Folarin Kehinde

A youth group in Kogi State has issued a strong demand for former Governor Yahaya Bello to vacate the Government House in Lokoja and surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The group accused Bello of evading arrest amid allegations of misappropriating over ₦85 billion.

In a press release signed by Comrade Abdulquadri Shuaibu on behalf of the Network of Professional Kogi State Youths, the group condemned Bello’s actions, labelling them regrettable, disgraceful, and embarrassing. They emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice prevails.

The coalition gave Bello a 24-hour ultimatum to surrender to the EFCC or the nearest police station.

Furthermore, the group called for the immediate resignation of the current Governor, Alhaji Usman Adodo, who is accused of aiding Bello’s evasion of arrest.

The youth group said: “As a former Governor, we expected some degree of decorum and respect for the rule of law from him.

“The recent confrontation between the EFCC and Governor Yahaya Bello at his Abuja residence is a regrettable episode that is an embarrassment to Kogi people and Nigerians at large. We unequivocally condemn the former Governor’s conduct and insist that justice must take its course.

“As a united Coalition representing the citizens of Kogi State, we issue a 24-hour ultimatum to Governor Yahaya Bello to vacate the Government House and surrender to the EFCC or the nearest Police Station.

“Failure to comply, we will occupy the Government House in a mega protest to ensure Governor Bello’s accountability and safeguard the integrity of our judicial system.”

The youth group also hailed the efforts of individuals, law enforcement agencies, and state institutions to ensure that justice is done and that the looted funds belonging to the good people of Kogi State are returned to facilitate the development of the state.

“We commend the EFCC for declaring Governor Yahaya Bello wanted and express solidarity with the Attorney General of the Federation’s unwavering commitment to combatting corruption. Indeed, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s steadfast dedication to this cause is commendable, and we implore him to persevere in his efforts.

“Furthermore, we applaud the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for withdrawing police protection from Governor Bello. While this is commendable, we urge the IGP to do everything within his powers to ensure that Yahaya Bello is arrested and handed over to the appropriate authorities for investigation and prosecution,” the statement concluded.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following qualified Nigerians to the Board of the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM):

Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale made this known in a press statement today.

The members of the board includ

(1) Ms. Halima Kyari — Chairperson

(2) Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin — Commissioner for Insurance

(3) Mr. Olawoye Gam-Ikon — Deputy Commissioner (Technical Operations)

(4) Dr. Usman Ankara Jimada — Deputy Commissioner (Finance & Administration)

(5) Dr. Miriam Kene Kachikwu — Member

(6) Mr. Adeniyi Olusegun Fabikun — Member

(7) Mr. Umar Khalifa Mohammed — Member

The President expects the new Board of the National Insurance Commission to exercise utmost probity as it leads the commission in ensuring a safe, sound, and stable insurance sector, while protecting policyholders, the public interest, and improving trust and confidence in the sector.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the following Nigerian professionals to the Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC):

(1) Mr. Mairiga Aliyu Katuka — Chairman

(2) Mr. Emomotimi Agama — Director-General

(3) Frana Chukwuogor — Executive Commissioner (Legal and Enforcement)

(4) Mr. Bola Ajomale — Executive Commissioner (Operations)

(5) Mrs. Samiya Hassan Usman — Executive Commissioner (Corporate Services)

(6) Mr. Lekan Belo — Non-Executive Commissioner

(7) Mr. Kasimu Garba Kurfi — Non-Executive Commissioner

The President anticipates that all members of the Board of this critical commission will bring to bear their wealth of experience and competence in advancing the commission’s core mandate of developing and regulating a capital market that is dynamic, fair, transparent, and efficient, to bolster investor confidence and contribute immeasurably to the nation’s economic development.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

April 19, 2024

The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), Association of Communication Scholars and Professionals of Nigeria (ACSPN) and communication scholars has commended the Head, Media Relations Management, NCC, Omoniyi Ibietan, PhD, for his contribution to scholarly communication on cyber politics.

Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NCC
Aminu Maida in his goodwill message stated that Dr. Ibietan’s path-breaking book, Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography, and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria, broaches a radical new territory in bridging psephology and communications scholarship through an examination of the interface between social media networks and voting behaviour in the country.

Maida noted that the book draws its insights from a deeply methodical study of Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election, unearthing the intersections of social and demographic factors, digital social mediation and the remarkable impact of these variables on the voting behaviour of the electorate.

He added that the book draws its insights from a deeply methodical study of Nigeria’s 2015 presidential election, unearthing the intersections of social and demographic factors, digital social mediation and the remarkable impact of these variables on the voting behaviour of the electorate.

“Dr. Ibietan’s book speaks to the reality of how the demographics of voting is now in favour of digital natives, whose engagements are set to upend the traditional media approaches, hence the great value in seeking an understanding of the growing interface across cyber politics, social media networks and social demography. Specifically, the author utilises tested theoretical models and research methods to scrutinise the impact of social media on contemporary politics.”

While appreciating Dr. Ibietan for the scholarly feat, Maida noted that Cyber Politics: Social Media, Social Demography and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria is an absorbing and persuasive book that adds huge insightful value to an understanding of the interactions between politics, social media networks and other variables that influence the behaviour of voters in a democracy.

Also speaking at the event, the President, ACSPN, Umaru A. Pate stated that a cursory reading of the book indicates that Dr. Ibietan has been able to achieve the objectives of contributing to the conceptual and empirical dimensions of the subject in the context of political communication.

Pate maintained that Dr. Ibietan’s effort is clearly manifested in the quality of the content in the book, its appropriate theoretical grounding, and sound conclusions that are reliably valid in the Nigerian context.

