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NSCDC will Collaborate with Other Security Agencies for Hitch-Free 2023 Elections- Audi

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NSCDC will Collaborate with Other Security Agencies for Hitch-Free 2023 Elections- Audi

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi has expressed the determination of the Corps to collaborate with other security agencies to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2023.

Speaking at the 2nd Commandant General’s Conference in Abuja on Thursday, Audi said: “Let me remind us all that the prevailing security situation has made it mandatory for us to redouble our efforts as we gradually approach the electioneering campaign season leading up to the 2023 general elections. This is the time for us to begin to tighten our seat belt and as the “Chief Pilot”, it is my duty to ensure that I provide the needed guide, leadership and direction as we collaborate and synergize with our Sister Agencies and other Stakeholders to deliver to Nigerians, a free, fair and credible elections come year 2023. If we must succeed in this regard, the time to start the necessary preparation is now.”

He added that: “This conference present us opportunity to appraise and present before the public, our performance in the last three (3) months of the year. It will also afford us the opportunity to identify our strengths and weakness, review our strategies and work out modalities for better and improved performance.”

Audi while commending the efforts and commitment of his men in safeguarding critical national infrastructures, said: As we continue to steadily and gradually take appropriate steps in our collective efforts to deliver on our mandate. We are not oblivious of the challenge ahead of us in the face of the prevailing security situation, but with our collective resolve, avowed commitment and dedication, we will surely surmount all and impact positively in fostering that much desired safe and secure environment to engender peace and socioeconomic development.”

He noted that the prevailing security situation in the country has made it mandatory for officers and men of the NSCDC to redouble their efforts as the nation gradually approach the electioneering campaign season leading up to the 2023 general elections.

He said to succeed in ensuring hitch-free elections in 2023, “We must begin to deploy new strategies in tackling the spate of insecurity in the land, if we must effectively protect the masses during upcoming electioneering campaigns as well as the electorates, electoral materials and the electoral umpires at the period of elections from any form of attack or danger in the course of their duties.

“The situation we have found ourselves calls for serious and appropriate measures at this critical time in our checkered history as a nation. We should have at the back of our minds that a secure and resilient electoral process is of vital National interest.”

He charged his men to therefore remain resilient and committed to working collaboratively with sister security agencies and other stakeholders while remaining agile and steadfast to manage the risks thrown up by events leading to the upcoming election and be combat ready to protect the citizens and secure the nation’s critical national assets and Infrastructure against new and evolving threats.

He said: “As security agency of Government, we play a very critical and vital role in checkmating and prevention of violence while ensuring effective protection in all the phases leading to the general elections to consolidate our democracy and democratic process.
We must therefore be proactive and take necessary steps toward tackling the challenges of insecurity as we embark on this all important journey towards ensuring a free, fair and credible elections.”

He also reminded Nigerians that security is everybody’s business, adding that: “We must therefore rise up to assist Security Agencies with credible and actionable intelligence that could aid in checkmating and addressing the spate of insecurity in the Country.”

He assured that every piece of information provided will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

YAGEP Beneficiary Calls for More Agric Investments

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YAGEP Beneficiary Calls for More Agric Investments

–By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Ese Laura Oghene:

ALVIN OKECHUKWU MOKAOGWU is the CEO of Bikenenye Global Venture. He hails from Oshimili North Local Government Area. He has an HND in Business Administration. After years of unemployment, he became one of the pioneers of the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in crop production in the 2015/2016 Cycle. 

Six years after, he is still in business. He has his farm located in Ibusa where he cultivates cassava, yam and vegetable in commercial quantities. He combines farming with building technology, a skill he acquired from his uncle. His story: 

“I enrolled in YAGEP after years of unemployment and was established by the State Government to own and run a farm in crop production. Six years on, I have never stayed a year without farming. After my first harvest, I acquired two acres of land for expansion. 

“Proceeds from my farm have helped me to care for my family and to pay my children’s school fees. We get our food items fresh from the farm. So far, I have acquired another ten acres for expansion. I am a busy man; I combine farming with my job as a builder, a skill I acquired from my uncle. 

“Agriculture is the best sector to invest in right now if we look at it holistically. It is only through agriculture that one can feed the nation and guarantee food security. To me, YAGEP is successful and should be sustained by successive governments.”

OUR PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS AND THEIR NAKED DRUMMERS

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<em>OUR PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS AND THEIR NAKED DRUMMERS</em>

–By Austen AKHAGBEME:

Electioneering campaign seasons are always very interesting in Nigeria. It brings to the fore hitherto forgotten and harmless issues that have no direct bearing on the much needed extermination of the ageless cankerworm eating us from within. And I find this very disconcerting.

The hoopla, the frenzy and the many salvos fired at each other from the various political camps speak volumes of our collective mundanity and lack of a true understanding of the many issues bothering us as a nation.

How can a people ravaged by crass elite greed, predation and a debilitating state of insecurity suddenly forget so soon? This is evident in our awkward and awful choice to reduce electioneering campaigns to the mere throwing of meaningless tantrums and the frivolous and malicious background checks on aspirants to ascertain whether or not they came from Oragbiji in Osun state or northern Cameroun. And whether or not anyone is stingy or stinging with money.

Can we for once move aware from this low level of marketing or demarketing of the aspirants to a higher level of an issue-based campaign as it is done in saner climes? When are we going to dispassionately discuss the competence, capacity, conscientiousness, commitment and confidence of these aspirants to deliver on our collective dreams and aspirations as a nation in this dispensation?

We should be able to know in a no ambiguous term, each aspirant’s blueprint to stem the tide of insecurity on a short and long-term base and that of the near-comatose economy.

Issues of real development and dependency vis-a-vis our foreign policy thrust in line with the realities and roles in a fast-changing world should be on the front burner also.

What is the plan to stop our national currency from its present free-fall mode? How do we get our University students to go back to school and their Teachers smile again? When will the national grid be a pride of the nation and our refineries working and producing in optimal capacity?

Until and unless we begin to ask the aspirants and their teeming campaigners these all-important questions, we will not be seen to be different from the past that we so desire to change.

Dame Okowa Flags Off Free Medicare For Aniocha/Oshimili Fed Constituency @ Grand Finale In Asaba 

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Dame Okowa Flags Off Free Medicare For Aniocha/Oshimili Fed Constituency @ Grand Finale In Asaba 

–By Albert OGRAKA:

Wife of Delta state Governor and founder of O5 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa, has flagged off the grand finale of the 2022 Free Grassroots Medical Outreach for the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.

The epoch making event which took place at the Event Centre in Asaba on Monday, June 27, 2022.

Recall that the Free Grassroots Medical Outreach commenced in March this year across the ten Federal Constituencies in Delta state and has yielded remarkable results. 

According to the governor’s wife, the O5 Initiative, Restore Sight Africa and the State Ministry of Health started a partnership in 2018, and sailed out with the good news of Free Eye care round the 25 local government areas, adding that in 2021, the team went round the three Senatorial Districts with far-reaching breakthroughs and testimonies from beneficiaries. 

“This year 2022, we are using the ten Federal constituencies as our platform to reach out. Our aim is to eradicate blindness”, she emphasized.

“Our journey this year started in March round the ten Federal Constituencies, it  has yielded mind blowing results. We went through the waterways, crisscrossed the length and breadth of the state.”

Dame Okowa further explained that the team’s experience, which she described as divinely arranged, witnessed large turnouts, warm reception and cooperation from the people. 

She expressed appreciation God, saying “Please join me to appreciate our Maker, the King of Kings and Lord of lords for His goodness, grace, favor and healing through the Doctors.  To Him alone be all the glory.”

“As we are aware, blindness has ravaged a lot of people irrespective of age and gender especially in the rural areas, depriving them of the beauties of life. The eyes are the most treasured sense and the light of the body, it is also the window to the world therefore we must keep our eyes healthy”, she asserted.

While appreciating the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency for their immense contributions towards the actualization of the project, she said “I believe that the turnout for these six days will be more than other places we have visited and the testimony will be “I was blind now I can see”. 

She also expressed her appreciation to the Personnel of O5 Initiative, Restore Sight Africa and the State Ministry of Health partners who are doing their best to for the people and for giving your time and resources to the Free Grassroots Medical Outreach.

Leadership of the partners include Dr Mordi Ononye, Commissioner for Health; Dr. Ernest Ogbedo of the Restore Sight Africa.

The exercise which is featuring free eye screening, COVID 19 tests, free eye Surgery, distribution of free reading glasses and free eye drops as well as general body treatment is expected to last for six days, considering the peculiarity of the constituency as the environment of a state capital and the anticipated crowd within and outside the state.

STEP Training Enhanced My Relevance in Entertainment Industry, Says Irabor

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STEP Training Enhanced My Relevance in Entertainment Industry, Says Irabor

–By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh and Ese Laura Oghene:

Arnold Irabor is the CEO of Epoch Art Audio-Visual and the Director of Extreme Reloaded Art House. He was trained and established in Audio Visual Services by the Delta State Government in its Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in the 2016/2017 cycle. He hails from Ika South Local Government area. 

A Fisheries and Aquaculture graduate, Arnold has a Master’s degree and is currently studying for his Ph.D. in Sustainable Aquaculture. Despite his educational background in Agricultural discipline, his passion for the arts is overwhelming. He shares his experience.

“My training and establishment by the State Government enhanced my relevance in the entertainment industry. As a trained editor, producer and director, I now edit events, movies and have produced and directed notable movies and stage plays. Through these, I have been able to generate some money which contributed to my Master’s and Doctorate degree programmes. I hope to have a lecturing job, while the movie industry complements it. 

“I have trained over 10 persons; I have three employees. To succeed, one has to be innovative.  I have two movies with Africa Magic, four on You-Tube and several skits. I also collaborate with the Smart Delta Crew to produce most of their documentary promos.

“I have an event coverage squad comprising a DJ, an MC, a photographer, a videographer (myself) and a makeup artist. We are a network of friends who work together to spice up events. I have met several renowned professional in the industry. Linking with them have really added to my experience. All these I learnt through the job creation training.”

5 Killed As Gunmen Clash With IPOB In Anambra

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<strong>5 Killed As Gunmen Clash With IPOB In Anambra</strong>

-From Our Security DESK:

Five persons suspected to be unknown gunmen were over the weekend killed during a confrontation with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, at Ihiala, Anambra State.

An eye witness who saw the Hilux van carrying the bodies of the gunmen out of the town said people hailed the IPOB operatives who were shooting in the air as they drove towards the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.

The eye witness said: “It is true. The incident happened at Akwa village in Ihiala during a clash between IPOB and unknown gunmen.

“The gunmen have a camp at a place called Oseakwa from where they have been terrorizing Ihiala, Okija, Uli and other neighbouring Communities.

“For some time, the gunmen have been disrupting burials and demanding to be settled before any ceremony is organized. They are also the group that has been kidnapping people and snatching cars.

“On June 17, IPOB swooped on the gunmen in their camp and five people were killed during the shootout. IPOB operatives loaded the corpses in a Hilux van and paraded them around the villages.”

Also on Friday, some people suspected to be members of Ebubeagu clashed with gunmen at Ihiala during a burial ceremony, although no lives were lost.

According to the eye witness, following the clash, the burial had to be cancelled and the corpse returned to the mortuary.

He said: “It was terrible. What happened was that one Ekene who is a businessman in Ihiala was burying his late brother and his in laws from Imo State came with members of Ebubeagu to protect them, only to be confronted by people who said they are unknown gunmen in charge of Ihiala.

“The argument of the gunmen was that Ebubeagu people ought not to enter Anambra State when there are people controlling the area.

”The incident happened at the village called Umuojimaka in Akwa and when the shooting became so much, the family took back the corpse to the mortuary. No new date has been fixed for the burial.”

