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Incoming administration will review Sanusi’s dethronement- Kwankwaso

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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Incoming administration will review Sanusi’s dethronement- Kwankwaso

THE candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the February 25 presidential election and former governor of Kano state, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has said the incoming administration in the state would review the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi, the 14th emir of Kano.

Sanusi was appointed during the administration of Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso after his removal as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in April 2014 following his allegation that some people stole $49 billion during the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

But the outgoing governor in the state deposed him on March 9, 2020 over allegation of insubordination and banished him to Awe in Nasarawa state, an action that the Federal High Court in Abuja would declare in November 2021 as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

Speaking in a viral video seen today, Kwankwaso said Sanusi’s dethronement would be reviewed by the incoming administration of the governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, a member of the NNPP.

“We have campaigned, and as you know, we are popular in Nigeria, especially in Kano state. We are now back and God willing, we will continue with the good works our administration left. This incoming governor and his team will take them up,” Kwankwaso said in the video.

He added, “As elders, we will continue to advise them to do the right thing. We tried not to intervene in the issue of bringing or removing any Emir, but now, an opportunity has come.

“Those who were given this opportunity will sit down and see to the issues. They will look at what they are expected to do. Beside the Emir, even the emirate has been divided into five places. All these need to be studied. Usually, a leader inherits good, bad and issues that are hard to reconcile.”

Ganduje had claimed that Sanusi’s appointment was to spite Jonathan and he removed him to save the system and the traditional institution from abuse.

He also faulted Sanusi’s public outburst over missing funds, saying the ex-CBN governor ought to have discussed the matter privately with the former president, who in turn could have directed an investigation into the allegation.

Sanusi had accepted his dethronement as “an act of destiny.”

Declaring his banishment as unconstitutional, the court awarded him N10 million compensation against the respondents comprising the police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Attorney-General of Kano State.

It also ordered them to tender a public apology to him in two national dailies.

Doctors give Federal gov’t two weeks strike notice

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Doctors give Federal gov’t two weeks strike notice

THE Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has given the Federal government two weeks to address long-standing issues or face “industrial disharmony.”

NARD gave the warning in a communique it issued at the end of its extraordinary National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, April 29 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The president and secretary-general of the association, Orji Innocent and Chikezie Kelechi respectively, signed the communique.

The association condemned the “obnoxious bill” sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Ganiyu Johnson, which it said was seeking to restrict the freedom of its members.

It said the bill would end up escalating the health sector’s problems, including brain drain.

The communique read, “NEC observed that despite several engagements by NARD with the government on the need to upwardly review the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), which was last reviewed over ten years ago, the government has neither called NARD to the negotiation table nor taken any tangible step in addressing the issue. This is against the background of the dwindling economic situation in the country, the serial abysmal decline in the value of the naira, the imminent removal of fuel subsidy, and the consequent damaging effect on the cost of living in the country.

“NEC recalled that there have been previous ultimatums issued to the government by NARD on account of this problem of reviewing the CONMESS salary structure. NEC also reiterated that the previous collective bargaining agreement on CONMESS stated clearly that the salary structure would be due for review after five years, but this has not been done since the implementation in 2014, though the approval was given in 2009.”

The group expressed disappointment at the delay in the 2023 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) payment.

It also frowned at the alleged refusal by the government to pay the salary arrears of 2014/2015 and 2016 to its members, as well as the arrears of the consequential adjustment of minimum wage.

“NEC observed the infrastructural decay in the health sector, as well as the severe manpower shortage in the sector, noting that despite several requests by NARD, the government has still refused to provide, at least, 15 per cent budgetary allocation to the health sector as contained in the 2001 Abuja Declaration for the health care financing in Africa to which Nigeria is a signatory. NEC described the current 5.7 per cent allocation in the 2023 budget as laughable for a country claiming to be committed to safeguarding the health of her citizens and nipping the challenge of brain drain in the bud,” the document stated.

The doctors also warned state governments yet to implement the appropriate CONMESS structure, domesticate the Medical Residency Training Act, or improve the hazard allowance paid to their colleagues and other health workers to do so without delay.

As part of its resolutions, NARD demanded an immediate increment in the CONMESS salary structure to 200 per cent of the current gross salary for doctors.

