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Aisha Buhari Asks World Leaders To Stop Infectious Diseases

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Aisha Buhari Asks World Leaders To Stop Infectious Diseases
Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari and US First Lady, Michelle Obama at the UN General Assembly
Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari and US First Lady, Michelle Obama at the UN General Assembly

Wife of the Nigeria president, Aisha Buhari, has called for combined efforts by nations of the world in order to curb the challenges posed by infectious diseases.

She said this in her speech at “The Stop Tuberculosis Partnership Opening Dialogue” on the sidelines of the ongoing 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States.

The president’s wife addressed an audience made up of medical professionals, non-governmental organisations, community representatives, the academia and chief executives of pharmaceutical companies.

She noted that the rise of infectious diseases could also spread fear and panic as well as “impact the very core of society as shown by the recent Ebola epidemic.”

Buhari pointed out that Nigeria is one of the worst hit nations by Tuberculosis in Africa, with almost 600,000 people living with the disease.

She added however that no disease in history had crossed as many borders and inflicted as much damage as tuberculosis, hence the need for world leaders to include it as part of the challenges confronting the global community.

“A comprehensive national TB surveillance survey conducted in 2012 revealed the burden to be much larger than previously thought with about 300,000 additional TB cases, and a 400% increase in mortality numbers,” the president’s wife stated.

She expressed delight that ‘Stop TB Partnership’, tuberculosis “is beginning to receive a more deserving label “as a global emergency that demands a political response at the highest levels.”

The first Lady backed the recent call by the South African Minister Matsoaledi for a United Nations High-Level meeting on TB in September 2017.

She pledged to mobilise other first ladies across the world and wives of Nigeria’s governors to commit to the efforts at ending tuberculosis.

Boko Haram, Herdsmen Rank Among World’s Deadliest Groups

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Boko Haram, Herdsmen Rank Among World’s Deadliest Groups

boko-haram-herdsmen-rank-among-worlds-deadliest-groups

A Report By The 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative And The Stefanus Foundation, Based In The United States And Nigeria Respectively, Has Revealed That The Boko Haram Terrorist Group In The Northeast, Ranks Highest On The List Of The Most Deadly Terrorist Groups In The World.

They are followed closely by the “Fulani Militants” who are placed fourth, behind ISIS and Al-Qaeda.

“Global Terrorism index shows that Boko Haram is the world’s most lethal terrorist group, followed by ISIS, while Al-Qaeda ranks third and the Fulani militants mostly in the middle belt rank 4th,” said Mark Lipdo, Executive Director of the Stefanus Foundation.

Lipdo, made this known while addressing newsmen in Abuja, adding that a research conducted by the groups revealed that over 14 million Nigerians have been directly affected by humanitarian crises in the North-east region of the country.

“14.8 million Nigerians from Northeast are directly impacted by the crisis. Officially, there are 2.2 million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs. Unofficially, there are five to seven million IDPs,” he said.

He noted that the terrorism in the Northeast has had devastating impacts on education in the region as hundreds of teachers were killed, thousands were displaced, about 1500 schools closed down, and almost 1 million children denied the opportunity of accessing education.

He added that research showed that 13,000 churches were abandoned, closed down or destroyed, 2000 children abducted and 10,000 boys forced to join Boko Haram.

Elijah Brown, Vice President of the 21st Wilberforce Initiative, stated that the number of IDPs in the country were more than 2 million as at December 2015, “the third highest figure in Africa and the seventh in the world.”

Brown called for immediate action to check the menace of herdsmen/farmers clashed in the country as the ugly development was having a terrible effect on the middle belt and the country at large.

“Without intervention, the crisis in the Middle Belt will continue to escalate; this could affect other countries in West African region like the Republic of Benin, Chad, Cameroon, Mali, and Niger,” he said.

Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, who were present during the report presentation called on world leaders to come to Nigeria’s assistance to tackle the humanitarian challenges caused by terrorist activities across the nation.

Samson Ayokunle, president of CAN, said that “The situation (in the northeast) is looked upon by international bodies as the biggest humanitarian disaster all over the world.

“A disturbing fact about the problem is that it has not received substantial humanitarian response from the world’s most powerful nations as other disasters of relatively smaller degrees in other parts of the world.