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga said he was yet to receive a report about the Ihiala incidents.

Only recently in the same Ihiala, some hoodlums set ablaze a mansion close to Aforigwe market in Ubahuekwem village for allegedly inviting the Police after the man had paid the gunmen to provide security for him during a ceremony in his compound.

You’re Idiot, Soludo’s Commissioner Tells Teacher Seeking Info on Recruitment Exercise

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You’re Idiot, Soludo’s Commissioner Tells Teacher Seeking Info on Recruitment Exercise

-From Sunny Davids/Awka:

Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh has referred to an applicant teacher seeking clarification about the recently concluded teacher’s recruitment exercise in the State as an Idiot.

The applicant was seeking clarification about the recently concluded teacher’s recruitment exercise in the State from her on the telephone.

Commissioner Chuma-Udeh was reacting to reports that there was a stampede in one of the examination centres where the recruitment exercise held, as applicants surged to enter the hall before others.

She had previously been accused of being rash to applicants, and had on one occasion been credited of saying that she answered 3,000 calls in one hour about the recruitment exercise and that she should not be disturbed by anybody, anymore.

In a voice note which had gone rival on social media, the Commissioner while reacting to an unknown applicant who sat for the recruitment examination and was seeking information in a phone call to the Commissioner was dismissed by the Commissioner as a hooligan and idiot who would have no place in the education sector.

In the voice note, Commissioner Chuma-Udehsaid, “Madam, you’re an idiot. You mean the computers are doing what? I received a report by 12 noon that you people refused to stand in line, you refused to be identified, you mobbed.

“You people were trying to get into the hall at the same time, you refused to be disciplined, and you have the effrontery, you stupid woman to call me on the phone and talk rubbish.

“Get out of my phone you filthy thing. You really want to be a teacher? How will you tell your students to conform to instructions, when you cannot stand in line and move line in line, and you want to be a teacher when you are behaving like hooligans.

“I have nothing for you and I have nothing to say to you. We have already examined up to 1,400 candidates and …you are all hooligans. I hope you understand me, thank you.”

The Commissioner’s outburst had elicited condemnations from the public. While some commentors said people like her may be the reason the Soludo administration may fail, others said she was not worthy of being a teacher herself, let alone supervise the recruitment of other teachers.

Jude Obiora, a community leader said, “Too uncouth and unbecoming of a public servant. She owes an apology to Anambra people. She goofed big time. A huge embarrassment to the government she serves.”

For Eze Onwuji, “The Hon. Commissioner apparently has a point which she could have driven home without the uncouth aspect in language use. Her anger went to the extreme in public domain. Managing any public is not easy.

For Emmanuel Ekene,” We may need to introduce ‘Anger Management’ as a course in the Universities. Anambra no dey get luck for commissioners for education. It’s a pity. Very uncouth and unprofessional.

In his reaction, Paul Aniaso, said, “Her recommendation, support or approval of the sack of those 1,000 teachers employed by former Willie Obiano will hunt her for a long time. She want to now bring in her own people. That is why she is attacking everybody as a defence mechanism.”

Yoga Enthusiasts Troops to Indian High Commission to Mark International Yoga Day

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Yoga Enthusiasts Troops to Indian High Commission to Mark International Yoga Day

Nearly 500 Yoga enthusiasts from all walks of life, Nigerian dignitaries, Heads of Diplomatic Missions, Members of diplomatic corps, Indian community and friends from Media trooped to the High Commission of India in Abuja to celebrate the 8th edition of International Day of Yoga (IDY).

The programme which was held in the Chancery premises on the Indian High Commission on Tuesday had in attendance dignitaries who participated in the Yoga session.

Among the dignitaries include Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information & Culture, Dr (Mrs) Ifeoma Anyanwutaku,, representative of Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Ms. Jumomoh, Acting Director (Asia- Pacific), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representative of Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, representative of Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, representative of Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Col Hamid Ibrahim Ali (retired), representative of Chairman NDLEA, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retired), representative of Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye. High ranking diplomats and family members from British High Commission, Canadian High Commission, UAE, Bangladesh High Commission, Kenya and Angola also participated in the event.

The programme started with the brief remarks by Acting High Commissioner H.E. V.S.D.L Surrendra, who in his remarks explained the importance of Yoga in modern lifestyle.

He also highlighted that the tremendous potential of this age -old practice to change our mental, physical,and spiritual health.

The FCT Minister in his message highlighted the importance of Yoga in today’s life and was optimistic about the opening of more yoga centres across Nigeria in future.

The yoga session began with the demonstration of Yoga Protocol by yoga instructors Mr. Akshay Jain of Art of Living Ms. Sarah of Hearts Heartiest and Ms. Bhawna Vajpai.

Some useful yoga postures (Standing, Sitting, Prone and Supine) and breathing exercises were performed by the Yoga instructors along with participants, with kids from Heartiest Heart performing a yoga dance.

Nigerian Youths Asked to Demand for True Democracy

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Nigerian Youths Asked to Demand for True Democracy

Nigerian youths have been asked to stop at nothing in demanding for true democracy as the nation prepares for political transition.

Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday at a pan African economic entrepreneurship forum organized by the African Economic Merit Awards Inspire, a human rights activist and Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress Party, (AACP), Omoyele Sowore, said it is impossible for the youth of Nigeria to enjoy the benefits of democracy without demanding for under the present dispensation of “corrupt government.”

Sowore alleged that the present crop of Nigerian leaders are deeply corrupt to the extent that they are deliberately not investing in the education sector in order to let the public wallow in poverty so that no one becomes knowledgeable enough to challenged their misrule.

Sowore, while advising young Nigerians to get involved in entrepreneurship as source of income and financial resilience building, said they cannot truly enjoy the gains of democracy unless they defend their rights through voting and protests where necessary.

He said any deviation from this will leave the current crop of leaders run the country aground.

He lamented that: “What is happening to Nigeria now in terms of leadership is pure wickedness, I think young people have a right to a piece of the commonwealth and the way to do it when you have a bunch of greedy irresponsible leaders is to free their hands so that you can get what is due to you and this is where democracy, elections and protest come in.”

He noted that there is noting bad in protest, adding that “It is depriving the person of their benefits that leads to protests. You cannot get things done under a corrupt government without protest.”

He decried that the Nigerian government kills every idea that will grow Nigeria. “Everything must support their corrupt lifestyle that is why there is no alternative to fighting and speaking out to the right things.”

He said it is sad that access to grants and other financial support that boosts entrepreneurship is almost non-existence due to the large scale stealing of public fund going on in the country.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Founder and convener of the awards, McEva Temofe explained that the merit award is a pan African project covering 17 African countries with a focus on the development of young Africans through entrepreneurship trainings.

He said AEMA Inspire is a programme that is aimed at universities, reaching out to young minds with budding businesses and encouraging them to build on their dream in order to grow into financially independent individuals that can contribute to the Gross Domestic Product, (GDP) of their country.

Temofe said: “We are taking this entrepreneurship tour to young people in the universities because we believe that this will motivate them when they see young people like them taking their entrepreneurship career seriously. They will be encouraged when they see young entrepreneurs employing 10-15, they will be motivated to build their businesses to compete in the international markets through packaging of goods, importing and exporting thereby contributing so much to the national GDP and projecting the image of their country in a positive light.”

He noted that small businesses remain the engine room of every economy and should therefore be encouraged by any country which aim to thrive.

World Sickle Cell Day: Dame Okowa Inaugurates Sickle Cell Clinic, Paediatric Center in Ukwuani

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World Sickle Cell Day: Dame Okowa Inaugurates Sickle Cell Clinic, Paediatric Center in Ukwuani

In commemoration of this year’s World Sickle Cell Day, Wife of Delta Governor and Founder O5 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa has inaugurated another Sickle Cell Clinic in the state.

Dame Okowa while commissioning the 23rd Sickle Cell clinic in the state alongside a Paediatric clinic in Obiaruku, Ukwuani local government area on Monday, June 20, 2022, said that the clinic will bring relief to children with sickle cell disorder at no cost.

The governor’s wife who decried the condition of the structure housing the two clinics; which had been abandoned for twenty two years, revealed that, the clinics were actualized by her O5 Initiative through donations from public spirited individuals of the local government Area.

In her words, “we have struggled for this clinic to come to past but as God did it, we didn’t just get a sickle cell clinic but we also have a paediatric clinic for our children”

Dame Okowa used the occasion to admonish the Laboratory Scientists to take the laboratories as God’s business, adding that, they can also use the equipments for businesses by rendering services to hospitals that would pay for services thereby generating funds for the clinics.

“It should not be for treatment of sickle cell related cases alone. It can be used to generate funds when private hospitals pay for services and the use of the equipments here”. She noted.

Dame Okowa advised unmarried persons to identify genotypes before marrying so as to avoid giving birth to sickle cell related children.

“There is no business for an AS Genotype marrying another AS. So seek medical experts advice before marrying anyone in the name of love”. Dame Edith Okowa advised.

She commended the State Ministry of Health for supporting the project and called on Deltans to always impact positively on the lives of the less privileged, stressing that people should learn to always give to the needy.

The well equipped commissioned sickle cell and paediatric clinics in Obiaruku were immediately handed over to the Ukwuani Local Government Council for public use by 05 Initiative.

STEP Training Inspired Entrepreneurial Spirit in Me, Says Enuma

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STEP Training Inspired Entrepreneurial Spirit in Me, Says Enuma

By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-Uteh

ENUMA JENNIFER hails from Ndokwa East Local Government Area. She holds a BSc in Political Science and is the CEO of Jenny Joyful Catering Services. After years of joblessness, she enrolled in the Delta State Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in the 2016/2017 cycle in which she trained and established in Catering and Confectionery. 

Four years after, an enthusiastic Jennifer could not hide her joy as she recounted the benefits of STEP in her family. Hear her.

“The training at Songhai Delta, Amukpe inspired me to be self-independent and reawakened the entrepreneurial spirit in me. I have achieved many things through catering service. Through it, I was able to renovate my mother’s house here in Warri. I work from home for now and receive calls from clients from time to time to cater for their guests. 

“I have trained lots of school children in private schools and Christian women during their churches’ conventions. STEP improved my standard of living and made me self-reliant by increasing my capacity to think outside the box. 

“Okowa’s Government has been consistent. Consistency is the ability to sustain the programme to date. I appreciate Governor Okowa’s tenacity in carrying on with the programme.”

BIRTHDAY: DESOPADEC Boss, Bashorun Askia Felicitates With Delta Speaker, Oborevwori

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BIRTHDAY: DESOPADEC Boss, Bashorun Askia Felicitates With Delta Speaker, Oborevwori

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, FCNA, CrFA has felicitated with the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori on his birthday anniversary.

He described him as a superior character reference, who exudes and demonstrates the kind of humility that disarms even the hardened in any situation.

Bashorun Askia, in a statement said : “To you, my brother and friend, Right Honourable Sheriff Oborevwori, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, I send my heartfelt birthday wishes as you mark yet another milestone.

‘Over time you have evolved impeccable political convictions that have shaped your trajectory in the annals of the political terrain which in no mean ways have set you apart for a future that is geared towards the common good of our State and people.

‘You are a superior character reference, who in all circumstances exudes and demonstrates the kind of humility that disarms even the hardened. That, with your uncommon selfless giving especially to the less privileged, signposts you as worthy of emulation.

‘My dear brother, as you mark this day, my prayer as always, is that the Almighty God continue to guide and protect you, give you continuous good health, while also providing you the wisdom to navigate the slippery slopes of life. Most of all, I pray that His grace and mercy continue to be upon you. Amen.

‘Happy Birthday, Mr. Speaker!’