It called for immediate suspension of the bill seeking to stop doctors from migrating abroad, asked the government to pay the 2023 Medical Resident Training Fund and begin paying all salary arrears, and consequential adjustment of the minimum wage owed its members from 2014.

Others are immediate massive recruitment of health professionals to replace workers who are leaving, infrastructural lift in health facilities, and increase in budgetary allocation to health.

The group also demanded that state governments implement CONMESS MRTA and review hazard allowance and salary arrears, especially Abia state, which it said had been notorious for owing salaries.

It said, “NEC resolved to issue the government a two-week ultimatum beginning today, 29th Sunday, April 2023, to resolve all these demands, following the expiration of which on the 13th May 2023, we may not be able to guarantee industrial harmony in the sector nationwide.”

In 2021, The ICIR reported how disagreements between government doctors and other health workers led to the nation’s public hospitals losing nearly 300 days in eight years.

NARD was on strike for several weeks in 2021 following unmet demands from the Federal government.

Nigerians react as over 7,000 people stranded at Egyptian border

Mustapha USMAN
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Nigerians react as over 7,000 people stranded at Egyptian border

NIGERIANS on social media have expressed mixed feelings following the news that over 7,000 people, including Nigerian students, were stranded at the Egyptian border.

The ICIR had reported that the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said about 7,000 people, including Nigerian students being evacuated from Sudan, were stranded at the Egyptian border.

In a statement on Friday, April 28, NiDCOM said the Nigerian Mission in Egypt was making efforts to secure the students’ entry into the country.

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“She added that the Nigerian mission in Egypt has been working tirelessly on this as the Egyptian authorities are insisting on visas by fellow Africans to transit back to their countries. She appealed to the Egyptian authorities to kindly allow the already traumatised travellers to transit to their final destinations in various countries in Africa,” the statement noted.

Due to the ongoing crisis in Sudan, the Federal government had planned to evacuate Nigerians studying in the country back to Nigeria. 

Although there was a challenge in evacuating the students as reported by The ICIR, the first batch of the students, however, left Khartoum, the Sudan capital, by road for Aswan in Egypt, early on Wednesday, April 28.

During the journey to the Egyptian border, a student claimed via a video circulating on social media that they were left stranded in the desert due to non-payment of fees to the bus operators by the Federal government.

It was later confirmed by the NiDCOM chairman that the issues were settled, and the students arrived at the Aswan border in Egypt on Thursday, April 27.

Meanwhile, none of the students had been airlifted from Aswan to Nigeria since they arrived there on Thursday, April 27.

Reactions

Reacting to the development, some Nigerians on Twitter criticised the government over their handling of the situation, while some accused it of mismanaging the $1.2 million meant for the evacuation.

A twitter user with the name Engr_Shaibu criticised the government for what he called the inadequate planning regarding the temporary passage of its citizens into Egypt.

He wrote, “Shame, $1.2 million spent blindly. No earlier arrangements made with Egypt to temporarily allow passage due to warring conditions. Incompetent people at the helm of affairs!!!!”

Another user, @alexander _caee also wrote “Egyptian and Ethiopian authorities not allowing Nigerian nationals to cross or land thru their border have shown that PMB and its government not only failed Nigerians, but also failed African leaders. What is the importance of PMB visiting islamic countries for 8 yrs? Shame”

@IfyMaxxxx said the Federal government should have started negotiations with the Egypt government before the arrival of the buses.

“They should have started talks with Egypt sinceee, not waiting until the buses arrived at the Egyptian border. When will our government understand the word PLANNING? When other citizens arrive Nigerian border, will they be allowed to pass just like that?”

Uzoma ogan sympathised with the family of the affected students, hoping that there would be quick resolution from the Federal government.

“Truly sad. Praying for quick resolution. I can only imagine the anguish of a parent in such a tragic situation. That feeling of helplessness must be the worst feeling in the world.”

Another twitter user, @Spotlight_Abby said “Egypt refusing passage to Nigerians fleeing a war zone shows that Africa has failed to integrate. Nigeria’s inability to secure all diplomatic approvals including landing permit for Air Peace who was denied landing, is subpar.No one will respect you if U don’t value yourself. Imagine if Nigeria had a viable economy, strong and responsible leadership and probably does inter-continental trade with Egypt etc running into billions of dollars?

