712.30 billion in September 2020, but declined by 19.8 per cent below the N904.77 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

    “Overall, total expenditure fell below the budget benchmark of N900.88 billion by 19.4 per cent, indicative of government’s revenue constraint.”

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Ex minister of commerce, Jubril martins kuye is dead, Buhari and others mourn

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed sadness over the death of former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sen. Jubril Martins-Kuye.

    Jubril Martins-kuye

     

    The Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State-born former minister passed away yesterday morning at the age of 78.

    President Buhari, in a statement by Femi Adesina, said third republic legislator and minister of state, finance and commerce and industry, would be sorely missed for his insight on issues of development, particularly in tailoring budgets that reflected needs of the people, with his emphasis on full implementation.

     

    Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun, said the demise of the former minister marks the end of an era and significantly underscores the depletion of the rank of elder statesmen, men of faith and progressive politicians in the country.

     

    A statement issued in Abeokuta by his media aide, Kunle Somorin, quoted the governor as saying: “I have personally lost a great pillar of support, who offered useful advice to advance my political career

    “I am yet to come to terms with the passage of Senator Jubril Martin-Kuye, because this is one death that inflicts not just a deep pain, but one that will linger for long, and a loss of immeasurable proportion for me as a person, to his immediate and extended families as well as the political establishment he belonged.”

    Also, the PDP in the South-West described the death of former minister of commerce and industry as a loss to the party and the country as a whole.

    The party, in a statement by Lere Olayinka, said: “The death of Senator Jibrin Martins-Kuye has deprived the PDP of one of its strongest pillars and greatest Iroko trees in its political forest.”

    The PDP implored its members, especially those in Ogun State and the Martins-Kuye’s family, to take solace in the fact that the deceased contributed his quotas to the development of the party and Nigeria as a whole.

     

    “The death of Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye is no doubt a loss to us in the South-West PDP and we will continue to pray, trusting that God in His infinite mercies will grant his soul eternal rest.

    “We urge our members and supporters, especially those in Ogun State, to be consoled by the fact that he lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation to the future generations of Nigerians.”

    Similarly, the APC, Ogun State chapter, described his death as the passing away of one of Ogun’s finest politicians.

    In a statement issued in Abeokuta by the Publicity Secretary of Ogun APC Caretaker Committee, Tunde Oladunjoye, the late politician was described as an “uncommon bridge builder, patriot and a very humane, courteous and humble politician whose model was politics without bitterness.”

     

    The statement reads futher: “Either as a federal minister or as a Senator of the Federal Republic, Pa Martins Kuye gave a very good account of himself as an accessible community leader, grassroots mobiliser, moulder of people and builder of bridges. He was renowned for his propounded principle of ‘salt solution’, which abhorred sectarian tendencies within  political party formation.”

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Armed Forces Day: PDP and APC butt heads over the issue of insecurity in Nigeria

    The All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party on Friday clashed over the worsening insecurity in Nigeria.

    This was as the nation marked the 2021 edition of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

    While the APC urged Nigerians to avoid playing politics with the issue of security, the PDP advised the APC to end propaganda and secure Nigerians lives.

    The APC made its appeal to Nigerians in a statement titled, “#AFRD2021: APC Hails Military Successes, Remembers Fallen Heroes,” signed by the National Secretary of the party, Senator Akpanudoedehe.

    The statement commended officers and men of the military for laying down their lives in the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity.

    The statement read in part, “We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on many visible and verifiable achievements of the military in the ongoing fight against insurgency and violent crimes in Nigeria as contained in the compendium: “Security Checklist: As Nigeria marks Armed Forces Remembrance Day’’, released to the public on Thursday.

     

    “From the country’s 30-month civil war which ended on January 15, 1970 to the fight against terrorism, banditry and other emerging violent crimes, many servicemen have paid the supreme price for our safety, peace and unity.

    “We pray for the protection of the living and remember the departed heroes and their families left behind.

    “From international peace keeping missions to addressing security incidents within the country and overall discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, the military has undoubtedly made the country proud.

     

    “Several innovations and inventions by the Armed Forces have resulted in the production of military hardware, infrastructural development, restructuring and reorganisation of its operations.

    The party credited the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), for investing in military hardware, intelligence and tactical training for servicemen.

    Akpanudoedehe also said, “We must collectively shun the practice of politicising issues of security and the efforts of our security services particularly the Armed Forces to keep the country safe. We should rather support their efforts to further degrade the capacity of terrorists and other criminal elements.