“Personally, I am enriched by the arguments and conclusions in the book. The book has increased my understanding of the relationship between the ever-growing social media and politics in the country.

“This is very important for obvious reasons, some of which relate to the popularity and influence of the new media, particularly among the most active components of the population.” He added.

Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Uyo, Prof. Peter Esuh described the book as a significant addition to the ongoing discourse on the influence of technological advancements on societal progress adding that It offers a scholarly exploration of how social media platforms shape electoral behaviour in the intricate Nigerian electoral landscape.

His words:

“The author, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, is a renowned scholar known for his intellectual prowess and activism. His work has consistently been commendable, and this notable Book of Reading is a testament to his innovative thinking and scholarly contributions. The book is wholeheartedly endorsed for reading.”

The presidency has reacted to the decision of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to declare former Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello wanted.

In a tweet on Thursday, Bayo Onanuga, the speacial adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, advised Bello to turn himself in to the authorities.

“Yahaya Bello, where will you run to? It’s better you submit yourself to the EFCC and get a good lawyer,” he wrote.

Leading reporters earlier reported that the EFCC issued a public notice seeking information on the whereabouts of former Kogi State governor.

According to a post on its official Facebook page, the anti-graft commission said Bello is wanted in connection with alleged economic and financial crimes amounting to N80.2 billion.

”Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station,” the EFCC stated.

Bello was whisked away from his Abuja home yesterday by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, while EFCC operatives laid siege at his residence.

In reaction, the EFCC warned that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

Similarly, the minister of justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, urged Bello to submit himself to the EFCC or the Federal Government may involve the military.

The officials of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) on Thursday evacuated bags of rice filled with weevils from all branches of 4U Supermarket in Abuja.

The affected products, 5kg and 10kg of Caprice and Stallion Rice which were produced in August 2022 and October 2022 respectively were expected to expire in 2027 and the price displayed on the weevil-laden 10kg bag of rice was N19,000.

Acting Executive Vice Chairman of the FCCPC, Adamu Ahmed Abdullahi, who led the raid on Thursday, said, “It was shocking Caprice and Stallion rice were still stocked and being sold in the supermarket years after the companies had stopped production.

Frowning at the “obnoxious practices” by the management of the supermarket, the FCCPC noted that the integrity of products being sold at 4U Supermarket could no longer be guaranteed thereby exposing consumers to unsafe products.

The FCCPC subsequently sealed up branches of the supermarket for duping and misleading Nigerians.

Reacting to the raid, the General Manager of the Supermarket, Yunusa Yusuf said, “The Supermarket is responsible for the fake foreign rice and promised to expose the suppliers.”

Yusuf, however, pledged to henceforth abide by FCCPC regulations on consumer rights to avoid future occurrence.

As part of efforts aimed at mitigating the effect of climate change in Nigeria, WaterAid has charged communities in Nigeria to embrace the use of climate – resilient Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practice which also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere while speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the National Conference on WASH and Climate Change stated that the conference comes at a time when there is a pressing global concern on the impacts of climate change on communities, ecosystems and vital resources, ground, and surface water.

According to Mere, widespread evidence shows that freshwater bodies are shrinking and losing their quality with effects on citizens health, well-being, dignity and livelihoods adding that this will make it increasingly difficult for citizens and communities to access safe water, have good sanitation and practice good hygiene behaviours, hence WASH practice should be duly embraced.

She explained that with less than a decade to achieving the goals of SDG6, data from a 2023 WHO/UNICEF report shows that 703 million people in the world – almost one in ten – don’t have clean water close to home; and 1.5 billion people in the world – almost one in five – don’t have a decent toilet of their own.

She stressed that in Nigeria, about 68 million do not have access to basic water supply services, 113 million people lack access to basic sanitation services and 171 million people, lack access to basic hygiene services.

Meanwhile, Mere noted that WaterAid is poised to advocate that the climate crisis is a water crisis- too little or too much of it and that WASH represented an opportunity to build resilience of communities to climate change toward the realization of the SDGs.

She stated that the theme of the conference ‘Mainstreaming WASH into Climate Change Actions.’ speaks to the interconnectedness between water, sanitation, hygiene and climate change, and how they play a critical role in sustainable development which also aligns with the focus on 2023-2028 country programme strategy which is to strengthen the resilience of WASH to climate change.

Mere added that WaterAid will explore available opportunities, tools, and technologies for enhancing water governance, facilitate adaptation planning, and bolster community resilience in the face of water security challenges.

Also speaking at the event, Director General – National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Salisu Dahiru stated that water reliability, resilience, and access for all uses, are essential to our national security and sustained economic growth adding that Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) play a critical role in human well-being and sustainable development and its intersection with climate change presents a formidable challenge.

Dahiru explained that as a country that is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and also one of the largest emitters of GHG emissions across Africa, Nigeria has an important leadership role to play in this regard.

He stressed that improved water sanitation and supply is important for increasing Nigeria’s resilience to shocks, whether to the direct impacts of extreme weather events such as flooding or drought or to the longer term economic impacts occuring for shifts in our local climate.

Meanwhile, Dahiru reiterated the Council’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the roadmap and action plan towards addressing the WASH crisis faced by the country but added that to achieve water security for every household, innovation, investment and collaboration is needed, while ensuring services are sustainable and well managed.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a public notice seeking information on the whereabouts of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

According to a post on its official Facebook page, the anti-graft commission said Bello is wanted in connection with alleged economic and financial crimes amounting to N80.2 Billion.

”Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station,” the EFCC stated.

Bello was whisked away from his Abuja home yesterday by his successor, Governor Usman Ododo, while EFCC operatives laid siege to his residence.

In reaction, the EFCC warned that it is a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

Earlier today, the minister of justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, urged Bello to submit himself for probe to the EFCC.