“Imagine if Africa developed her tech & learned to value her own lives & not be a hotbed for poverty & terrorism? Compare our reality with when Ukrainians were fleeing Ukraine & how their neighbours like Poland welcomed them into clean & nice shelters, and even provided stuffed toys for the kids! Black Africans need to fix up internally & externally to be respected. Everyone is doing it.”

South-south cooperation: Nigeria partners Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States

Oghenekevwe UCHECHUKWU
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South-south cooperation: Nigeria partners Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States

NIGERIA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS).

The MoU, which was signed in Abuja, Nigeria, is for the establishment of a Dialogue Mechanism on Technical Cooperation between the Secretariat OACPS and the Nigerian government.

The MoU was signed on behalf of Nigeria by the country’s minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the secretary-general of OACPS, Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti.

During the ceremony, Onyeama, who expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the OACPS for the decision to establish its Secretariat in the country, said the objective of signing the MoU was to foster collaboration and strengthen relationship.

Chikoti regarded the MoU as an indication of Nigeria’s interest and commitment to the South-South cooperation.

He equally expressed his happiness that Nigeria had agreed to host the Secretariat.

The OACPS, which comprises 79 member states from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, strives to achieve the sustainable development of its members and their progressive integration into the world economy.

Tanker explosion kills 13 people in Jos – Police

Mustapha USMAN
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Tanker explosion kills 13 people in Jos – Police

THE Plateau State Police Command has confirmed that 13 persons lost their lives while 28 shops were damaged in the tanker explosion that occurred at Bauchi Road junction in Jos North Local Government Area.

The Command also confirmed that 10 persons sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state, Alfred Alabo, disclosed this in a statement he released on Friday, April 28, in Jos.

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According to Alabo, the tanker crashed on Thursday, April 27 due to brakes failure and destroyed eight other vehicles, six tricycles and two motorcycles.

”The 10 persons who sustained various degrees of injuries during the incident are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.

”Bodies of the deceased have also been buried according to Islamic rites,” he said.

It was gathered that a mob attacked the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) staff immediately after the crash and injured one of them on the forehead. They also burnt their operational vehicle with registration number AO1 783 RS.

Alabo expressed the regret of the  Commissioner of Police in the state, Bartholomew Onyeka, on the action of the youths who burnt the FRSC vehicle.

The PPRO added that Onyeka advised residents of the state to be law abiding at all times.

Lagos govt demolishes 13 illegal buildings along airport road

Mustapha USMAN
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Lagos govt demolishes 13 illegal buildings along airport road

THE Lagos State government has demolished no fewer than 13 buildings in the Ajao Estate and Shasha areas of the state over illegal occupation.

The buildings were deemed to be in close proximity to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), Gbolahan Oki, had said at a press briefing in Ikeja before the demolition exercise on Friday, April 28 that owners of most of the buildings close to the airport lacked the necessary building permits from the relevant agencies.

According to Oki, the buildings were illegally constructed out of clear disregard for the requirements of extant laws.

He said, “We have realised that property owners in the Ajao Estate and Shasha close to the MMA lack the necessary building approval which is a basic requirement. They also lack planning permits. Secondly, they are building on a pipeline, and this could cause fire incidents.

“We have served four notices to the occupants of these houses several times for them to come up with what they have. Some of them came with approval but we found out that they were fake approvals. Some came with different documents and after that, we served them the necessary permits to move on.”

He added that LASBCA and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had warned the residents of these buildings to relocate from the locations since 2016.

“All these property owners have been served by FAAN since 2016 and LASBCA gave the residents more than two months to relocate. Unfortunately, some of them even went ahead to cover the demolition marks on the houses with paint. Today we will embark on the demolition of about 13 houses,” he said.

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Also, the General Manager, Business Development, FAAN, Hycienth Ngwu, maintained that the parcel of land belongs to FAAN and the occupants illegally encroached on it since 2015.

Ngwu said, “I want to make it clear that that land belongs to FAAN and the land was acquired for the purpose of building an airport in Lagos, which is the MM2. Sometime in 2015, we noticed encroachments on the Ajao axis, and the rule is that no building shall be made near the perimeter fence of the airport, but we see a violation of this there today.”

He commended the partnership with LASBCA to bring normalcy back to the airport environment.

