Nelson Ugwuagbo

The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has denied procuring 800 tractors with the state’s palliative funds.

There have been reports and insinuations making the rounds that the state government has utilised part of the palliative funds it received from the Federal Government to procure tractors instead of distributing them to the targeted beneficiaries.

But in a statement on Thursday, Soludo’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, insisted that the claims were entirely “false” and “without merit”.

Aburime said one of the support initiatives the Soludo administration has offered farmers in the state, is the distribution of 1,100,000 hybrid coconut and palm seedlings to over 100,000 households, igniting the hope of lifting many out of poverty.

He added that this was done out of budgetary allocation to agriculture, and not with any palliatives fund.

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to a fake news story circulating online, claiming that Soludo utilised part of the state’s palliative funds to procure 800 tractors, which were subsequently distributed to farmers free of charge.

“We wish to categorically state that these claims are entirely false and without merit.

“Instead, one of the support initiatives the Soludo administration has offered farmers in the state is the distribution of 1,100,000 hybrid coconut and palm seedlings to over 100,000 households, igniting the hope of lifting many out of poverty. This was done out of budgetary allocation to agriculture, and not with any palliatives fund.

“Anambra State Government under the leadership of Soludo has always been committed to transparent and accountable governance, with a primary focus on the well-being of its citizens, particularly farmers.”

He added that the administration operates within the bounds of fiscal responsibility and prudent financial management, adding that any insinuation suggesting otherwise is baseless and misleading.

“We urge the public to disregard such fake news and refrain from spreading misinformation that may convey wrong impressions among the populace.

“The Anambra State Government remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance for the benefit of Ndi Anambra,” the statement added.

Amid the economic hardship in the country, Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has urged Nigerian billionaires to come to the aid of hungry Nigerians by making donations similar to their generosity during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

In a statement on Wednesday, Olajengbesi noted that there is hunger in the land which may grow into public disturbances if not checked.

He said, “Our dear country is going through one of the toughest times in history, economically, no thanks to the policies of the new government.

“Multinationals are exiting the country, thousands of jobs lost.

“There is hunger in the land. And as the saying goes, ‘a hungry man is an angry man’, hence, the protests spreading over the country as demonstrators express displeasure over the hardship in the land”.

He further likened the current hardship in the country to the coronavirus pandemic four years ago that saw the philanthropic gestures of billionaires such as Aliko Dangote, who collaborated with the Central Bank of Nigeria to lead the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19.

“It’s time for our billionaires and respected business moguls in the private sector to step in and provide succour for our teeming citizens, just like they graciously did during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has approved the construction of Gwa Gwa-Karimo Dei Dei Road in the FCT.

The Minister assented to the road construction after listening to the plights of the resident through the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Zakka and the Sarki Jiwa, Idris Musa, during the flag off ceremony of road construction in Saburi, Abuja.

The Saburi road construction flag-off marks the final phase in the first series of area council rural and satellite towns road construction by the federal capital territory administration.

However, the FCT Minister has pledged that all the area council road construction will be completed by the end of 2024.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has disclosed that each state governor has been allocated an extra N30 billion to address the challenges of food scarcity and hardships confronting Nigerians.

Akpabio said each state should properly utilize the money towards ensuring the availability of food.

Speaking on the floor of the senate, Akapbio said: “I must say that unverified report has it that each of the state government in the last few months received additional N30 billion from Federal Inland Revenue Service, outside their normal allocation from the federation account to assist them in ameliorating the food situation.

“We believe that every state government should utilise the funds so received towards ensuring that food is available.”

The current economic hardship has led to a hike in the prices of foodstuffs across the country.

The shortage of foodstuffs was also linked to the hoarding by some people and illegal smuggling to neighbouring countries.

Recall that Vice President Kashim Shettima had disclosed how security operatives discovered 32 illegal routes being used to smuggle foodstuffs and other items to neighbouring countries from Nigeria.

Shettima said security agents intercepted 45 trucks smuggling maize to neighbouring countries.

He noted that the price of “maize” came down by N10,000. The price of maize allegedly came down from N60,000 to N50,000″ when the trucks were intercepted.

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Captain Nuhu Haruna for an alleged criminal breach of trust to the tune of N1,020,000.000, One Billion, Twenty Million Naira only.

The suspect was arrested when a petitioner alleged that sometime in December 2023, he was introduced to the suspect for the purpose of a foreign exchange transaction involving N1,020,000.00.

He allegedly paid the money into the suspect’s account to offer him its dollar equivalent.

He explained that the suspect furnished him with evidence of payments made which turned out to be false as he never received the dollar equivalent.

Preliminary investigation showed that Haruna, who claimed to be an airline captain, allegedly diverted the money for his personal use by buying properties and vehicles which he intended to use for the start-up of his alleged airline company, Air Unity Aviation Services.

A landed property purchased at N155,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Naira) and another purchased at N350,000.000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), three 18-seater Toyota Hiace buses imprinted with the logo of Air Unity Aviation Services and four exotic cars were traced to the suspect.

The Commission added that the suspect would be charged to court at the conclusion of investigations

Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo state, has declared Thursday, 22nd and Friday, 23rd of February 2024 as public holidays in the State.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, who said the holiday is in honour of the former Governor of the State, late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.

Adeniyan said the two work-free days will allow the people of the State to participate in the burial activities of the former Governor who died last December.