     

    “We invite all Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the patriotic call contained in our national anthem which reads in part: “The labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain”.

     

    In response, the PDP which also paid glowing tributes to Nigeria’s fallen heroes said Nigerians deserve better than what the Buhari regime was currently listing as achievements in the area of security.

     

    The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan told Saturday PUNCH, “Our gallant military men and women deserve all the accolades today and always for the sacrifices they made in the past and they are making today under very difficult conditions, they deserve better.”

    Ologbondiyan further said, “How does President Buhari want an unmerited pass mark knowing that under his watch, bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and vandals, who have been pushed to the fringes before he took over in 2015, have now resurged, taking communities hostage, raping our women, beheading our compatriots and foisting a reign of terror to the extent that our nation ranked as the third country with the highest level of terrorism in 2019, after Iran and Afghanistan?”

    Meanwhile, the doves, otherwise known as white pigeons, released by Buhari at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremony, refused to fly despite multiple attempts by the President thereby sparking a debate on social media on Friday.

     

    The President had opened the bird cage at the National Arcade, picked up one of the doves and thrown it into the air but the bird landed atop the cage and refused to fly.

     

    Buhari, who was eager to let the white pigeons fly, opened the roof of the cage in a bid to send them all out but the birds remained adamant and decided to sit on top of the cage’s roof.

    The President, who appeared tired of trying, soon left the birds and returned to his seat. Moments after the President had left, however, some of the birds flew.

    The ritual of releasing doves is to commemorate the life of a departed loved one and is common at significant events like funerals or memorials. It also signifies peace.

     

    A former Presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, Adamu Garba, said the birds should be eaten if they cannot do what they were trained to do.

    Social media personality, Morris Monye,said the Department of State Services would have arrested the pigeons for embarrassing the President if they could.

    A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, who is a known critique of the President, also tweeted, “Hmmm. Even the pigeons in Nigeria.”

    Governors pledge better welfare for soldiers, families

    State governors have reiterated their commitment to the welfare of soldiers in recognition of their selfless sacrifices to the country.

    The governors paid glowing tributes to the military personnel at the Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration on Friday.

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who performed the wreath laying ceremony, at the Remembrance Arcade, Tafawa Balewa Square, commended officers in the military, Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Legion for their efforts in protecting the country against external aggression and keeping the peace internally.

    “I want to congratulate and commend all of our officers in the military and also the Nigerian Police, but, more especially, men of the (Nigerian) Legion and everybody that has participated in this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance (Day) ceremony, the parade, men on guard and everything,” Sanwo-Olu said in a statement titled, Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Sanwo-Olu commends nation’s security officers,’ and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile.

    In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, called on Nigerians to continue to offer support to pray for the fallen heroes and support their families.

    “As you know, the government is battling with the resources on all fronts. Like the President said, he would continue to meet the demands of men of service,” he said in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Similarly, his Ondo State counterpart, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, called on the military to collaborate with the South-West Security Network, also known as Amotekun, in tackling insecurity in the state.

    Akeredolu said, “We will continue to give loans without collaterals through the Ondo State micro credit agencies for the widows left behind and other qualified dependants of our fallen heroes who are into small, micro businesses to start up or boost their businesses.”

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state urged Nigerian to set aside their differences and form a united nation.

    Speaking at a ceremony held at Heroes Square, Owerri, Uzodinma, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Oguwike Nwachuku, said the country had the capacity to be great.

    On his part, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, said his administration had rehabilitated a total of 168 blocks of flats for military officers living at Ibagwa barracks in the Abak Local Government Area of the state.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia advised Nigerians to show greater commitments towards the task of building a greater and better society.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Sir Ude OKo Chukwu, at the ceremony in Umuahia, promised to continue to support the military and other security agencies in the state.

    Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, commended the fallen heroes for laying their lives for the nation and praised serving military personnel for risking their lives to keep the country safe.

    Similarly, the Katsina State Government paid tribute to the Nigerian military for its efforts in safeguarding the state.

    In Cross River State, Governor Ben Ayade acknowledged the sacrifices of ex-service men whom he

    His Bayelsa State counterpart, Douye Diri, also lauded departed soldiers for their selfless service to the nation.

    But the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, urged Nigerians to be united and pray for peace and always live in peace with one another, irr espective of religion and political differences, for the overall development of the country.