Support Tinubu, Wike urges Nigerians

Ijeoma OPARA
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Support Tinubu, Wike urges Nigerians

RIVERS state governor Nyesom Wike has urged Nigerians to support the administration of Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Wike made the appeal in Abuja while speaking with journalists after a meeting with Tinubu on Friday, April 28. The governor attended the meeting with his Oyo state counterpart, Seyi Makinde.

“Elections have come and gone. The winner has emerged and, therefore, it is necessary for all Nigerians to give him the necessary support for the interest of Nigeria.

“I am confident that he has what it takes to turn Nigeria around,” Wike said.

Makinde also urged Nigerians to back the incoming president and his government.

“I came here to basically pay homage to the President-elect and to let him know that elections are over and this is time for governance and we would do our best to give him support for the good governance of Nigeria,” he said.

Both governors, although members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), had supported Tinubu in the fiercely contested 2023 presidential elections.

Tinubu defeated the PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour party to emerge winner of the election.

Wike said he, along with some other PDP governors, supported Tinubu so that power would shift from the North back to the South.

“Why we supported Asiwaju is so that power should return to the South. Whether Asiwaju or Peter Obi, for us the next president must be a Southerner in the spirit of equity,” Wike had explained.

NDLEA asks court to strike out suit seeking Tinubu’s arrest, prosecution over drug case

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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NDLEA asks court to strike out suit seeking Tinubu’s arrest, prosecution over drug case

THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has asked the Federal High Court, Abuja, to dismiss a suit instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party and a chieftain of the party, Dino Melaye, against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

The duo are seeking an order of mandamus to compel the anti-narcotics agency to arrest and prosecute Tinubu over the alleged forfeiture of some money in his bank accounts in the United States over two decades ago.

In a preliminary objection filed on Wednesday, the director of prosecution of the NDLEA, Joseph Sunday, said the application by the PDP and Melaye was “incompetent” and that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain it.

The NDLEA said the suit should be struck out because it was “political in nature”, and was not in the interest of Nigerians. Rather, Sunday said, it was targeted at removing Tinubu as the bonafide winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

The agency described an order of mandamus as an equitable remedy that should only be applied in good faith, and should not produce an indirect or underlying result.

“The doctrine of judicial self-restraint precludes this honourable court from delving into matters with political colouration or matters aimed at getting direct or indirect political goals,” the suit reads.

A litigation officer attached to the NDLEA directorate of prosecution, Chia Depunn, stated in an affidavit supporting the preliminary objection that the NDLEA has a “healthy” relationship with the US government and affirmed that Tinubu’s name has never come up in any drug-related exchanges between the two countries.

He added that the name of Tinubu “has also not featured in the radar and database of the agency as a person arrested, investigated or prosecuted in connection with drug or other related offences.”

The affidavit read, “That this suit as presently constituted does not confer the court with jurisdiction. That the 1st Applicant does not have the locus standi to institute this suit as it does not possess any interest peculiar to it and above the interests of all other Nigerians.

“That the suit is baseless, frivolous and brought in bad faith with the sole aim of achieving a political objective using the instrumentality of the court process. That the facts and circumstances of the case require the court to apply the doctrine of judicial self-restraint.

“That the Order of Mandamus must be applied in good faith to promote the public interest. That the Order of Mandamus should not produce an indirect or underlying result.

“That the suit was not a criminal indictment or charge. That the standard of proof in civil forfeiture is based on the balance of probabilities. That the standard of proof in a criminal indictment, charges and proceedings is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. That the burden of proof in criminal procedure is much higher than that of civil procedure.”

The NDLEA said the application by the PDP was “dead and legally unsustainable”, and urged the court to dismiss it with substantial cost.

IPAC cautions NPC against using census to siphon public fund

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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IPAC cautions NPC against using census to siphon public fund

THE Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has cautioned the Federal government against using the 2023 national population census as an avenue to siphon public fund.

The council also warned the Federal government against allowing the population census to be a waste of resources and time.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, April 28, the chairman of the IPAC, Lagos state chapter, Olusegun Mobolaji, emphasised that the essence of the exercise should not be futile and defeated.

According to Mobolaji, “It is a good step in the right direction. Under a normal circumstance, any nation that cares about its people and their well-being, as well as about development and infrastructure should conduct this at regular intervals.

“We just pray that this will not be an exercise in futility or another channel of siphoning public funds.