Ayokunle made a passionate appeal to the international community “to come to the aid of Nigeria in seeing to the end of insurgency.”

Nigeria Records N4.17tn Debt Increase In One Year

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Nigeria Records N4.17tn Debt Increase In One Year
President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun
President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun

Statistics from Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, DMO, shows that the country’s debt profile stood at N16.29 trillion in June this year, indicating a N4.17 trillion increase from the N12.12 trillion it was in June 2015.

The figures represent 34.41 percent increase in the total debt of Nigeria within the period in review – June 2015 to June 2016.

According to a PUNCH report, a breakdown of the country’s debt profile shows that external debt by the federal and state governments stood at $11.26 billion or N3.19 trillion as of June 30, 2016; from $10.32 billion or N2.03 trillion in July last year.

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s official exchange rates of N283 to $1 as of June 30, 2016, and N197 as at December 2015 were used to arrive at the naira equivalent of the foreign debt status, according to the DMO.

As at June 2016, “the domestic debt of the Federal Government stood at N10.61 trillion as of June this year, up from N8.4 trillion a year ago,” the PUNCH reported.

“This means that within 12 months, the Federal Government’s domestic debt profile rose by N2.21 trillion or 26.31 per cent.”

Also, the domestic debt of States as at the end of June this year, was put at N2.5tn, showing a 47.93% or N810 billion increase from the N1.69tn it was in July 2015.

The report stated that “FGN Bonds remained the dominant instrument for borrowing from the domestic market, as it accounted for N7.47tn or 70.46 per cent of the Federal Government’s domestic debt profile.”

It is followed by the Nigerian Treasury Bills which accounted for N2.9tn or 27.36 per cent of the Federal Government’s domestic debt profile.

While Treasury Bonds accounted for N230.99bn or 2.18 per cent of Federal Government’s domestic borrowing.

The PUNCH also reports that a DMO document, ‘Nigeria’s Debt Management Strategy 2016-2019’, revealed that at least 30% of the nation’s domestic debt would fall due within a one-year period.

It added that refinancing the 30% component of the domestic debt posed high risk to the economy because of high interest rate.

It would be recalled that Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN, on Tuesday, voted unanimously to retain interest rate at 14 percent for the second month running.

CBN governor Godwin Emefiele explained that the apex bank was certain that cutting rates without appropriate fiscal plans may not help the economy.

The move was against the pleas by the Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, that interest rates should be lowered so that government will not have to pay more in servicing its domestic debts.

US President Expresses Confidence In Buhari Administration

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US President Expresses Confidence In Buhari Administration
President Muhammadu Buhari met with US president, Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ongoing, UN General Assembly in New York
President Muhammadu Buhari met with US president, Barack Obama on the sidelines of the ongoing, UN General Assembly in New York

President Barack Obama of the United States has expressed confidence in the ability of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to overcome the challenges facing the country.

Obama stated this when he met with Buhari on the sideline of the 71st edition of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He described Buhari as a man of “integrity and honesty.”

He said: “We have confidence in your leadership.

“There are some difficulties you face, but this administration is willing to assist in the short time we have left.

“You have made real progress in defeating the brutal organization called Boko Haram, and that was achieved because of your leadership.”

Obama said America would be willing to assist Nigeria “in defeating Boko Haram and the resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, which he said would “help ramp up oil production and increase revenue.”

He also promised commitment to resolving the humanitarian crisis in the North East and recovering Nigeria’s stolen money stashed in foreign banks.

The American President said his country looked forward to a framework for sustained partnership between it and Nigeria, which he described as a big and important country in sub-Saharan Africa.

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President Buhari had earlier assured the US president and the international community that Nigeria will soon become self-sufficient in food production.

He said that the farming season was good this year and there is hope for a good harvest.

“Nigeria is on the road to food self-sufficiency soon,” he said.

“We shall be able to feed ourselves, and utilize the billions of dollars spent on importing food on other productive areas.”

Buhari also told the American President that Nigeria is making steady progress towards resolving the problem in the Niger Delta region which has led to economic sabotage on a grand scale.

He said: “We are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors.

“In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved.”

The Nigerian president thanked America for its numerous assistance in the fight against insurgency.

He acknowledged that through provision of armaments, training for Nigerian troops, and sharing of intelligence, the nation’s military has been able to degrade the Boko Haram in the Northeast.