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • The Igbo nation mourns a good man as Ndubuisi Kanu dies at 77.

     

    Ndubuisi Kanu, former military administrator of Imo and Lagos states, former chairman of Ndigbo Lagos and a major pillar of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, reportedly died of COVID-19 complications in Lagos at the early hours of yesterday.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Chief Guy Ikokwu, Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, Afenifere, Iba Gani Adams, and Eminent leaders of Thought were among those who mourned Kanu and described his death as shocking and a huge loss to Nigeria at a time he was needed most.

     

    Also, Life bencher, leading lawyer, and Second Republic lawmaker, Senator Onyeabo Chukwunedum Obi, died on Tuesday, aged 82. Obi’s demise was announced by his younger brother, Zik Obi.

    Second Republic politician and Elder statesman, Chief Guy Ikokwu, described Senator Obi’s death as shocking.

     

    ”This is shocking as I had the last meeting with him at our Enugu Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Ime-Obi meeting and took pictures with him and wished he would show up at the Ohanaeze election in Owerri on January 10. What a pity. It is terrible as we had a heart to heart chat. May he rest in perfect peace,” Ikokwu said.

     

    Kanu, in 1975, was the only Igbo appointed into the supreme military council, SMC, before General Olusegun Obasanjo dissolved it when he assumed office in 1976 as head of state.

     

    He fought on the Biafran side during the civil war but was reabsorbed into the Nigerian military at the end of the war in 1970.

    After retirement, Kanu, who occupied many commands and political offices as part of his military postings, quickly civilianised himself.

    In a swift reaction to the death, Vanguard gathered that the incumbent Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the news with shock, describing the deceased as “a great Nigerian.”

     

    A chain of catastrophe —Ohanaeze

    The Professor George Obiozor-led newly elected leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo described the deaths of Kanu and Obi as a catastrophe.

     

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the apex Igbo group said: ”The Ohanaeze Ndigbo are devastated by the news of the sudden death of our two prominent sons; Rear Admiral Ndubisi Kanu, Rtd and Sen. Onyeabo Obi.

    ”Admiral Kanu was a member of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) in 1975 under General Olusegun Obasanjo. At the creation of Imo State in 1976, Kanu was appointed the military administrator of Imo State where he made indelible footprints. As a robust thinker, he engaged the service of town planners to prepare a master plan for Owerri metropolis; built durable roads and was instrumental to increasing the number of local government areas in Imo State to 21. Among his legacies is the Imo Broadcasting Service, which went on air in December 1976.

     

    ”In 1977, Kanu was appointed the Military administrator of Lagos State. Due to his impressive records, Kanu was promoted to the enviable rank of a Rear Admiral and subsequently, the Chief of Naval Staff before his retirement.

     

    ”At retirement, Kanu founded the RANGK LTD, a maritime consultancy. He was a chieftain of National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, a pro-democracy movement that played a leading role in the agitation for the actualization of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election.

    ”Kanu at various times expressed profound passion for his people by playing several stabilizing roles in Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He was very jovial, personable but firm and courageous in his convictions. Throughout his career history, Kanu remained untainted and exemplary. We are devastated because Ndigbo and Nigeria will miss his disarming intellect and wise counsel.

     

    ”Senator Onyeabo ObI (82) was a Lawyer and graduate of the London School of Economics, England. He was a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1979-1983. He followed his family tradition in the love for the Igbo nation. His father, Chief Z C Obi was the national leader of the Igbo Union before the Nigerian civil war. He served as the President of the Otu-Oka Iwu, Lagos-a body of Igbo prominent lawyers. During the 1994 National Constitutional Conference, Senator Obi worked assiduously with the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Emeka Ojukwu and many others to produce an Igbo position paper.

    ”Like Kanu, the sagacity and outspokenness of Senator Obi will be missed. This is a chain of catastrophe very painful to bear. May their souls rest in perfect peace.”

     

    Kanu’s patriotic virtues ‘ll continue to inspire younger generation —Buhari

    President Buhari while commiserating with Kanu’s family and friends, prayed for God’s covering over all his loved ones.

    President Buhari also condoled with “all professional colleagues of the gallant military officer, who distinguished himself in all positions and responsibilities during service, taking up more daunting, but historically rewarding challenges like speaking up for the weak and vulnerable, and the struggle for the country’s return to democratic government.”

    Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said he believes that Kanu’s credentials in serving the nation, as a career military officer and as an activist with NADECO in actualising the June 12, 1993 mandate, remained commendable and will continue to inspire younger generations on patriotism.

     

    Kanu’s death a great loss to the progressives —Aare Gani Adams

    The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams described Kanu’s death as a great loss to the progressives.

    Aare Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said the death of the foremost administrator had robbed the progressives of a man of great honour and integrity.

    The statement reads: “In life, he was a great leader and leader of leaders because he stood for democracy and true federalism, and  even in death his memories will for a very long time remain indelible in the minds of great democrats. He had a strong conviction about good governance. We will all miss him because, I could remember those moments we shared together in our struggle for this democracy.

    “The late Ndubusi Kanu was a model for good governance. He was always present at our programmes, especially the annulled June 12 commemoration, and on many occasions, he attended three programmes in a day.”

     

    Kanu, a fighter for greater Nigeria core values —Ikokwu

    On his part, Chief Guy Ikokwu said: ”Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu was a fighter for the core values of a greater Nigeria and devoted his time to bridge the gap between all our ethnic nationalities no matter where they came from. Because of his devotion to our common bondage he was one of the few Nigerians who governed two states – Imo and Lagos. He fought for the return of democracy and civil rights of citizens as a NADECO leader even when some had chickened out.

    He was a frontline leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and supported the stand of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, SMBLF’s resoluteness for a restructured template for governance system and devolution of powers. The Lagos State Government honoured him with the Ndubuisi Kanu Park at Ikeja. His family structure is evidently inter-tribal. We had consultations with him on ways to diffuse the alarming rate of insecurities and economic degradation with our new rating of the economic capital of the poor.

     

    ”When I was unable to speak with him as he was out of Lagos in the last two weeks, I was bewildered and proceeded to Imo State for our Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Confab to fathom a new template for a resolution of our existential precepts in our clime. On our return to Lagos State we just found the calamitous realities of our new World Order unraveling exponentially with his demise and movement to the galactic world zones beyond. May his Gentle Soul rest in peace.”

     

    Kanu left indelible footprints —Uwazurike

    Former President of Aka-Ikenga, an Igbo intellectual think tank group, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, said the late naval chief was an enigma.

    ”Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu was an enigma. He had a soft voice. Yet he became a Commander. Physically he didn’t look like a military man. What he lacked in physique he gained in his brainpower. It is therefore not a surprise that he rose to the height of his profession. As the Governor of both Imo state and Lagos states he left his footprint in the sands of time, he was a complete Igbo man, very passionate, brooked no nonsense and he never stood on ceremonies. He was the chairman of NADECO and was even manhandled by Abacha for his membership of NADECO. We have lost a great man,” he said.

     

    Death of a patriot, good seaman —Amaechi

    Minister of Transportation,  Rotimi Amaechi expressed shocked at the death of Kanu, who he described as a patriot and a Seaman that would be missed by all.

    “It’s saddening. It’s the death of a patriot and a good seaman. May his soul rest in peace. ”

     

    Kanu’s death painful, huge loss —Afenifere

    The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere,  described the death of Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu as a huge loss to Nigeria.

     

    National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said: “It was a very painful death. We have lost a very ebullient, vibrant and progressive someone. There is nothing we can do than to accept the will of God.

     

    “He has lived a fulfilled life and dedicated his life to good causes for which we shall always remember him. May his soul rest in peace and may God protect all that he left behind.”

     

    Kanu’s guidance in the struggle for prosperous Nigeria ‘ll be greatly missed

    On their part, eminent leaders of thought, senior citizens, leaders of civil society on the banner of Project Nigeria Movement led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, condoled with Kanu’s family on his demise.

     

    Describing Kanu as one of their strongest associates, they said in a statement by Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, that: Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, a veteran of the struggle for the restoration of democracy in the 90s was military governor of old Imo State in 1975 and of Lagos State in 1976.

     

    He also made waves in 1975, when he became the only Igbo appointed into the then ruling Supreme Military Council before General Olusegun Obasanjo dissolved it when he assumed office as head of state in 1976.

     

    ”Kanu, a Biafran war veteran, became a dogged pro-democracy activist upon his retirement from the military. As a staunch member of the National Democratic Coalition, which spearheaded the struggle for the actualisation of the late Moshood Abiola’s annulled June 12, 1993 presidential mandate, Kanu was among those who signed an ultimatum’s for the General Sani Abacha’s regime to revalidate Abiola’s mandate and hand over power to him.

