Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu has launched the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer initiative, targeting more than 61 million vulnerable Nigerians for post-fuel subsidy removal relief.

The launching ceremony of the initiative was programmed to coincide with this year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer initiative, which will give monthly N25,000 cash support to 15 million households nationwide is expected to gulp nothing less than N1.125 trillion.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the initiative, which was held on Tuesday, October 17, at the State House Press Gallery, Abuja, President Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, described the launch as a statement of his administration’s commitment to poverty alleviation.  

According to the president, the theme of this year’s commemoration; “Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting Dignity in Practice for All” is no doubt in perfect alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: “Today is a significant day for us in Nigeria and for my administration for it brings with it an opportunity for me to restate my administration’s commitment to poverty alleviation as expressed in my 8 point Agenda.

“My government will lead from the front in seeking to ensure that all Nigerians have opportunities decent for dignified work and sustained social protection.

“It is only via a sustained collaborative approach that we can win this war against poverty in Nigeria and the world at large. Hope is here. I ask the Nigerian people to please ensure that they key into all the available programmes because they are here to help.

“Our objective is to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. Yet, this will only be possible with the cooperation of the people we seek to help. Let us continue to work together to achieve our collective goal of eradicating poverty in Nigeria”, he said.

Earlier in her address, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, warned that ignoring poverty alleviation in the country will amount to sitting on a keg of gunpowder.

She observed that the N75,000 already announced by the President for disbursement to vulnerable households in the country is enough to successfully run small-scale businesses.

Edu noted: “Beyond this, the government will be providing low-cost shelter for the poor and internally displaced persons as a form of providing that cover for them. Several other interventions, including the rural vocational skills Intervention will be carried out at mass scale. All of these are targeted at the various dimensions of poverty in the country.

“As a nation, we must come together to fight poverty. Poverty is that scourge, poverty is that hydra-headed cobra in the room that if not tackled, would consume everyone.

“Sitting and ignoring poverty at any level, will only seem or equate to sitting on a keg of gunpowder and that’s why today, the president is taking it headlong.

“We want to encourage Nigerians, we want to encourage the private sector, we want to encourage our development partners that are here, it’s time to step up to the occasion.

“We have a clear-cut roadmap, an action plan for implementation of the eradication of poverty from Nigeria. Everyone must key in and be part of it.”

Edu assured that Tinubu will eradicate poverty in the country by the year 2030.

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, said the 63% statistics of Nigerians living in poverty, representing 84million of the population, is unacceptable to President Tinubu

He stated: “Clearly to Mr. President, it is totally unacceptable as it is to the rest of us. And that is why it is perhaps his number one priority, tackling poverty and he has a program to stabilize the economy and grow the economy in general.

Edun added that the cash transfer program will help reduce poverty in a significant way.

The World Bank country representative, Shubham Chaudhuri confirmed that cash transfers are a method widely acknowledged and universally accepted.

Chaudhuri stressed that the method has proven to be one of the most effective ways to provide assistance to citizens, particularly the impoverished and vulnerable who have been impacted by economic shocks or rising living costs.

He said: “This aid is crucial in helping them overcome the initial period during which they might otherwise be compelled to make decisions with long-term consequences. For instance, these decisions might include reducing daily meals to just one or withdrawing their children from school.

“The type of cash transfer referred to as ‘shock-responsive cash transfer’ that is currently being implemented is utilized by countries worldwide to offer temporary relief in such situations.”

The Beneficiaries present at the flag were, Larai Suleiman, Shuaibu Hassana, Sariki Bala Gamu,Okor Jonah and Hameed Kosemani Isiaka.

Nigerians have expressed their concerns on social media over the recruitment of 50 repentant thugs into Kano State Police Command. The repentant thugs were recruited

Nigerians have expressed their concerns on social media over the recruitment of 50 repentant thugs into Kano State Police Command.

The repentant thugs were recruited as police special constabularies in Kano, according to Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel.

During the passing out parade, Command’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna said, “Today is a happy day for the good people of Kano State and the Police Command because we passed out fifty (50) youths from the two hundred and twenty-two (222) repentant thugs who have since surrendered themselves.”