Iduh Amadhe Congratulates Gov. Okowa On His Emergence As Running Mate To Atiku

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Iduh Amadhe Congratulates Gov. Okowa On His Emergence As Running Mate To Atiku

-By Michael J. EKOKORUWE:

THE immediate past President General and Petron Isoko Development Union, High Chief Iduh Amadhe, has congratulated Senator Dr. Ifeayi Okowa, governor of Delta State on his emergence as the running mate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP Presidential candidate.

Speaking to Journalists at Oleh, Isoko South local government area, Amadhe described Okowa as a peace maker, a unifier that has played important role in the management of crisis’s in Delta State.

He stated that Okowa’s emergence as the Vice Presidential candidate is a reward of service to the people of Delta State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Amadhe emphasized that Okowa’s choice as PDP Presidential flagbearer is an advantage to the South South region towards successful 2023 election.

He maintained that Okowa has lots of experience in governance and has contributed immensely for the growth of the PDP, a bridge builder and grassroot politician who has served in various political positions.

The I.D.U Patron described Okowa’s choice as a welcome development, adding that Okowa is a great asset to the party and will gain support across the southern Nigeria to ensure massive votes for the PDP during the 2023 elections.

Elumelu Congratulates Gov. Okowa on Emergence as Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP, Urges Reconciliations

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Elumelu Congratulates Gov. Okowa on Emergence as Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP, Urges Reconciliations

THE Minority Leader at the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, has congratulated Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa,on his confirmation as Presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential flag beater in the forthcoming polls.

“I heartily congratulate you, Your Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the humble, hardworking and down to earth Governor of Delta State on your emergence as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of our great party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections.

“Your confirmation as Presidential running mate is no doubt informed by the confidence and trust reposed on you by our Presidential Standard Bearer, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, GCON, (Wazirin Adamawa), other PDP leaders, teeming members and supporters of our great party across the nation.

“You have again brought honour and pride to our dear State, Delta, where you have demonstrated uncommon commitment as evinced in your unprecedented achievements in all sectors and we assure you and His Excellency Atiku Abubakar of our unalloyed and unwavering support for the task ahead.

“His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is a statesman par excellence, a brilliant administrator, remarkably committed and competent leader, a unifier and detribalized Nigerian, who has exceptionally deep understanding of the challenges of our nation and the solutions thereto.

“I believe that with His Excellency Atiku Abubakar leading the charge, and you by his side, the PDP is sure of victory in the 2023 Presidential election.

“Importantly sir, as a leader, particularly as the Chairman of the South South Governors’ Forum, I earnestly urge you to use your emergence to immediately initiate processes that will lead to peaceful reconciliations and calming of all frayed nerves including some leaders who may feel sidelined or scorned in the process of nominating the Vice-Presidential candidate.

“On behalf of all our Party members in the House of Representatives, the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency and of course, all Deltans, I congratulate you sir as we march to victory in the 2023 general elections.”

Okowa: Renewed Hope for Nigeria -Says Bashorun Askia

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Okowa: Renewed Hope for Nigeria -Says Bashorun Askia

–By Albert OGRAKA:

THE Managing Director/CEO of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Bashorun Askia Ogieh, FCNA CrFA has heartily congratulated Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, governor of Delta State, on his emergence as Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections.

A statement signed by Bashorun Askia and made available to Blank NEWS Online reads:

“At a time the nation needs a new beginning after the prolonged years of locust and deprivation by the current APC administration, the choice of His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, governor of Delta State, signals the renewal of hope that our dear country is primed to return to the path of development.

“The decision of His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, and presidential flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is indeed divinely inspired and demonstrates that despite the missteps of the past seven years, God has grand plans for Nigeria. Those plans will be given vent by Senator Okowa as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“After changing the landscape of Delta State in the past seven years through his innovative infrastructural projects, radical reforms effected in the health and education sectors as well as the successful entrepreneural programmes that have made many youths employers of labour, Nigerians are now poised to experience a new dimension in the provision of dividends of democracy.

“Sen. Dr. Okowa will strengthen the credentials of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as presidential flagbearer of the PDP as the vehicle for rescuing the country and delivering the real change Nigerians crave.* We thank Alhaji Abubakar for his inspired choice.

“To my leader and Governor of Delta State, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Almighty God has thrust on you the task of tagging along with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to lift Nigeria and Nigerians out of poverty and under development. And we know He will guide you to accomplish the assignment.
Congratulations, Your Excellency.”

Beneficiaries Of O5 Initiative Free Medicare Hit 8,568 *As Dame Okowa Urges Constituents’ Use Of Facilities

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Beneficiaries Of O5 Initiative Free Medicare Hit 8,568 *As Dame Okowa Urges Constituents’ Use Of Facilities

Blank NEWS Online can authoritatively report that a total of 8,568 persons have so far benefitted from the ongoing Free Medical Outreach being carried out by O5 Initiative, a pet project of Delta First Lady, Dame Edith Okowa and her partners across federal constituencies in the state.

Also, the governor’s wife commissioned the 23rd Sickle Cell Clinic established under the Governor Ifeanyi Okowa administration at the General Hospital, Aboh.

According to findings, the ongoing Free Medical Outreach has recorded a total of 1,246 eye surgeries and the distribution of 5,525 glasses and 2,895 eye drops.

It is on record that the outreach, which comprises of O5 Initiative, the Restore Sight Africa Initiative and Ministry of Health, has carried out it’s activities in Warri, Ethiope, Ughelli/Udu, Burutu, Isoko, Patani/Bomadi and Sapele/Okpe/Uvwie federal constituencies respectively.

During the flagg-off of the 5-day outreach for Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency on Tuesday, June 15, 2022, at Kwale Central Hospital, Dame Okowa, who is the founder of O5 Initiative, applauded the support from the partners thus far.

In the same vein, while commissioning the 23rd Sickle Cell Clinic at the General Hospital, Aboh, she urged constituents to make good use of the facilities, emphasising that “since 2018, we have moved round the entire state, preaching the word of God and preaching the gospel of sight. This is our third missionary journey.”

Meanwhile, a beneficiary, Mr Martin Ogwu who brought his father for Pterygium surgery, said, “Apart from financial constraints, the truth is that people are confident about the doctors being used in the outreach.

“By the time you come, you are sure that you are meeting specialists and we have been hearing of and seeing blind people who after the surgery, had their eyes restored.”

In his remarks, the Chairman, Ndokwa West Local Government Area, Obi Nzete, on behalf of the two other chairmen appreciated the First Lady for bringing care to their people.

Meanwhile, a total of 957 persons were attended to at Isoko federal constituency with 151 surgeries carried out, 594 prescription glasses dispensed alongside 388 eye drops.

A major highlight of the free eye treatment carried out at the Central Hospital, Ozoro,
was the case of an 80-year old widow who had bilateral cataract that rendered her completely blind for over two years and had been living alone at Arahde community.

Identified as Mama Josephine Stephen, she was on Thursday, June 9, 2022 led into the Central Hospital, venue of the outreach by her daughter in-law, Mrs Sophia Sunday.

Both eyes were operated on that day, and the bandage removed on Friday. For the first time in two years, she was able to see her grand daughter, who was born same time she got completely blind.

Speaking after Mama had danced round the hospital in excitement, her daughter in-law noted that when her mother started complaining of dimming sight, they thought she was playing pranks.

“You know, Mama is very funny and so when she was telling us about it and I told my husband, he thought she was trying to just get money from him.

“It was after a gave birth to my last girl who is over two years now and Mama started crying that she could not see my baby’s face that we knew it was serious.

“We didn’t go to the hospital because there was no money but Mama had a friend that was always bringing leaves to her and she would squeeze the water into her eyes.

“There was no improvement until I heard of the free eye care and had to come and take her to the hospital.

“We are all happy and grateful that Mama can see now. It had become so serious that sometimes, she would leave the house and go to the farm to just sit alone because she was tired of sitting at a spot” Sophia narrated.

Addressing her case, the Chief Ophthalmologist and Coordinator, Restore Sight Africa Initiative, Dr Ernest Ogbedo who operated on her, said the leaves she administered had caused serious damage on the eye.

“We had to spend hours on just one of the eyes because the Cataract had become over mature, coupled with the native medication she was applying which made it even more difficult” .

He encouraged Deltans to always seek professional medical care with issues regarding their eyes.

You Are Great Partner In Building Stronger Delta, Funkekeme Tells Delta 7th Assembly

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You Are Great Partner In Building Stronger Delta, Funkekeme Tells Delta 7th Assembly

THE Senior Political Adviser to the governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon, has hailed the 7th Assembly of the Delta State House of Assembly for playing a crucial role in building a stronger Delta State.

In a message to felicitate with the lawmakers, Solomon who is a former member of the House and one-time Deputy Speaker said the 7th Assembly has “held aloft the tradition of being the true voice of the people and creating the right ambience for the protection and advancement of the interests of the good people of Delta State.”

He noted that “the 7th Assembly has, to its credit, established a warm and fruitful relationship with the Executive Branch that has seen both arms work harmoniously.”
Solomon attributed the impressive achievements of the lawmakers to the leadership provided by the Speaker and other principal officers.

“Rt. Hon. Speaker, your sterling and focused leadership has given Delta an effective and effervescent group of lawmakers in the 7th Assembly. It is just logical that this and more have earned you the unique honour and responsibility of flying the flag of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 governorship election.

“This is a remarkable first in our State. In deed, we are lucky to have you and your distinguished colleagues running the affairs of our dear State at this critical stage of our development as a sub-national group,” he stated.

As the administration of Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, governor of Delta State, begins its final year, he urged the lawmakers to maintain the same trajectory to smoothen the path for the emergence of a successor administration that shares in the vision of the governor.

Solomon wished the 7th Assembly a more rewarding accomplishments as it enters the final legislative year.

PDP VP SLOT: Attempt To Endorse Wike By Progressive PDP Reps Fails

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PDP VP SLOT: Attempt To Endorse Wike By Progressive PDP Reps Fails

THE ambition of Governor Nyeson Wike of Rivers State to become the running mate to the PDP Presidential Flag bearer, Atiku Abubakah suffered greatly on Monday at the meeting of the PDP Progressive Members of the House of Representatives.

The Meeting held at Room 580 Transcorp Hilton, Abuja resisted the attempt by some of the Federal Lawmakers to smuggle an endorsement for Governor Wike to be the only running mate to the Presidential Flag bearer.

According to our source who was at the meeting convened by Hon. Busayo Oluwola Oke, (PDP)representing, Obokun\Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, majority of the members at the meeting refused vehemently to endorse Wike or anybody as the running mate to Mr Atiku Abubakah who is due to unveil his running mate tomorrow, Tuesday.

“As members of the National Assembly, we are critical members of our great party the PDP, but we don’t have the right to force a running mate to our Party Flag bearer, that is going far beyond our mandate. The choice of a running mate is the prerogative of our Presidential Flag bearer and that of our party.

“So you don’t convene a meeting to go against the party or to force a particular person on them or our Flag bearer. It is not done,” the Lawmaker stated and revealed that the meeting later went on and unanimously resolved to formally congratulate Atiku Abubakah on his emergence as the Party’s Flag bearer for the fourth coming presidential election in 2023.

“We also overwhelmingly agreed at the meeting that the leadership of the Party should be advised to give Atiku Abubakah, the free hand to choose any qualified person as his running mate from South South or South East.

“So, I can confidently tell you that the attempt to smuggle an endorsement for anybody failed woefully, immediately it was tabled at the meeting,” the source said.

Delta Govt Has Done Well for Youths, Says YAGEPreneur Ofien

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Delta Govt Has Done Well for Youths, Says YAGEPreneur Ofien

-By Gertrude ONYEKACHUKWU-UTEH and Ese Laura OGHENE:

HENRY CHUKWUMA OFIEN is the CEO of Chukky Go Farm located at YAGEP Farm Cluster, Owa-Alero. His enthusiasm and passion for hard work distinguished him from his peers. He was an “okada” rider before he got enrolled into the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP.)  He was trained and established in Fish Production in the 2017/2018 cycle.