He however said the country would welcome more support in tackling the humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the region.

Buhari reiterated that his administration would not let-up on its major campaign promises of improving the nation’s security, fighting corruption and revamping of the economy.

He wished President Obama a happy retirement, as he gradually winds down on his tenure in office.

Yar’adua’s Aide’s Family Cries Out Against Detention

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Yar’adua’s Aide’s Family Cries Out Against Detention
Former first lady, Turai Yar'adua
Former first lady, Turai Yar’adua

Family of Yusuf Sarkin-Gida, a 60-year old domestic staff of Turai Yar’Adua, widow of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, has cried out over his detention by the Katsina State Command of the Nigerian Police.

Sarkin-Gida was arrested by the police over missing items worth N91 Million.

Usman Abdullahi, the Katsina state police commissioner, told newsmen on Tuesday that the 60-year-old Yusuf Sarkin-gida was arrested after a complaint to the police by the former first lady two weeks ago that items worth N91 was missing from her house.

Abdullahi explained that “The suspect is the custodians of all the keys and property of Hajiya Turai Yar’adua for the past forty years.

“There are 37 boxes in the custody of the suspect, but only 27 boxes are in the store.

“The several items in the 27 boxes are completely missing and the suspect has failed to give full explanation on the goods and items in the boxes,”

The police chief pointed out that Sarkin-gida had served the Yar’adua family for the past 40 years even before the late president became governor of Katsina State.

He said the suspect was assisting police investigation on the missing items.

But a spokesman of the Sarkin-Gida family, Mohammed Yusuf,  said their father was innocent of the crime he was accused of.

He said the arrest and detention of their father before the Eld-el-Kabir celebration had thrown the family into confusion.

Yusuf appealed to Human Rights groups to come to the aid of their father.

Bank Of Industry Supports Youth Entrepreneurs With N10 billion

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Bank Of Industry Supports Youth Entrepreneurs With N10 billion

bank-of-industry-supports-youth-entrepreneurs-with-n10-billion

Bank of Industry, BOI, has allocated N10 billion to the Youth Entrepreneurship Support, YES, across the country during the present fiscal year.

This disclosure was made on Tuesday in Maiduguri during the flag off of the training of additional 105 youths  by the Entrepreneur Development Centre, EDC, in conjunction with the Bank of Industry.

The 105 fresh trainees are part of the 2,500 youths currently receiving training  nationwide.

The BOI North East Regional Head, Mallam Aliyu Umaru, representing the acting Managing Director of the bank,  Waheed Olagunju, said about 25,000 youths were shortlisted out of the 71,788 that registered online for the programme nationwide.

He said: “We had about 71,788 applications based on the two online registration batches that we did.

Based on this we are envisaging that we will be getting 25,000 participants every quarter and that makes it about 10,000 participants in a year.”

He added that: “The figure might even go up to 20,000 in few years to come,” while revealing that the participants were selected based on their business proposals and the workability of their plans.

He said the participants will be granted loans up to N5 million to enable them set up their businesses at the end of the training.

He said: “At the end of the training we will determine the exact requirements for each of the participant to set up his business based on the feasibility study submitted by applicants.”

He explained the mechanism put in place to prevent default by beneficiaries of the loan to include strict monitoring, insisting that: “If you are doing groundnut oil production. We will visit your site to inspect the place and get your equipment requirements, rather than give you cash we will order the equipment direct from the sellers and pay them the actual price on your behalf. We will also make sure that the equipment are installed and production commences to avoid diversion.”

Permanent secretary in the state’s  ministry of commerce, Tijani Balama  while speaking at the flag off, expressed delight with the Federal Government policy which is targeted at reviving and creating more small scale industries.

He said that in spite of the insurgency, market women and other traders have been given similar sums through microfinance to enable them benefit from the state government’s scheme by becoming empowered.

He revealed that the state government had started the reactivation of some industries to revive the economy of the state.

Oyo Assembly Approves 35 New Development Areas

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Oyo Assembly Approves 35 New Development Areas
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi
Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi

The Oyo state house of assembly has passed the local government amendment bill 2016, which makes for the creation of 35 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in the state.

This followed the adoption of a report by the committee on local government, chieftaincy matters and state honours.

Oyo state already has 33 local Government Areas, which are reportedly having financial constraints.