Reacting to the development, Nigerians took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their views, stressing that this might increase unruly abehaviour among the security agents.

Defending the move by Kano state, the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said, “They are not policemen. I was told, and it’s been in the news that they are repentant individuals who have been mobilised into the constabulary scheme of Kano State. The Constabulary scheme is not police but a community-based initiative.”

Replying to Adejobi, @ifyforever pointed out, “From your explanation I can deduce that you know nothing about their supposed repentance until recently when you were “told”.

“Now who certify these guys ” Repentant”?

“Secondly, does the lion building hold a debrief of them, psychology evaluation and assessment or is the job of the state department.”

“Thirdly, do you rely on whatever you were told just because it came from your officers and do not carry out your own investigation to ascertain the clarity of pictures they paint for you.

“Many questions on my mind don’t even know which one to write.”

In the reactions that have trailed the recruitment, @greasedbygrace called on the Adejobi and Lagos Police Public Relations Officer Benjamin Hundeyin, saying, “@Princemoye1 @BenHundeyin Can u guys confidently authenticate this. I remember u saying we should recruit the best people to the police force

“Constable is not the police but they wear the same uniform,” @_weyimi reacted. “If they are out on the streets performing police duties and they are told it is wrong, what will the police do to them??? You do realize this is a problem or let’s all believe this is a skit.”

Speaking about an alleged notorious miscreant among the new recruits, @harrizone98 tweeted, “Frame 1: Nigeria Police Special Constabulary Officer in uniform. Frame 2: Chile Maidoki, repentant Kano criminal. FPPRO either doesn’t know this or he’s making up excuses for a criminal.”

“Nigeria is comedy central tbh, it’s only sad that these comic acts are played in real-life situations,” @AkinronbiDave said.

@ItisRitchie reacted, “Repentant criminal? Was he ever arrested or even taken to court? This is how they recruited criminals as SARS then.”

CP makes further clarification

Speaking further on the controversy, the Commissioner of Police said no criminal was recruited into the force.

Gumel said one Nasiru Abdullahi, whose enlistment into the constabularies, has generated serious attemtion, was among the 222 ‘repentant influential youths’ who denounced violence and chose to become “good ambassadors” of the state.

He said that Abdullahi, also known as ‘Chile Madobi’, was among the 222 youths who had been granted amnesty by the state government.

According to him, following instructions from the state government,  the youths were de-radicalized and properly profiled, during which about 50 of them volunteered to help police in the ongoing fight against criminal elements in the state.

He faulted reports alleging that the state command was training constabularies at a training school,  wondering when and where the state it had built a training school.

Gumel said,  “All the 222 influential youths, who surrendered themselves were properly profiled and the state government organised a training for them into various trades under its skills acquisition programmes.

“The State Governor, who already gave them amnesty directed us to profile them and find out where they can fit in for skills acquisition and human empowerment. Out of the 222 influential youths, 50 of them volunteered to help the police in fighting crimes and criminal activities in the state. Nasiru Abdullahi is one of them.”

The Labour Party Senatorial Candidate for Abia North in the 2023 election, Nnamdi Iro Oji has prayed the Appeal Court to disqualify Senator Orji Uzor Kalu having admitted before the Federal High Court that he was convicted of fraud.

In the appeal lodged by his lead counsel, Bert C. Iqwilo, SAN, from the chamber of Anaga Kalu Anaga & Associates against Orji Kalu, a copy of which was obtained by this paper, Nnamdi Iro Oji premised his appeal on three grounds, wherein he prayed the appellate court to resolve them in his favour.

He argued that Orji Uzor Kalu’s admission before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that he should not be retried since he had been convicted of corruption was enough ground for his disqualification. He also added that the election was not conducted based on the Electoral Act 2022 and non-conduct of elections in some polling units.

In his pleading, he further argued that the Tribunal was wrong to have permitted Kalu to approbate and reprobate on the issue of his conviction and subsisting sentence.