Four years after establishment, Henry has taken his business to enviable heights. He has done so well and has diversified into crop production. He shares his experience.

“From three small size tarpaulin fish tanks, I now have 14 of that size and additional four medium size fish tanks at home. At present, I have 12,000 fish of different growth stages stocked in them. After government’s support package, I sold my fish at maturity, restocked by ploughing back my profit. I did not stop there. I take loans from the associations I belong to; these loans are invested in the business. I have fish all year round.

“I attribute my success rate to prudence and financial discipline, ability to manage funds well. While an okada rider, I was able to acquire a land, get married and to build the house where I live with my family.

“I have two casual workers. My wife and children assist me too. We are in it together. I make a minimum of 1.2m annually. From the proceeds, I provide for my family and pay my children’s school fees. I have diversified into crop production. I cultivate cassava, yam, maize, melon and vegetable in commercial quantities. I look forward to expanding my farm business.

“Fish production is lucrative. The State Government has done well for the youths and needs to continue with it. The number one failure is selling of starter pack with the false hope that the government will intervene again. I advise STEP/YAGEP trainees not to sell their starter packs when established. When they do so, they sell their future and live to regret it.”

Democracy Day: Minority Reps Task Buhari on Credible Elections in 2023

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Democracy Day: Minority Reps Task Buhari on Credible Elections in 2023

THE Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take very firm steps to put in place all necessary arrangements that will guarantee free, fair, credible and transparent general elections in 2023.

In a statement on Sunday June 12, 2022 by the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority Caucus stressed that the Federal Government must use the occasion of the June 12 Democracy Day to commit to processes that will check electoral manipulations, guarantee the security of voters and ensure that only votes cast by Nigerians in their respective polling units count at the end of the elections.

“Our caucus holds that the hallmark of democracy is the ability of the people to freely choose their leaders under an unrestricted, fair and transparent process that guarantee that their expressed Will at the ballot for a truly democratic and people-oriented government is not subverted.

“The Minority Caucus is indeed saddened that under the APC government, the tenets of democracy; its principle of adherence to Rule of Law, justice, equity, freedom, transparency in governance and national unity which Chief MKO Abiola died for have all been trampled underfoot by dictatorial and anti-democratic proclivities.

“As lawmakers, our caucus is disturbed that under the APC government, abuse of human rights, disregard to rules, suppression of citizens, nepotism, impositions, barefaced injustices, lawlessness, unbridled corruption, impunity, extreme insensitivity to the sensibilities of Nigerians as well as electoral manipulations have become the order of the day.

“Indeed, this is not the way to go. The Minority Caucus urges President Buhari to use the occasion of June 12 Democracy Day to leave a legacy by taking decisive steps to realign our nation towards the part of Constitutional Order, strict adherence to Rule of Law, credible elections, respect for the rights of citizens and transparency in handling the affairs of our nation,” the Caucus said.

They however urged Nigerians not to despair, but remain resolute in the collective determination to entrench the tenets of democracy in the country by fully participating in the current electoral process.

The caucus further urged Nigerians especially those who do not believe in the electoral process because of past manipulations, to get their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and be ready to participate in the elections, assuring that they are already taking very strong steps with other pro-democracy bodies to ensure that votes cast by Nigerians in this 2023 general elections certainly will count.

The Minority Caucus extolled the courage, selflessness and patriotism of Chief MKO Abiola who they noted made immense sacrifices and paid the supreme price for the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, even as they urged leaders at all levels in the Country, to uphold this legacy by carrying out their responsibilities in line with the demands of justice, equity, fairness and adherence to rules.

CHOGM 22: Rwanda Promises High-Level Global Gatherings

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CHOGM 22: Rwanda Promises High-Level Global Gatherings

Rwanda has promised to host one of the most high-level global gatherings during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali later this month.

Addressing fellow diplomats from Commonwealth nations at the Pre-CHOGM 22 Networking Cocktail Event at the weekend in Abuja, the High Commissioner of Rwanda to Nigeria, Satnislas Kamanzi said of hosting of the meeting that: “The time has come now, and Rwanda and her People are poised to host one of the most high-level global gatherings, the eminent leaders and their delegations, who will be in attendance. Everything has been carefully set up to ensure a memorable stay and a conducive environment for smooth and successful deliberations.”

He said: “Countdown has indeed started, as we are now less than two weeks before the Commonwealth Nations rally in Kigali-Rwanda for CHOGM 22. Needless to remind us that Rwanda had been ready to host this high-profile global event a bit more than two years ago, if it hadn’t been for the unfortunate surge of the COVID-19 pandemic and its ensuing destructive footprint.”

The envoy said the meeting with the theme: “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming,”
will serve as a wide platform to debate and make game changing decisions on issues of common interest clustered in sub themes including: governance and rule of law; sustainability along the nexus between economy and the environment; health; technology and innovation; and youth.

He disclosed that four forums are scheduled to hold as follows: The Youth Forum from 19th to 21st June, Women’s Forum from 20th to 21st June, People’s Forum from 21st to 22nd June, and the Commonwealth Business Forum from 21st to 23rd June.

He equally disclosed that the official opening ceremony is set for the 24th June, and that there will be a Heads of Government Retreat on 25th June.

He promised that: “Our Country will endeavour to take the lead in the necessary engagements to deepen the reflections from CHOGM22, and to implement agreed upon decisions with a particular focus on harnessing quick wins in the areas of Climate Change, Global Health and Trade inside the Commonwealth and beyond.”

He said: “Rwanda is with least doubt that our shared values will keep guiding us as we work collaboratively to make significant strides in the socio-economic transformation beneficial to the Commonwealth community.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the United Kingdom’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing said the UK as the Commonwealth Chair since 2018
The UK has been Commonwealth Chair in office since 2018. After a two year delay, we will hand over the Chair to Rwanda in a few weeks’ time. As Chair, the UK “has worked with our Commonwealth partners to champion human rights, boost intra-Commonwealth trade and support climate action, particularly in the most vulnerable member states. We look forward to working with Rwanda as the incoming Chair in Office and the rest of the Commonwealth family to maintain momentum on these priorities.”

She added that: “However, we must also acknowledge that much has changed since the UK hosted the last CHOGM in 2018. The world has been shaken by an unprecedented global pandemic and by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Both have significantly impacted the global economy and developing nations have been particularly affected. In this context, the Commonwealth’s role in standing up for our shared values, as enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter, has never been more important.”

She noted that: “This years’ Meeting is an opportunity to revitalise the Commonwealth, strengthening its role as a network of prosperous, democratic nations that are committed to sovereignty and self-determination.”

NSCDC Boss Warns Top Officers Against Intimidation of Subordinates

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NSCDC Boss Warns Top Officers Against Intimidation of Subordinates

Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Audi has instructed senior officers of the corps to to impact positively on the professional and personal lives of their subordinates, rather than intimidate, suppress and deny them of their entitlements.

Audi, gave the instruction during the decoration ceremony of newly promoted 22 Assistant Commandant Generals and 35 Commandants of the Corps.

He also charged them on loyalty, commitment to duty, and dedication to service.

The Commandant General while expressing joy that under his watch, officers of the Corps are getting the much deserved elevation, said there is the need for the newly decorated officers to impact positively on the professional and personal lives of their subordinates, rather than intimidate, suppress and deny them of their entitlements.

Audi, while reiterating that they need to uphold the mandates of the Corps maintained that as top members of the management, said it is necessary to get acquainted with the NSCDC Scheme of service, Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) as well as the NSCDC Act.

He expressed his determination to reposition the Corps through training and manpower development, stressing that the newly introduced career progression development courses in the NSCDC training manuals will henceforth be a necessary requirements for promotion to new ranks by all personnel.

The Corps helmsman used the opportunity to announce portfolios for the newly decorated DCGs, followed by other paraphernalia of office, which includes two official vehicles consisting of a Toyota Camry saloon car and security back-up vehicle.

DCG Nnamdi Ikechukwu Nwinyi is to take charge of the Directorate of Crisis Management and second in command to the Commandant General, DCG Bassey O Bassey is in charge of Intelligence and Investigation, while DCG Zakari Ibrahim Ningi, fdc, who acted as head of the Directorate of administration has been confirmed.

The rest are DCG Dauda Danladi Mungadi who is deployed to head Operations and DCG Cladius Yakubu is posted to head the Directorate of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).

The CG directed all the DCGs to forward a blueprint of their planned programme of actions to his office in the next few days, challenging them to put in their best because performance in the next six months will be a yardstick to determine whether they are to maintain the portfolios assigned to them or otherwise.

Also speaking at the event, the Honorable Commissioner in charge of Appointment and Promotion at the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Major General Etim Bassey (Rtd), congratulated the newly promoted officers for making sacrifices which resulted in their promotion. He explained that, the officers promoted were assessed based on written examination, oral interview, merit and vacancies before being considered for promotion.

He disclosed that henceforth, promotion examinations will be computer based in addition to the implementation of the new Annual Performance Evaluation Report.

On his part, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Funso Alabi, Director, Special duties in the ministry, urged those promoted to consider their elevation as a call to duty and use their positions for the unity, security and integrity of the nation.

Alabi also charged them to maintain discipline and professionalism in their new formations, stressing that to whom much is given, much is expected.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, ACG David Abi, pledged their unalloyed commitment to work and support the CG in order to rejig, revamp, reactivate restructure and reposition the corps.

Also, present at the decoration ceremony were Secretary of CDCFIB, Hajiya Aisha Rufai, Hon Commissioner, ACG Ado Jafar rtd, representatives of Chief of Defence Staff, the IGP, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, CG Immigration Service, CG Fire Service, Customs Service, EFCC Chairman, ICPC, amongst others dignitaries.

At the end of the symbolic decoration of the newly promoted officers by the CG with the assistance of spouses or relations, the Oath of office was administered on the new DCGs, ACGs and Commandants by the NSCDC Director of Legal Services, Barr. Umar Mohammed.

UK promises £1 million support to NDLEA

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UK promises £1 million support to NDLEA

The United Kingdom (UK) has promised to provide £1 million worth of support to enhance the operations of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 2022.

She also promised to make additional provision over a period of three years.

This was disclosed by the Director, Home Office International Operations, Nick Fowler when he led a team comprising Julie Hartfree, Africa Regional Director and Kris Hawksfield, West Africa Regional Manager, both of Home Office International Operations on a courtesy visit to the Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd) on Thursday.

In his welcome remarks, Marwa expressed appreciation to the visiting UK team and the British government for past support to NDLEA. He said with the expansion of the operations, commands structure and staff strength of the agency, he would need more support and collaboration from UK government.

Marwa, while stating that the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has been very supportive of the work of the agency in critical areas, asked for strengthened intelligence sharing collaboration, provision of essential operational logistics and training among others from the UK government.

In his response, Nick Fowler commended Marwa for the huge success NDLEA has become under his leadership. He said the agency has been able to play a significant role by intercepting loads of illicit drugs going to the UK, and assured that his office is now well positioned to share intelligence with the NDLEA.

The UK top official also said the British government is willing to enhance NDLEA’s operations with provision of strategic equipment, logistics and training as part of a £1 million plan, to be implemented in 2022 with additional support over the next three years.