The bill was unanimously approved during the state assembly plenary presided over by the speaker, Michael Adeyemo.

The speaker commended members of the assembly for their inputs to the bill, adding that it would bring government closer to the grassroots when signed into law by the governor.

However, the passage of the bill was not without controversy as some lawmakers insisted that the distribution of the LCDAs was lopsided.

Ganiyu Oseni, representing Irepo/Olorunsogo, insisted that the allocation of 11 LCDAs to Ibadan zone was unfair compared to the number allocated to other zones in the state.

Similarly, Muideen Olagunju of East-Oyo west, noted that some citizens of the state were dissatisfied with the distribution of LCDAs.

Fatai Adesina and Gbenga Oyekola, expressed scepticism about the viability of the new LCDAs given that the 33 local government areas in the state were having financial difficulties.

CBN Ignores Finance Minister, Retains 14% Interest Rate

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CBN Ignores Finance Minister, Retains 14% Interest Rate
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele fielding questions from journalists
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele fielding questions from journalists

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has decided to retain benchmark interest rate at 14%, saying that monetary policies alone could not totally save the economy.

Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefiele, made this known after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, MPC, at the CBN headquarters in Abuja.

This is against the advice of the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, who had urged the CBN to consider cutting interest rates, to make it easier for the federal government to take domestic loans and stimulate the economy.

“We need lower interest rates, because when we are borrowing and interest rates go up, it increases our cost of debt service and it reduces the amount of money that is available to spend on capital projects,” the minister was quoted as saying.

But at the meeting, all the members of the MPC voted to keep interest rate at 14 percent, while cash reserve ratio and liquidity ratio were also maintained at 22.5 percent and 30 percent respectively.

The CBN governor noted that the apex bank was certain that cutting rates without appropriate fiscal plans may not help the economy, calling on fiscal side to fasten the budget-implementation process.

Emefiele said he is more confident of inflow of foreign investment today, than he was during the last MPC meeting, adding that $1 billion had come into the economy in the past two months.

He pointed out that inflation had begun to recede since the bank’s last MPC decision, which indicates that the decisions were having expected effects on the economy.

Saraki Urges Executive-Legislature Partnership On Economy

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Saraki Urges Executive-Legislature Partnership On Economy
Senate President, Bukola Saraki was all smiles as the senate resumes sitting after long recess
Senate President, Bukola Saraki was all smiles as the senate resumes sitting after long recess

Senate President, Bukola Saraki has urged his colleagues in the Senate to buckle up and get ready to work together with the executive in order to restore citizens’ confidence in the government and revive the economy.

He said this during his opening speech at the resumption of plenary after the senators had embarked on a two-month break.

Saraki said that during the holiday,  he held series of interactions with members of his constituents where he learnt firsthand of the sufferings and hardship facing the people.

He said: “During this year’s Sallah as it is my tradition, I had close interaction with a cross section of my people in Kwara Central, including the aged, youths, market women, and leaders of thought.

“I believe many of you did the same. I recall unforgettably, how one of the women came straight to me with a look of utter desperation and all she could mutter out was, ‘please our senator, do what you can to put an end to this suffering; it is becoming unbearable’.

“I don’t know what your experience was, but if your experience mirrored mine, then the challenge before us could not have been made clearer.”

The senate president told his colleagues that the situation demands that “we must do something drastic and quick to restore confidence back into the economy and get people investing.”

Saraki noted that Nigerians are not concerned about who is responsible for the present economic hardship, rather people want to know how to end it.

“During my interaction … I remember trying to explain to my people that this kind of thing does not happen overnight; that the seeds for the condition that we suffer from today must have been planted by past administrations that refused to do what was necessary.

“However, I soon realised that my people are not so interested in how we got here or who to blame for our current situation.

“They only wanted to know that government has plans to get them out of this current predicament.

“To them, the only explanation that makes sense at the moment is that which puts food on the table, reduces price of rice, garri, salt, sugar, meat and saves jobs,” Saraki said.

He urged leaders in the country, including the legislators, to be visionary as the Nigerian citizenry is in dire need of “leadership with a clear vision, leadership whose daily actions reflects the very urgency of the people’s condition.”

“Therefore, our response to the current challenge must be dictated by the urgency of the hardship that the people suffer on a daily basis,” Saraki urged.

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