“I am afraid this will not bring financial corruption that will still take away the little resources that we have as a nation.

“It should not be a waste of the nation’s resources without bringing desired results. We should guard against anything that can make it another waste of resources and time.”

IPAC hoped that the results and data obtained from the census would be useful in the provision of essential services and amenities for all citizens

He said, “This data and statistics should help the government to make proper provisions for all categories of citizens that we have.

“We should know the average number of people and the age category so as to make provision when it comes to education, health and other basic amenities for the people.”

He further tasked the federal government to utilize the exercise to generate improvement and advancement for Nigeria.

He said, “We have everything it takes to grow this nation, make it rapidly developing and build the economy.

“When we look at the motive behind the population census, everyone knows it is a good thing in the right direction. But will Nigeria not remain the same because of leadership failure after the enumeration?

“This exercise should give Nigerians confidence that things will change for good for them.”

The IPAC chief urged that the incoming administration to use the exercise to effect development and positive changes in the country.

Postponement of the 2023 general Census

The ICIR had reported that President Muhammadu Buhari approved the postponement of the 2023 Population and Housing Census, earlier scheduled for May 3 to May 7, 2023 indefinitely.

Buhari made this known through a statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on April 29.

According to the statement, the new date for the census would be determined by the incoming administration, which will be led by the President-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Part of the statement read: “In arriving at the decision to postpone the Census, the meeting reiterated the critical need for the conduct of a Population and Housing Census, 17 years after the last Census, to collect up-to-date data that will drive the developmental goals of the country and improve the living standard of the Nigerian people.”

Buhari explained that with the completion of the Enumeration Area Demarcation of the country, conduct of first and second pretests, the recruitment and training of adhoc workers and procurement of personal digital assistants (PDAs) and ICT infrastructure, remarkable progress had been made in the implementation of the 2023 Population and Housing Census.

He commended the methodology being put in place by the Commission to conduct an accurate and reliable census, especially the massive deployment of technology that is capable of delivering world class census and laying a sustainable basis for future census exercises.

North Central governors back Niger lawmaker for deputy senate president

Beloved JOHN
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North Central governors back Niger lawmaker for deputy senate president

STATE governors in the North Central zone have resolved to support the senator representing the Niger East senatorial district, Sani Musa, for the seat of deputy senate president in the 10th National Assembly.

Ahead of the 10th national assembly inauguration, governors and senators-elect in the north-central are throwing their weight behind Musa for deputy senate president.

The governors and senators reached this resolution at a meeting at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, on Friday night.

The Kogi and Kwara state governors, Yahaya Bello and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq respectively, organised and led the meeting.

They both affirmed their support for the Niger East senator and urged the zone’s senators and governors to pull their weight from their respective states to ensure the goal was achieved.

Abdulrazaq commended those present at the meeting and asked the senators-elect to work hard to “get the highest possible leadership position in the 10th Senate.”

He advised the political leaders to reach out to other zones to get the required numbers and cooperation.

He said, “The Governors of the North Central geopolitical zone will continue to support the aspirations of Senator Musa to lead the 10th Assembly by all means possible.”

Bello also urged all the political actors in the zone to unite “for the common goal.”

He beckoned on the elected local government officials, political appointees, and serving and former state and national assembly members from the north-central to support the quest of producing a presiding officer in the 10th National Assembly.

“This is the appropriate time for us to unite to pursue a common goal so North Central Nigeria will take its rightful place in the affairs of the country,” he said.

Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly will be inaugurated in the first week of June. Different interest groups nationwide are already lobbying for the seats of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Shortly after the inauguration, members of the Senate will elect new presiding officers.

Based on results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) retained the majority of the Senate and House of Representatives seats, with 57 and 162 members, respectively.

But the party is yet to determine its preferred zoning arrangement.

On Thursday, April 27, the APC debunked reports that it had decided on its preferred zoning arrangements for National Assembly leadership positions.

The party asked the public to disregard the information as it was yet to zone any leadership position.

“To be clear, the Party has yet to zone leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly. Any decisions made in that regard will be duly communicated via the Party’s official information channels,” it stated.

The lawmakers seeking the Senate President position are Jibrin Barau (Kano North), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North-West), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Abdul-Aziz Yari (Zamfara West), Sani Musa (Niger East), Ali Ndume (Borno South), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South), and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North).

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