Femi Babafemi
Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
Friday 10th June 2022

Photo caption 1: Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) (m) and Director, Home Office International Operations, Nick Fowler (4th r) flanked from left: Military Assistant to NDLEA Chairman, Lt. Col. Murtala Aminu; Director of Intelligence, Sunday Zirangey; Agency Secretary, Shadrach Haruna; Africa Regional Director, Julie Hartfree; West Africa Regional Manager, Kris Hawksfield; Director, Prosecution and Legal Services, Sunday Joseph and Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, when the UK Home Office top officials paid a courtesy call on the NDLEA boss at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday 9th June 2022

2: Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) (2nd l) and Director, Home Office International Operations, Nick Fowler (2nd r) flanked by Africa Regional Director, Julie Hartfree (l) and West Africa Regional Manager, Kris Hawksfield, when the UK Home Office top officials paid a courtesy call on the NDLEA boss at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday 9th June 2022

3: Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) (2nd l) in a handshake with the Director, Home Office International Operations, Nick Fowler when the UK Home Office top official led a team on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Thursday 9th June 2022

4: Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) (2nd l) presenting a copy of the Agency’s official magazine to the Director, Home Office International Operations, Nick Fowler when the UK Home Office top official led a team on a courtesy visit to the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja on Thursday 9th June 2022

Elumelu: Three Years of Excellent Representation In 9th National Assembly

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Elumelu: Three Years of Excellent Representation In 9th National Assembly

RT. HON. NDUDI GODWIN ELUMELU, a cosmopolitan politician with a heart for service, had great plans for the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State when, in the 2019 general elections, he sought for their mandate, to represent them in the 9th National Assembly of the House of Representative.

He was overwhelmingly elected by the people in that election and, on Tuesday June 11, 2019, he was inaugurated as their Representative, in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Elumelu, with this clear direction and a great sense of mission, did not keep the people waiting for ages before he started demonstrating responsibility and obligation to them, in line with the social contract he entered with his Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituents.

His passion and commitment to the duty in the 9th National Assembly can best be described as three years of exceptional, robust and excellent representation of the people.  It is incontrovertible that Rt. Hon. Elumelu’s representation in the House of Representatives has brought unprecedented dividends of democracy in the annals of the Federal Constituency.

Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, a major voice of the Nigeria people as the Minority leader of the House of Representatives, has strived with boundless passion, to attract series of very significant infrastructural constituency projects across the Federal Constituency, while at the same time, engaging in massive empowering of his constituents in so many ways.

Some of His constituency projects include;

  1. Provision of 1,220 stands of solar street lights distributed across communities in the four Local Government Areas in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
  2. Construction of new staff quarters and clinic for the Department of State Services (DSS) Asaba.
  3. Renovation of DSS Office and Premises in Issele Uku.
  4. Commencement of the Construction of the Onicha-uku-Idumuje-Unor Road.
  5. Construction of Ogboli Road Ibusa Drainage project
  6. FMC Annex Onicha Uku road
  7. Rehabilitation of Government Hospital, Onicha Olona,
  8. Construction of Vocational Centre in Oshimili South Local Government Council premises, Asaba
  9. Construction of Civic Center, Ibusa.
  10. Construction of ICT Center, Ogwashi Uku
  11. Construction of Civic Centre, Ogwashi Uku
  12. Construction of Town Hall, Ewulu
  13. Construction of Town Hall, Ejeme
  14. Construction of Civic Centre, Ubulu Uku
  15. Construction of Vocational Centre, Ubulu Unor
  16. Construction of Town Hall, Obior
  17. Construction of Town Hall, Ubulu Okiti
  18. Construction of ICT Center, Akukwu Igbo
  19. Construction of ICT Center, Obomkpa
  20. Construction of Town Hall, Ugbodu.
  21. Construction of Civic Center Obomkpa
  22. Construction of Obi Palaces at Obomkpa
  23. Construction of Obi Palace at Idumuje-Unor
  24. Construction of Town Hall, Ezi
  25. Construction of Town Hall, Idumuje-Ugboko
  26. Construction of Town Hall, Nsukwa
  27. Construction of Town Hall, Ukwunzu
  28. On-going renovation work on Police B Division, Asaba
  29. Construction of Town Hall, Issele-Mkpitime.
  30. Construction of Town Hall, Olodu
  31. On-going construction work on the Asaba Massacre Memorial Centre 
  32. on-going construction of the Oko and Asaba Jetty for 8 numbers of 20 passenger boats respectively. 

Some of his human capital programmes leading to empowerment of over 3,400 beneficiaries include; 

  1. Direct employment of over 150 Personal Assistants (PAs) on Youth and Women Matters.
  2. Distribution of 188 tricycles, 239 motorcycles, 322 electricity generator sets, and 301 deep freezers, 71 sewing machines worth over N760 million to 1,121 beneficiaries drawn from various wards across the four Local Government Areas in the Federal Constituency. This is in addition to empowering 300 artisans with Cash grants of N100, 000 each to support their various vocations.
  3. Facilitation of job placements for over 40 beneficiaries in major Federal Government Ministries, Agencies and Departments.
  4. Facilitated CBN Special loan for 346 beneficiaries.
  5. Facilitated Npower program for 251 persons.
  6. Facilitated Conditional Cash transfer scheme for 337 persons.
  7. Facilitated a Federal Ministry of Water Resources empowerment programme for 79 beneficiaries.
  8. Facilitated Household feeding programme for 335 beneficiaries
  9. Facilitated a Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty alleviation scheme for 30 beneficiaries
  10. Sponsored a two-day capacity training programme for 200 youths and women in cassava and rice production, after which starter packs were given to them at the end of the training.
  11. Sponsored a four-day capacity training programme in Abuja, for newly elected and inaugurated Chairmen and their Vice, alongside the newly elected 80 councilors in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency.
  12. Rehabilitated flood victims in Oko
  13. Provision of Covid-19 Palliatives including 600 bags of rice, 750 bags of beans, 500 bags of Garri 600 bags of onions, 500 cartons of tin tomatoes, as well as 500 cartons of groundnut oil worth over N45 million distributed across the 4 LGAs.
  14. Empowerment of two youths with complete musical instruments worth N7 million.
  15. Presentation of Starter Packs to Young farmers under the aegis of Onicha-Uku Youth Farmers Association which was in cash to enable the young Farmers commence farming activities in 2022 current farming season, having been trained on general farming techniques facilitated by him.

Bill and Motions

Under our constitution, one of the major roles of a legislator is the sponsoring of bills and motions for the benefit of his or her constituency and the country in general. Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu is reputed as one of the most prolific sponsors of people-oriented bills and motions.

There is no week in session that he does not present a motion or bill that has a direct impact on the wellbeing and development of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili in particular and Nigerians at large. This is apart from bills and motions co-sponsored with other members.

Some of such bills and motions include:

  1. A bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the alteration of first schedule section (3) part 1 State of the Federation, to provide for the creation of Anioma State and other related matters.
  2. Background Information on a Bill for An Act to establish Federal University Of Technology, Asaba, Delta State for the purpose of providing quality technical education and for related matters.
  3. The bill seeks to help the Nigerian Government to coordinate responses to infectious disease outbreaks such as Ebola, Lassa fever, coronavirus.
  4. Background Information of a Bill for an act to provide for the registration and regulations of lobbyists in legislative Houses and for related matters.
  5. Motion on the need to investigate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the award of contract for the emergency procurement of specialized medical personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers and provision of community-based sensitization campaign against the spread of Covid-19 and other communicable diseases in the nine states of the Niger Delta Region. 
  6. Motion on the Need to investigate Messrs Ninno Engineering Nig Ltd, Petrogas Specialist Services Ltd and Quintus Investment Co. Nig Ltd for abandoning the constructions of Onicha-uku/Idumuje, Onicha-uku/Idumu-ogo roads and Onicha-Uku Civic Centre projects.
  7. Motion on the Restoration of Aniocha South Constituency 1
  8. Motion on the Review of The Division of States Of The Federation Into Federal Constituencies.
  9. Motion on the deplorable nature of Benin-Warri and Benin-Asaba-Onitsha highways.
  10. Motion on the Need for Urgent Investigation of Negotiations with Bandits, Violent Herdsmen and Terrorists and its effects on rising insecurity in the nation.
  11. Motion on the Need to investigate the illegal withdrawals from the Nigerian Liquefied Natural gas (NLNG) dividends account by the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the non-financial and financial project and programme audit of the office of the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by the Auditor General of Federation.
  12. Motion on the need for the investigation of the sales of crude oil and diesel seized from illegal oil bunkers by security agencies.
  13. Motion on the need for the investigation of $800 million stolen crude oil
  14. Motion on the urgent need to halt appropriation of 2.5 million Pounds belonging to Delta State by the Federal Government.
  15. Motion on the need to provide equipment for the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba Annex.
  16. Motion on the need for Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to urgently restore electricity to Enuani clan in Delta state.
  17. Motion on the rising cases of violence, incessant rape and killing of our women folks: A call for urgent intervention.
  18. Motion on the need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to place a ban on the entry of herdsmen from other African countries into Nigeria.
  19. Motion on the need for a call to investigate Sheik Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami Minister of Communications and Digital Economy’s link to terrorist groups- A potential threat to National security.
  20. Motion on urgent need to investigate alleged tax evasion, money laundering and grave economic sabotage running into trillions of naira by Multichoice in Nigeria.
  21. Motion on the need for the Federal Government to grant operational rights to Bayelsa Airport
  22. Motion on the invasion of the Federal High Court premises Abuja by men of the Department of State Services (D.S.S.)
  23. Motion of urgent need for the Federal Government to interface with the managements of electricity companies and the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) to avoid impending electricity blackout.
  24. Motion on the urgent need for the Federal Government to rescind their decision on not allowing the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to be stationed at all ports and Borders as part of their strategy to effectively check the influx of substandard goods into the country.
  25. Motion on the need for the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the security breaches along Lokoja/Enugu and Awka/ Enugu routes.
  26. Motion on the need to investigate the purported voluntary resignation of over 365 soldiers from the Nigerian Army
  27. Motion on the need to investigate the award of contract for the rehabilitation of the railway tract network eastern line contract – ( KM 803 to Km 1443 to Maiduguri ) to Messrs Lingo Nigeria Limited in Association with streaky husty and partners limited of Czech Republic.
  28. Motion on the need to investigate the alleged sleaze, misappropriation and non-profitability of the Nigeria Communication Satellite Company (NIGCOMSAT) limited.
  29. Motion on the alleged inflation of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project by the NNPC to the tune of $1.527 Billion. A call for investigation
  30. Motion on the need for the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) to give Nigerians reasonable time to submit their National Identification Number (NIN) for SIM registration.
  31. Motion on the need to investigate the N19.2 Billion railway rehabilitation contract awarded to Eser Contracting Industry Company incorporated
  32. Motion on the need to investigate an SOS call that a Chinese company in Edo state of Nigeria has continued to detain its Nigerian workers since that lockdown, in flagrant abuse of the Federal Government COVID 19 regulations.
  33. Motion on the need to investigate the alleged sleaze and misappropriation of N100 Billion at the Northeast Development Commission.
  34. Motion on the Allegations of corruption, incompetence and abuse of office against the Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
  35. Motion on the incessant malpractices associated with diplomatic posting in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a call for investigation.
  36. Motion on the incessant abuse and disregard of the 2021 Appropriation Act by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.
  37. Motion on the Attempts to tarnish the image and hard earned reputation of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Development Bank (AFDB) on trumped-up allegation.
  38. Motion on a call on the Nigeria army to release Lance Corporal Martins Idakpein from arrest on the basis of his expressed opinion.
  39. Motion In support for Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  40. Motion on the immediate reversal of the suspension placed on Channels Television
  41. Motion on the need to intervene In the Diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.
  42. Motion on a case of missing journalist, need to investigate circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
  43. Motion on the need to intervene in the suspension of issuance of Visitor’s Visa to Nigerians by the United Kingdom.
  44. Motion on the urgent need to interface with the authorities on the maltreatment and humiliation of Nigerian travellers coming from the United States of America and transiting at the Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport in Togo.
  45. Matter of urgent importance on petrol scarcity across the nation.
  46. Motion on the need to investigate the monumental fraud and illegalities going on at the Federal Road Maintenance Agency Of Nigeria (FERMA).
  47. Motion on the need to investigate the Ibadan-Lagos train fuel saga.