According to him, the burial activities, which started last Thursday, continue as follows:

XWednesday, February 21, Ajabue (Traditional Rites) in Owo at 9am till 4pm

“A Special Court Session at Court 1, Ondo State High Court Headquarters,Hospital Road, Akure, at 10am

“Lying in State and Commendation Service Akure Township Stadium Time: 1pm, Evening of Tributes at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo between 4pm and 7pm

“On Thursday, February 22 (Public holiday):

Service of Songs at St Andrews Cathedral, Imola Street, Owo at 4pm while Wake-Keep holds at Maranatha Villa, Owo at 8pm

And candlelight Procession & World Gyration by the Kegites Club from 8pm till Dawn.

According to him, Friday, February 23 (Public holiday):Funeral Service at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo at 10am and interment follows immediately after the burial service at the burial site, Owo. (Strictly for immediate family) while Reception at Mydas Hotel and Resort, Ikare Road, Owo by 1pm.

Saturday, February 24, 2024: Akeredolu Memorial Friendly football match Akure Township Stadium, Akure at 3 pm

And the Thanksgiving Service at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 10 am.

Following crisis that rocked last Saturday’s Edo State All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Primary Election, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has declared the shadow election inconclusive.

The party said it will conclude the exercise on Thursday, February 22. 

A decision to this effect was reached on Tuesday night at an emergency meeting of the NWC to consider the report of the election submitted by Gov. Hope Uzodinma’s primary election committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

The Nation learnt that the National Chairman  Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the National Secretary, Sen. Ajibola Basiru briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Villa of the outcome of the election. 

Though details of the meeting at the Villa were not made public, a source said the President expressed concerns at the turn of events during the shadow election and directed the NWC ensure that the exercise was concluded.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, which lasted about three hours, National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said that based on the election report, NWC resolved that the primary election was not completed.

According to Morka: “At its emergency meeting held today, Tuesday, February 20, 2024, to consider the report on the Edo State Governorship Primary Election, the National Working Committee (NWC) deliberated on the report and resolved that the Edo State Governorship Primary Election has not been completed, and has now fixed Thursday, February 22, 2024, for the completion of the Primary Election Process.”

Three of the 10 aspirants who contested the election are laying claim to victory. Two aspirants withdrew from the election a few hours before commencement.

Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Primary Election Committee on Saturday declared Hon. Dennis Idahosa winner having polled 40,453 votes, while Senator Okpebholo was returned winner by the Chief Returning Officer, Dr. Stanley Ugboaja and Hon. Anamero Sunday Dekeri was declared victorious by the spokesman of local government returning officers, Mr Ojo Babatunde.

As of the close of work on Tuesday, three of the aspirants have filed their petition to the Appeal Committee and the office of the national chairman of the party.

Two of the aspirants, Dekeri and Okpebholo asked the NWC to issue them certificates of return while Osunbor called for outright cancellation of the exercise, claiming there was no election in the 192 wards of the State last Saturday.

The three petitioners were billed to appear before the election appeal committee on Wednesday before the new development.

The Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria has again raised the exchange rate for cargo clearance to N1,605/$.

This is coming days after the rate rose to N1515/ $ and later dropped to N1,472.

Between January and now, the rate has risen a couple of times. It was moved from N952/$ in December to N1356/$. And was moved to N1,413/$ before it went to N1,444/$. The rate moved to N1,515 before finally getting to N1.605.

LeadingReporters gathered that on Wednesday, the rate for cargo clearance was noted at N1,605 per US dollar.

President Bola Tinubu has directed an immediate settlement of N342m as an outstanding electricity bill due to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company by the State House.

The President’s directive follows the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.

“Contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923m debt in paid advertorial in newspapers, the State House outstanding bill is N342.35m,” said the Presidency in a statement signed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Tuesday.

The statement is titled ‘President Tinubu directs payment of State House electricity bill.’

The President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, assured the AEDC that the debt will be paid before the end of this week.

He also urged defaulting Mnistries, Departments and Agencies to clear their electricity bills as soon as possible.

Details shortly…

The early morning flood on Tuesday in Command and Ipaja communities in Lagos impacted about 151 houses.

Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, said this in a statement.

Farinloye said preliminary assessments in some communities affected by the rainfall showed that residents were evacuated from 23 houses at Oke Ishagun.

He said 35 houses were affected at Isale Aboru, 29 houses at Ikola Community and 15 houses at Olubodun Majiyagbe-Ajayi.

Also affected were 12 houses on Makinde Street, 16 houses on Olokowo Street, and 21 houses on Adeola Street, among others.

Farinloye, who said NEMA was working with appropriate state MDAs to ameliorate the effect of the flood on residents, added that Lagos State had promised to make the state safer for residents.

He said Tuesday’s excessive downpour is a strong signal of what to expect with the outset of 2024 rainfall.

He said it was important to imbibe disaster risk reduction strategies.

“We must begin to adhere to safety measures against flood disasters. Thanks be to God that no life was lost and no one was injured,” Farinloye said.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, has appealed to Nigerians to start clearing their drainages and desilting them.

Ahmed urged Community Development Associations, CDAs, to be alive to their responsibility by coordinating the activities of neighbourhoods towards safer environments.

He appealed to local government authorities to sanction corporate organisations for blocking drainages around their offices.

He added that residents dumping refuse in drainages should be prosecuted for blockage of drainages, dumping of refuse in drainages as envisaged in environmental laws to save society.

The director-general expressed his support to the Lagos State government for its bold decision after the 2023 rainy season, when it pulled down structures obstructing drainages across the state.

He urged other state governments to emulate Lagos State by taking bold steps towards making the environment safer.