     

    ”He was the chairman of NADECO’s Action Committee, which organised and participated in protest marches and public sensitisation against military dictatorship.

     

    ”Kanu until his demise was also a frontline member of the Apex  Project Nigeria Movement, which has Eminent Jurist, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN as its Chairman. The Group was initiated to build national consensus and political stability for Nigeria through constitutional restructuring of Nigeria.

     

    Other arrow heads of the senior citizens group, which is currently mourning the sudden exit of Kanu are Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, General Ike Nwachukwu (retd), Dr Kali Idika Kalu, Prof Akin Oyebode, Prof Pat Utomi, Commodore Dan Suleiman, among others.

     

    ”The active guidance of Kanu for the struggle to create a new democratic and prosperous Nigeria will be greatly missed by all L eaders of Conscience in the Project Nigeria Movement, NADECO and in the broad civil society constituency of Nigeria.”

     

     

    Source: vanguardngr.com

  • Insecurity: CONES warns Buhari that refusal to tackle insecurity will cost Apc the 2023 elections

    Conference of Nigerian Elders (CONES) has warned that the insecurity situation in the country would cost President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) the 2023 elections.

     

    The group, in a statement, yesterday, by its representatives, Tunde Banjo,  Achike Nwachukwu and four others, said security of lives and property was deteriorating daily and expressed shock over Buhari’s refusal to relieve the service chiefs of their appointments and rejig the security apparatchik.

     

    The group said the security heads were not indispensable, regretting that their inability to contain insecurity since their appointments had portrayed the Federal Government in bad light.

     

    “We wish to say it is not normal for a whole country to be speaking with one voice that the service chiefs should not only be sacked, but also that the entire security architecture be rejigged, and Mr. President would remain adamant and less concerned.

     

    “Nigerians are tired of the alarming insecurity in the country and the seeming inaction of Mr. President in addressing the situation.

     

    “Those responsible for action or inaction which has heightened the insecurity must go and new and effective hands injected into the system.

     

    “CONES wishes to appeal to President Buhari to, to as a matter of urgency, sack the current service chiefs without further delay.

     

    “Our position is because we have seen that the president may lose the support of Nigerians over the embarrassing security situation we are facing if he doesn’t act fast enough. No part of Nigeria is safe today,” he said.

     

    While acknowledging that President Buhari gets daily briefings on the security situation in the country by the security heads, the elders claimed that “most of those reports are not true reflections of the situation on ground. Already, there is low morale in the military over the continued stay of the service chiefs whose tenures in their various offices have since lapsed.

     

    “Who knows if there are invisible hands out there in the service frustrating the fight against insurgency and insecurity in the country deliberately due to the continued stay of the service chiefs?

     

    “We appeal to the president to hearken to the call by majority of Nigerians as reflected in the country’s parliament recently that it is time for him to do the needful.

     

    “We are in a democracy where any decision of government or leaders is taken from the popular view. Majority of Nigerians have since spoken in this regard and as a democrat, our president should listen,” he said.

     

    However, the Defence headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, said the armed forces have checkmated Boko Haram and their operations in the North East.

     

    Despite claims that the insurgents have been decimated, some parts of the North East still come under attack.

     

    One of the most recent violent attacks by Boko Haram was at Zabarmari in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State where more than 40 farmers were killed.

     

    In an interview with newsmen, Coordinator of Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, said the Federal Government and the military since 2015 had checked the intensity of terrorist activities across the country, particularly in the North East.

     

    He said the initial delay in tackling the menace made it gain momentum — Boko Haram taking over territories and setting up administrative structures — before they were knocked off in 2016.

     

    Enenche said the open display of power and authority by Boko Haram no longer happens in the North East, and that no single district or community could be said to be under the control of the insurgents.

     

    “The issue of bombings that spread to other places like Abuja, Kano, Niger and Kogi states, including their slipper cells, no longer exist.

     

    “What about suicide bombing, which is one of the signs of terrorism? It was rife and even at our checkpoints, they come and detonate bombs as well as public gatherings; all these have been nipped properly.

     

    “If you put all these together, I can tell you terrorism has been checkmated. However, the signs are still there with isolated actions here and there; common with terrorism,” he said.

     

    Enenche said history has shown that terrorism “is a very resilient type of enemy activity,” adding that the type of terrorism in Nigeria is not “a smart one,” but rooted  in the state of mind of a group of people.

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com