In all, it has been a story of proactive and sincere leadership, an uncommon achievement in justifying the mandate of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Rt. Hon. Ndudi Godwin Elumelu, is indeed, a Man of Destiny with great heart and passion for the people. No wonder the enthusiasm and readiness of his people to return him to continue with his charismatic and proactive representation in the 10th National Assembly.

To God we give all the Glory

Isoko, Ndokwa Nations Re-enact Unity As Ferguson, Ochor Ochor, Muoboghare, Others Celebrate With Amadhe At Son’s Marriage In Umutu

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Isoko, Ndokwa Nations Re-enact Unity As Ferguson, Ochor Ochor, Muoboghare, Others Celebrate With Amadhe At Son’s Marriage In Umutu

-From Michael J. EKOKORUWE:

ISOKO and Ndokwa Nations yesterday further sealed their age long relationship as Hon. Ochor Ochor, Hon. Ferguson Onwo, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare and others celebrated with High Chief Iduh Amadhe, the immediate President General of the Isoko Development Union, when the son Engineer Donald Iduh got married to Miss Philibeth Chime at Umutu , Ukwani Local Government Area of Delta State.

Speaking at the traditional marriage, the President General of the Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU), Major General Ndubuisi rtd who chaired the occasion stated that, it was a thing of joy that the son of a prominent Isoko Cultural leader was getting married to a daughter of Ndokwa land, adding that the union will further cement the unity among the two ethnic groups who have lived together and intermarried over the years.

General Ndubuisi who was accompanied to the ceremony by some of his Executive members and the women wing of the NNU, the socio cultural umbrella union of the Ndokwa people urged the new couple to always allow love to reign supreme in the relationship and let God be their guide.

Also speaking, Chief Daniel Odhomo, second Vice President General of the Isoko Development Union (IDU) who led the IDU team to the ceremony expressed joy at “the auspicious occasion which has again afforded the two ethnic nationalities to interact together for the common good of the people”.

Chief Odhomo who prayed for the success of the marriage called for the sustenance of the unity between the Isoko and Ndokwa people as they not only share a common affinity but are also major oil and gas producing areas in the state without commensurate returns.

On his part, father of the groom, High Chief Iduh Amadhe who was elated, expressed joy and thanked God for the grace upon his life and his family. Chief Iduh who is also a Patron of the IDU stated that Donald was his second son to get married within a space of two weeks and it is the fulfilment of the desire of every parent’s dream which has come to pass. He appreciated the various guests from far and near who came to celebrate with the Amadhe and Chime families in their moment of joy.

The highlights of the ceremony were the payment of the bride price and fulfillment of other traditional marriage rites according to the custom of the Umutu people as well as the new couple’s ceremonial dance amidst cheers and showers of cash gifts by the large array of personalities that graced the occasion.

Dignitaries that attended the ceremony include the Deputy Speaker of the Delta state House of Assembly, Hon Ochor Ochor, Hon.Fergoson Onwo, Majority Leader of the Delta state House of Assembly, Prof. Patrick Muoboghare, Hon.Commisioner for Higher Education, Hon Chief Okenmor Tilije, Hon Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Churchill Amagada, Hon Commissioner for Trade and Investment and Prof. Snapp Oboreh, Vice Chancellor, University of Science and Technology Ozoro.

Others was the Pioneer Speaker of the Delta state House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Okoro, Justice Egbare, Burser of DELSU, Retired Justice Clever Daniels, Barrister Ambrose, Special Adviser to the Delta state Governor, Hon John Governor, Chairman Ndokwa East Local Government Council, Prince Harry Emaviwe, immediate past Regent of Aviara kingdom, Odio of Uzere, chief Jones Agbaka, Apostle and Mrs Thomson Oki General Overseer of Christ Chosen Deliverance Church Int’, amongst others.

Scores of ISWAP terrorists perish while daring to block Maiduguri Damaturu road

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Scores of ISWAP terrorists perish while daring to block Maiduguri Damaturu road

SCORES of suspected members of the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) terrorists group have been neutralized by the Nigerian military after they blocked the Maiduguri Damaturu road wrecking havoc on commuters yesterday.

It took massive air support from the Nigeria Airforce which helped neutralized the terrorists who flew from the scene where they took siege of Lawan Mainari village about 30 km from Mainoc.

“Three guntrucks were recovered from a location at about twenty kilometres away from the scene of incident, after they tried to escape on sighting backup troops advance” said a source within the Rapid Response Squad involved in patrolling the 130 km express way.

Sources present at the scene told newsmen that “about five abducted commuters were later released by the insurgents after a hot chase by the combined team of the Airforce and the troops on the ground.

“They were abducted because they could not escape like some national youth service corp members coming in from Damaturu who escaped into the Savannah on sighting the criminals only to resurfaced after the presence of military back ups on the road.” He said.

Reliable military sources told metrowatchonline that “Two trailers and one truck were burnt by the insurgents but the military also destroyed three vehicles belonging to the terrorists killed.

“Many of them were eliminated, with troops still chasing them hours after they escaped from the road block yesterday. They actually gained entrance to the main road by filling the trenches around unknown to the residents. Actually no civilian vehicle was burnt in the criminal act of the insurgents.

“The vehicles were stopped indeed and there was no movement from about midmorning due to fear. The road was blocked during the encounter and then later reopened by troops who were there in time with the theatre commander Major General Chris Musa. 3 Gun trucks were recovered with lots of weapons. One of the gun trucks was destroyed completely because they came with 4 gun trucks to try our will power.”

Damaturu Maiduguri road has been relatively peaceful for some time now except for few hit and run cases which the insurgents have been perpetuating occasionally to gain relevance.

Last month Iswap targeted a truck load of mobile policemen deployed from Port Harcourt into the theatre but were disappointed in their ploy because the police men fought and freed themselves from the ambush laid down for them

Commissioner of Police Abdu Umar while chatting with metrowatchonline however regretted that while the group coming in from Biu landed safely with all their men, he lost three police men in the team that took the Damaturu Maiduguri road to base.

ISWAP had since claimed responsibility for the attack even as the three police men that died in the ambush have since been buried.

Owo Attack: NHRC Condemns Spate of Killing Across Nigeria

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Owo Attack: NHRC Condemns Spate of Killing Across Nigeria

THE Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has condemned in its entirety the spate of killings and total disregard to the sanctity of human lives being perpetrated by various criminals within the country.

A statement on Thursday by the Commission said Sections 33 and 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 has amended protect the lives and dignity of citizens of Nigeria subject only to the exceptions therein stated.

The Governing Council of the Commission however lamented that heinous crimes and killings are being perpetrated with impunity as exemplified in the recent Kaduna train attack, the attack at St. Francis Catholic Church Owo, Ondo State, the killing of a young man Ahmed Usman, at the Lugbe axis of the Federal Capital Territory for alleged blasphemy, the stoning to death of Deborah, a student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto also on grounds of alleged blasphemy, the killing of a pregnant woman Fatima (Harira) and her four children, and various others across the country.

The Council condoled with the families who have lost their loved ones in these and other various attacks and pray that God Almighty will grant them the fortitude to bear these irreparable losses.

The statement said: “NHRC wishes to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to intensify efforts towards apprehending these criminals and bringing them to justice as well as improving the security situation in the country.

“The NHRC also implores every Nigerian to take necessary steps to contribute to the peace and security of the nation by providing information to security personnel and preaching the essence of tolerance and peaceful co-existence among other measures,” adding that: “The NHRC remains fully committed to playing its role in the promotion, protection and enforcement of the human rights of the citizens of Nigeria as well as all resident therein.”

Democracy Day: FG Declares Monday June 13th as Public Holiday

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Democracy Day: FG Declares Monday June 13th as Public Holiday

THE Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated Nigerians on the occasion and urged all citizens to support the present administration in its efforts at ensuring a secured, united and prosperous nation.

Aregbesola advised Nigerians to use the occasion to reflect on the long journey the country has made towards the enthronement of a civil democratic order, before national Independence in 1960 till date and the sacrifices of our patriots.

He reminded Nigerians of the challenges we have faced and overcome, including a civil war, and said any form of agitation that threatens the unity of the country should be shunned for the good of all, saying the space known as Nigeria would be a haven of peace, unity and progress if all citizens love their neighbours and embrace the spirit of brotherliness.

Aregbesola said: “As we mark another Democracy Day in the history of our dear country, let us reflect on the efforts of our founding fathers and ensure that Nigeria remains one united, secured, peaceful and an indivisible entity”, noting that “no development can take place in an acrimonious environment.”

He said: “With the challenges we face in Nigeria today, I see an opportunity for us not to break up or break down, but to break open; open up to ourselves in truth so that we may appreciate each other, understand each other, honour each other and live together in peace and prosperity.”

The Minister advised Nigerians to judiciously put into use the recently unveiled Nigeria Internal Security and Public Safety Alert System (N-Alert) Mobile App designed to mitigate security challenges and other disasters with the slogan “See Something Do N-Alert”, in the usage of the Mobile App, which has been upgraded to meet with current challenges in the country.

He assured that with the concerted efforts being put in place by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration to secure the lives and property of Nigerians and stabilise the economy, the nation will continue to get better.

Aregbesola enjoined Nigerians to keep faith with democracy, that though it might not have brought our best expectations, we should keep at it, knowing that practice makes perfect, and the alternatives are far worse and have proved ruinous and disastrous to the nation, if our recent history is anything to go by.

He said: “There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel.”

STEP Taught Delta Youths How to Become Job Creators, Says Edeogho

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STEP Taught Delta Youths How to Become Job Creators, Says Edeogho

-By Gertrude ONYEKACHUKWU-UTEH/Ese Laura OGHENE:

EDEOGHO BENJAMIN is a Sociology graduate and is the CEO of Oghene-Leno Polythenes, Asaba. He had worked as a banker with two microfinance banks before he enrolled and trained in the Delta State Government’s Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) in the 2016/2017 cycle.  He was trained in Tiling. He hails from Isoko North Local Government Area.

His tiling skill has taken him around the whole of the Niger Delta Region to execute projects which were quite rewarding. For health challenges, he diversified to production of polythene bags, though he still executes tiling projects occasionally. He produces all kinds of polythene bags such as big handless bags, small handless bags, cellophane nylon of all sizes and customized nylon bags which he sells to wholesalers only. Hear him.

“I feel fulfilled working for myself, being able to pay my bills and provide for my family. The Orientation and Personal Effectiveness Training (OPET) and the Entrepreneurship and Business Management Training (EBMT) experiences gave me the idea of what challenges are in business and how not to give up no matter the obstacles.

“From my savings as a banker and tiling, I procured equipment for my polythene business with about ₦1.5m. STEP has placed smile on my face and the faces of so many serious-minded youths who know what they want out of life. STEP taught us how to be self-reliant and how to create jobs for ourselves in the face of unemployment in this country. I run my business with my family, so I do not need an employee yet.

“I have acquired two plots of land in Ozoro and in Ibusa. I appreciate the Delta State Government for the follow-up. It is my prayer that governments after Governor Okowa continue with the programme.”

2023 PRESIDENCY: THE BALL ON BOLA’S COURT

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2023 PRESIDENCY: THE BALL ON BOLA’S COURT

By Austen AKHAGBEME:

A few days before the APC primary elections, every remaining stone that needed to be hurled at Tinubu and his avowed resolve to clinch the party’s ticket by those who do not like him, was hurled.

This was after a seemingly devastating blow within his political family when earlier on, his political son, the esteemed Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, square off for a political bout with him.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola did his, too. He called Tinubu out over the Osun state APC gubernatorial primary election as his preferred candidate seems to be losing the grip on the ticket. The former governor of the state of Osun was a known adherent of Senator Bola Tinubu.

That was within the house. Outside the house was full of detractors, naysayers and soothsayers of gloom and doom, haters and political opponents who were all entitled to their opinion and stances, though. Yet Tinubu took all of the tirades in his stride, his eyes on the ball.

Then, what seems like the last straw that broke the camel’s back for Bola Tinubu was the Abeokuta outcry where he vehemently berated his political beneficiaries including President Buhari, accusing them of crass ingratitude and forgetfulness.

Why the party chairman was rumoured to have threatened sanctions against the Jagaban for firing such a salvo against the President, most people outside the political cycle saw the action as an ego trip and undue braggadocio.

This, according to these armchair politicians, was supposed to trigger a negative commensurate response from the northern power bloc which will affect his chances for the primary election. But this turned out to be the “joker” of some sort. Everyone begins to rightly or wrongly imagine the crisis and consequences of wrongfully denying Bola Tinubu the party ticket.

But just like the APC Presidential flagbearer said, he has long left that behind as he forgives and forges ahead. It was a long drawn battle, fought from all known and unknown angles and that which saw to the deployment of deft political calculations, miscalculations and corrections, intrigues and horse-trading that finally got Jagaban the ticket.

To Asiwaju BolaTinubu, the ball is now in your court. This is the time to let the world and Nigerians know your ever robust plans to take us out of the wood. Congratulations, sir.

  • Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online

“My Channels TV Interview Taken Out of Context” -Kashim Shettima

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“My Channels TV Interview Taken Out of Context” -Kashim Shettima

FORMER Borno State Governor and one of the staunchest supporters of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the front runner in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Primary, Senator Kashim Shettima has expressed that his recent interview on Channels TV was taken out of contest.

Shettima, who in a personally signed statement on Sunday equally apologize to both the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, both presidential aspirants of the APC, for the perceived banters thrown at them during the interview

He said: “When I appeared on Channels TV last Thursday amidst the tension rippling through our political arena, it was to underline the promise Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid held for those yet to establish the certainty of the hurdle ahead of the APC. I never set out to denigrate the personality of any aspirant, and definitely not that of my dear friends and allies. None of them is an opponent, so their aspiration isn’t a threat to us. They appear so in the sprint to become the party’s presidential flag-bearer in the 2023 elections, but they are our allies in the marathon.”

He added that: “My assessments of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, were well-intentioned. I never set out to subject them to ridicule but, rather, to stir up interest in the contrasting virtues of the cast of aspirants putting up a fight against my preferred aspirant, one most favoured and advantaged to guarantee APC’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election.”

He however said: “The interpretations of my remarks on Professor Osinbajo and Senator Lawan are, thus, being done literally and overblown. My words weren’t woven to portray them as unworthy aspirants, but merely to qualify them as non-threatening contenders. I, however, take full responsibility for my utterances and wish to appeal to our teeming supporters to neither take my words out of their metaphoric contexts nor interpret them as a measure and declaration of hostility towards my dear friends and allies.

“I hereby tender my unreserved apologies to the Vice President and the President of the Senate for the unintended pains my jibes might have caused them and their families and supporters.”

He admitted that: “As we approach the finishing line of this tense political race, I’m not unaware of who the actual opponents are. A divided house, even if in the assumptions and imaginations of supporters with a distant grasp of our relationships with other aspirants, is the last impression we wish to create among Nigerians.

“I want this to be taken as an appeal to our supporters across all political camps to build bridges and mend fences as the actual journey is just about to begin. Victory, for the discerning, has always been the first lap of the race. Thank you for your understanding.”

YAGEP Support Package Boosted My Farm Enterprise, Says Adagbon-Etman

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YAGEP Support Package Boosted My Farm Enterprise, Says Adagbon-Etman

-By Gertrude ONYEKACHUKWU-UTEH-

JOY ADAGBON-ETMAN is the CEO of Divine Agro-Chemicals. She is a professional crop farmer with a bachelor degree in Agriculture. She hails from Oshimili North Local Government Area. To expand and boost her farm produce, she enrolled and received support from the Delta State Government’s Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in the 2020/2021 cycle. She shares her experience how YAGEP helped to expand her farm business.

“Before now, I cultivated only cassava, vegetable, maize, melon and yam. I received support package comprising training and agrochemicals in terms of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and cash for land preparation and labour from YAGEP. With this support, I now have a rice farm and a cucumber farm in addition to my farm in other locations. 

“The support package from YAGEP was a boost to my farm enterprise. My crops are all doing well. It enabled me to venture into rice farming. My vision is to become a major crop farmer and to cultivate on at least five acres of land. Agriculture is interesting and profitable.”

Native Doctors Flee As Security Operatives Raid UGM Shrines In Anambra

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Native Doctors Flee As Security Operatives Raid UGM Shrines In Anambra

–From Sunny A. DAVID:

SECURITY agencies in Anambra State have reportedly busted nine camps belonging to ‘unknown gunmen’ in the Anambra South Senatorial District.

Nine shrines used by the hoodlums for oath-taking were also raided by the joint task force on security in the State.

A Police source said natives who acted as informants to the hoodlums were also in detention and making useful statements.

Some of the areas raided by the task force included Aguluezechukwu in Aguata Local Government Area; Ebenato Community in Nnewi South Local Government Area; Ezinifite Community also in Nnewi South Local Government Area; and Ichi, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area.

Other areas include part of Osumoghu, Lilu and some parts of Ukpor in Nnewi South and Ihiala Local Government Areas.

The source said most native doctors had fled from their homes because some of their colleagues who were arrested had been providing names of those involved in killings and kidnappings in the state.

The Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, said it was too early to begin to count the successes in the war against terror in the State.

DEATH IN THE CATHEDRAL

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DEATH IN THE CATHEDRAL

What happened in Owo, Ondo state on Sunday most not be allowed to go the way of several similar others. This is one death too many.

Even the locale could not deter or scare the murderous conscience of the dare-devil killers and their clandestine paymasters. This is serious and must be taken seriously.

This massacre points to several underlying but probable existential reason why we must sit-down to discuss our union, it’s continued viability vis-a-vis her secularism. Not to think towards this direction is to play the ostrich while tacitly alluding to the fact that Nigeria belongs to a few who owns her certificate of occupancy recklessly but fearlessly.

Our nation has become a murderous field, laden with metaphorical mines propelled and lubricated
by hate, religious intolerance and collective myopia of the highest quality and crudity.

It is on record that the ondo state governor has been very vocal against the killer herdsmen menace in the bushes and lonely roads of his state. It was on this backdrop that he championed the establishment of the initially controversial local security outfit, the Amotekun.

Paradoxically and against the run of play, his state and particularly his ancestral city of Owo has become the victim of this dastardly act capable of instigating more hatred and putting a knife to the already weakened cord that held us together as a people.

While it may be too early to insinuate a possible culpability of some extraneous tendencies and externalities of factors that may aid this mayhem, all accusing fingers are primarily pointing to the murderous Fulani men who have an axe to grind with Governor Akerodolu. At least, those who saw them while they were fleeing after the havoc said so.

For how long should we allow this monster of reckless endangerment of mankind to fester in Nigeria? When are we going to stop the bleeding points of our beleaguered union? When will the government of the day, for once, focus their attention away from politics to the existential threat staring at us in the face?

How long will it take to hear another devastating news and the accompanying official obscurantism and condolences from the same people who swore to an oath to protect us? Who are these killers that cannot be found and fixed in record time? Why are they invincible and yet not invisible? I am tired. May the souls of the dead rest in peace.

  • Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online

Delta SERVICOM, Labour Relations Boss Assured Of Support From MDAs

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Delta SERVICOM, Labour Relations Boss Assured Of Support From MDAs

-By Chukwudi ASOYA:

IN a bid to actualise the finishing strong agenda of Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa led administration, the office of Delta state SERVICOM and Labour Relations undertook a monitoring and inspection visit to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state .

Speaking during the commencement of the visits, the Director in the office of SERVICOM and Labour, Mrs. Uche Onwusanya charged SERVICOM line officers to reawaken the SERVICOM activities in the MDAs and Delta state in general.

Mrs. Onwusanya, who is the Head of a four man monitoring committee also urged them to be proactive and activate all the necessary tools needed for an efficient and effective service delivery.

Mrs Onwusanya said that the inspection and monitoring visit to the MDAs was apt, adding that the present administration was in it’s finishing stage and needed to finish strongly, noting that the Governor Okowa led administration started strongly.

She further added that the monitoring visit to the MDAs was important, saying that there was need to meet with the SERVICOM line officers in the various MDAs to be sure that activities of SERVICOM were being carried out in areas where such activities were needed.

The SERVICOM and Labour Relations Director said that there was also a strong need to ascertain the level of compliance to service delivery.

In his separate remarks, Erhiakewe Ejior Rex who is the Desk Officer in the office of the Head of Service thanked the SERVICOM team led by Mrs Onwusanya for the monitoring and inspection visit, noting that for a long time, SERVICOM activities in the state had been on a very low burner just as he attributed it’s low rate to the fact that most of the trained SERVICOM staff ended up being posted out to other Ministries and Departments after acquiring SERVICOM training.

He also suggested the need and importance of training and retraining of SERVICOM line officers in line with modern trends.

For her part, a Director in the office of Directorate of Culture and Toursim, Mrs Efenedu Vera said that the visit was apt and very important, explaining that SERVICOM was presently at zero level and needed to be reawakened at all cost.

  • Mrs Uche Onwusanya, Director SERVICOM and Labour Relations with the Permanent Secretary Bureau for Specia Duties, Mrs ONOKPISE AUGUSTINA OMAMOOKE mni during the SERVICOM monitoring visit to some MDAs in Asaba

She commended the Director of SERVICOM, Mrs Uche Onwusanya and her team for the initiative and pledged to support the gesture .

She also added that SERVICOM charters were not mounted in most of the offices due to the relocation of the offices to the new Secretariat.

THE BRAGGING RIGHTS OF BOLA TINUBU

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THE BRAGGING RIGHTS OF BOLA TINUBU

THAT Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has to unleash his feelings most emotionally and at a most auspicious moment on those he felt had treated him with disdain against the laws of reciprocity, has successfully thrown him into the political space for polemicists, pundits, disputants and ardent political watchers to dissect.

This creates an opportunity for every analyst to look into the inner recesses of power politics and its destructive and disenfranchising tendencies, especially as it pertains to the Nigerian ruling party, APC when it is flagrantly abused.

Though most of the arguments are a spherical aberration of what the real issue is, many have chosen to run with these same trivialities that only appeal to emotion and not reason.

What is Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu asking for from the party he helped to midwife and nurture into prominence? How democratic, just and fair is his demand? How justifiable, fair and democratic is the action of those who are bent on denying him of his demand at this last minute?

Tinubu is not asking for an automatic ticket. He’s asking for an opportunity to participate in the primary election instead of voodoo and maliciously concocted consensus candidacy which seeks to be coming a way too late into when the race is supposed to be flagged off.

Those who are angry that Tinubu is braggishly berating his erstwhile political beneficiaries are quite inconsiderate. Do they expect him to venerate ingratitude? That is quite unlike us as a highly religious people with good conscience as we are.

How about the argument of the naysayers who are bent on dragging into a serious matter, the awkward comparison with the Ambode saga of yore. Tinubu didn’t shut down Ambode’s ambition as being wrongly portrayed.

He allowed Ambode the opportunity when he insist on participating in the primary election to test his popularity, just exactly what he’s asking the APC caucuses to let him do in the present circumstance. But those who love to juxtapose reason with petulant perversity will not like to hear this.

The APC and her ruling apparachik must be dispassionately guided by reason vis-a-vis her clear and cherished desire to retain power than primordial consideration being perpetrated by self-styled puritanical do-gooders of democracy and democratisation who are hell-bent on bringing the ruling party to disrepute by their actions and inaction.

The PDP has put their best foot forward despite the advertised baggage of its captain, building consensus and mending broken fences. The APC must come out with a match, war chest to the war chest.

In Nigeria, it is very common to observe that those who had too many opportunities but did so little always insist on telling those who had the little opportunity but did so much what to do.

Those who had the elasticity of opportunity to build the nation and party but never did cannot lord it over those who spent their resources, both human and capital, to build the party to what it is today just to satisfy the unholy desire of a few. It is time to let Tinubu exercise his bragging rights freely.

  • Austen AKHAGBEME is a Columnist with Blank NEWS Online

Adopt Delta YAGEP Model to Tackle Agric Problems, Eboh Tells Stakeholders

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Adopt Delta YAGEP Model to Tackle Agric Problems, Eboh Tells Stakeholders

-By Gertrude Onyekachukwu-UTEH and Ese Laura OGHENE:

STAKEHOLDERS in the Agricultural Industry have assembled to identify solutions to various challenges plaguing the sector in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

This was the overarching goal at the 7th Agricultural Policy Stakeholders Forum and 1st Annual International Conference organized by the Agricultural Policy Research Network (APRNet) in Asaba.

The 2-day conference with the theme, “Towards a Resilient and Sustainable Agri-Food System by 2025 in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa” was attended by relevant stakeholders in the agricultural sector such as entrepreneurs in agribusiness, the academia, top government functionaries, public servants and political appointees both in the public and private sectors across the country and abroad.

In his keynote address entitled, “Youth Employment and Wealth Creation through Agricultural Entrepreneurship: The Delta State Model as Evidential Case for Paradigm Shift, the State Chief Job and Wealth Creation Officer and the Head of the State Job and Wealth Creation Bureau, Prof Eric Eboh, harped on the goals of his paper.

According to him, “the goal is to demonstrate, using live evidence from Delta State, that youth agricultural entrepreneurship is a veritable strategy for not only solving youth unemployment but creating wealth and promoting a resilient and sustainable agri-food system.”

He stated that youths could take advantage of the huge economic opportunities

along the agricultural value chain through active participation in agriculture for self-employment using the targeting approaches, which he described as a deliberate effort tailored to suit the circumstances, constraints and needs of youths.

“Delta state YAGEP model is programmed to solve youth unemployment and to develop agricultural value chains through youth agricultural entrepreneurship: agricultural skills training, internship and support for start-ups as well as support for marginal (surviving) enterprises; and to train, equip, establish and sustain youth agricultural entrepreneurs for self-employment and economic independence,” he emphasized.

Identifying solutions to poor youth participation in agricultural value-chain, the job creation bureau boss said lessons learnt in the seven years of YAGEP implementation in the state are the answer and should be adopted by other states.

He classified the solutions into three which are breaking the barriers to youth participation in the agricultural value chain; receiving unwavering political support, and the Programme Learning Curve which is the readiness to use genuine feedback for self-correction.

He noted that from 2015 to 2021, YAGEP has produced 2,298.46 metric ton (MT) of meat; 72,680, 767 MT eggs; 6,682.91 MT fish; 2,342.25 pigs; 3,084.40 MT cassava among other crop commodities through the active participation of 1,520 beneficiaries in Fish, Poultry, Piggery and Crop Productions.

He maintained that with the right mix of the success enablers and drivers such as the conditions, factors and processes adopted in the implementation of YAGEP over the years, youth agricultural entrepreneurship is effective in tackling youth unemployment; and holds great potentials for promoting a resilient and sustainable agri-food system. 

Earlier during the opening ceremony, the President of APRNet, Dr. Anthony Onoja, said the goals of the conference was based on the lingering food crisis in the world due to climate change and conflicts which have made life difficult for families in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa.

He emphasized that the challenges motivated APRNet to bring together scholars and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to dialogue on the way out of the shortfall in food supply, poverty, hunger, malnutrition, migration caused by climate change and invasion by herdsmen and boko haram, which he pointed out has given rise to many internally displaced persons’ camps in the country (IDPs.)

“Food inflation is high. People cannot afford decent meals even among the middle class. How do we get out of this mess? Nigeria was better than this. We are looking for solution. To eradicate hunger and poverty, the government should adopt innovation.

“Government should be open to implementing research results that advocate for innovations in reviving the agricultural food system, developing agricultural food value chain and improving access to food inputs to farmers. Farm inputs should be made available at the right time to enable them utilize them to achieve result.

“It was reported that Anchor Borrowers’ Programme loan got to some farmers late when they did not need it, making the propensity to default high. Government should be timely to dispense whatever input they have and to provide the enabling environment in terms of security to boost food production,” he stated.

He explained that after their deliberations, a communique would not only be issued and published in scholarly global journals, but would be used for policy formulation and implementation by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

The highpoints of the opening ceremony were the delivering of goodwill messages by APRNet partners and presentation of papers by other speakers.

Delta 1st Lady @ 61: I Celebrate Jesus With Inmates, Orphans, Less Privileged -Dame Okowa

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Delta 1st Lady @ 61: I Celebrate Jesus With Inmates, Orphans, Less Privileged -Dame Okowa

Wife of Delta Governor and founder 05 Initiative, Dame Edith Okowa has revealed to the world how she has chosen to celebrate her birthdays.

The First Lady, on Wednesday, June 01, 2022, celebrated her 61st birth anniversary with inmates of the Five Correctional centers in the state.

Addressing inmates at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional center, Dame Okowa charged them to hold on to God, adding that even if they were found guilty as charged, God’s mercy could still locate them, and urged them to genuinely surrender their lives to God.

The governor’s wife said it has become a tradition for her to celebrate Jesus with the inmates of the five correctional centers in the state in order to give them a sense of belonging and hope of freedom to live normal life again, hence her representatives were also in Warri, Agbor, Kwale and Sepele celebrating the day with the inmates simultaneously.

In a sermon by Lady Chineze Onyedike, the inmates were admonished to remain steadfast in God who alone could deliver them as every human being was created to manifest God’s glory which the devil is fighting to destroy.

The State Commandant of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Tunde George who was in the entourage of the Governor’s wife, sensitized the inmates on the need to avoid drugs abuse and other illicit drugs capable of truncating their lives and called on parents to monitor the association their children keep, as children left to themselves often caused disgrace to the family.

The officer in charge of Ogwashi-Uku Correctional centre, Mr. Sunday Oyakire and a representative of the inmates appreciated the governor’s wife for reaching out to them on the occasion of her birthday, instead of going to a better place to celebrate.

The birthday celebration featured prayers, praise and worship led by the inmates. Highpoint of the celebration was the cutting of the birthday cake by Dame Okowa flanked by the inmates and her entourage.

Earlier, Dame Okowa was also at the Government House Chapel, Asaba to thank God for another 365 days before receiving a surprise birthday get together by her children, where close associates and staff of her office celebrated her.

Recall that Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa had celebrated her birthday anniversaries with the less privileged in the society, especially orphanage homes, schools for the handicapped, as well as correctional centres across Delta state.

Reps Minority Leader, Elumelu Celebrates Dame Edith Okowa @ 61

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Reps Minority Leader, Elumelu Celebrates Dame Edith Okowa @ 61

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has felicitated the Wife of the Delta State Governor, Dame Edith Okowa, on the occasion of her 61st birthday anniversary.

Elumelu in a goodwill message on Wednesday appreciated the Lord God Almighty for keeping and sustaining the life of the First Lady, describing her as a virtuous woman, an epitome of motherhood and a great woman of substance.

Elumelu eulogised the Governor’s wife for the critical role she has continued to play in the life of the Governor and in his administration of the state since he took over the affairs of the state, seven years ago.

The Minority Leader said, “We celebrate a great woman who has in no small measure, been a beacon of hope, priceless and worthy gift to the people of Delta State and a jewel of inestimable value to His Excellency the Governor of our dear State.

“We appreciate God for your life and thank you, immensely for the supportive role you have continued to play in the life of your beloved Husband.

“Your persistent prayers and godly advice has been critical and instrumental to our Governor’s exceptional success and unprecedented achievements, recorded in Delta State in the past seven years. We are indeed proud and appreciate what the Lord has used you to accomplish for the State.

“We commend and celebrate you for using your pet project, 05 Initiative, a godly initiative, as a veritable channel of positive transformation of the lives of the less privileged, the motherless and the aged in the State and the country at large. You are indeed an epitome of selflessness, a great woman of great value with a heart of gold.

“On behalf of the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, Delta State and Nigeria as a whole, I heartily rejoice and congratulate Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa, beloved wife of our dear Governor and the Mother of our beloved State, Delta, on this auspicious occasion of your sixty first birthday anniversary.

“As you celebrate today, our wish and prayer for you, is for God to continue to straighten you with his might, endow you with divine health, sustain you with peace that surpasses all understanding and give you many more glorious years ahead.

Congratulations and happy birthday to Her Excellency, Dame Edith Okowa, Wife of the Governor of Delta State.

Damasak: Bagudu, Zulum tour Borno’s 3,000-hectare rice farm

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Damasak: Bagudu, Zulum tour Borno’s 3,000-hectare rice farm

… Kebbi Governor explains visit 
… Says Buhari is happy 

GOVERNOR of Kebbi State, Abubakar Bagudu, was, on Wednesday, led by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum on a tour of 3,000-hectare rice farm in Damasak, headquarters of Mobbar Local Government Area.  

The mega farm is one of Zulum’s ongoing programmes in Agriculture.   

The farm’s location, Damasak, is on the fringes of lake chad and it was one of Boko Haram’s strongholds before it was liberated by the Nigerian Military.

… Kebbi Governor explains Damasak visit

During the tour, Governor Bagudu addressed farmers, explaining purpose of his visit. 

“Let me say how honoured I am to be standing here in Damasak to support my brother. When he told us the big story, I asked him, ‘can you take me along with you (to Damasak)?’ We always celebrate him (Zulum) and appreciate what he is doing for Borno State and the entire Nigeria. His doggedness and courage are why I joined him in coming to see this (farm in Damasak), among other efforts that he is doing in returning normalcy to Borno State and indeed normalcy to Nigeria”, Bagudu said. 

…Says Buhari is happy

Still addressing farmers, Governor Bagudu said he had met with Mr President, “I told him about Borno’s rice farm which he noted. Mr President was so happy with the news”. 

… Zulum speaks

In his response, Governor Zulum explained that over 30,000 hectares have so far been cultivated across the state. 

He cited the reactivation of irrigation farming programmes around lake Alau, Baga, Nguro Soye in Bama and some liberated communities across the local government areas.  

Zulum said the activation of irrigation activities have increased Borno’s local sourcing of vegetables rather than having to bring from other parts of the country.

The two governors returned to Maiduguri from where Bagudu departed. 

The governors traveled to Damasak alongside former Minister of Agriculture Hon. Abubakar Tijjani, who played a key role in some of Borno’s agricultural programmes. There were the Zulum’s special adviser on agriculture, Ali Audu, and a director of irrigation, Mohammed Shettima. 

The trip also included the member representing Mobbar at the State Assembly,  Usman Lawan Moruma, and three former commissioners: Trade and Commerce, Yarima Lawan Kareto, Agriculture, Engr Bukar Talba, and Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr Mustapha Mallambe, and the Executive Secretary, Borno State Tsangaya Board, Ali Kaka Gashigar.

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