The appellant stated that Section 66 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that; 66(1): No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or the House of Representatives if:… (b)… (c) …Within a period of less than ten years before the date of an election to a legislative house, Kalu having been convicted for an offence involving dishonesty “was found guilty of a contravention of the code of conduct.”

The appellants held that Kalu was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the election.

According to him, Kalu’s conviction by the Federal High Court “for the offence of fraud (which is an offence that involves dishonesty) on the 5th day of December, 2019, at the conclusion of the trial of the 1st Respondent in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/56/07, Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 ors” was “less than ten (10) years from the date of conviction.

“It was admitted on his behalf that he had earlier been convicted for the offence of fraud by the Federal High Court,” in that suit

THE Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, Akwa Ibom State branch has expressed concern over Pharmacist per capita ratio in the country, demanding for employment of Pharmacists to fill the existing gaps in some government hospitals in the state.

According to a communique made available to newsmen on Sunday, the call formed part of the resolution reached at end of the 2023 Akwa Ibom Pharmacy week with the theme,”Pharmacists: Strengthening Health Systems”, held last week in Uyo.

It reads in part: “The society noted that pharmacy practice ramifies with all the six building blocks, as enunciated by the World Health Organization, that enhance a strong health system which are; Service delivery, Health workforce, Information, Financing, Medical products, leadership and governance.

” Identifies the lack of proper leadership and governance in our Hospitals and the Health sector at large as one of the key reasons for these sub- optimal health outcomes.

” The society is deeply concerned that the Pharmacist per capita ratio in Nigeria is 1: 22,000 ( based on 220M population) as against the World Health Organisation recommendation of 1: 5000.

“To this end, we call for the employment of Pharmacists to fill the existing gaps in some government hospitals in Akwa Ibom State. This will ensure that healthcare consumers have the benefits of pharmaceutical care and guarantee of safety in drug therapy

” It Commends the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno for his efforts in revitalizing Primary Health Centres in the state and the progress made in fulfilling his promise to deliver health insurance to Akwa Ibom people by setting up the State Health Insurance Agency”

According to the communique, the PSN recommended the utilization of unique skill sets of Pharmacists in Health financing and the involvement of community Pharmacies in the drive towards universal health coverage in the State.

It decried the existence of a master- servant relationship in our Hospitals and the healthcare sector at large, where the leadership was ceded to only a certain category of health professionals.

” It is only a team work approach to healthcare delivery, where every health professional with requisite training in Hospital or Health administration can have opportunity to superintend over our Hospitals, that would drive optimal health outcomes.

The communique drafting committee had Pharm. Mfonobong Enobong Okon as Chairman and Pharm. Omoefe Igri, Pharm Ifiok Udoubak; Pharm Odudu Akpaete, Pharm faith Robinson and Pharm.Itoro Obong as members

The Lagos State government has issued a seven-day ‘vacation order’ to all motorists and commercial bus drivers operating on some bridges across the state.

The Special Adviser to the state governor on Transportation Sola Giwa issued the order, Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA spokesperson said in a statement on Monday.

The order takes effect from Monday, 16 October.

“Every motorist/commercial bus driver operating along ‘Apongbon’ and ‘Idumota’ (Cater) Bridges, ‘Elegbata:, ‘Ebute-Ero’ and ‘Ejalonibu’ must as a matter of urgency vacate these areas as LASTMA would commence strict enforcement operation immediately after the expiration of this ultimatum until zero tolerance is achieved across the state,” Mr Giwa said.

The order is based on the need to “remove every infraction impeding the free flow of traffic on bridges across the state.

Mr Giwa said that despite several warnings, Lagos motorists have continued to defy government order thereby causing serious obstructions around these bridges with great negative impacts on the integrity of the bridges and traffic.

He said the present administration is expending huge resources for the construction of standard bus terminals, and garages for commercial activities in every part of the state.

He further said the activities of these motorists on the bridges are contrary to provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 as amended.

The special adviser noted that after the expiration of the ultimatum, any vehicle found to have contravened the order would be immediately charged to the state’s mobile court for prosecution

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Chief Executive Officers of several agencies and parastatals under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in line with his resolve to base Nigeria’s economic revival on the foundation of trade expansion through small, medium and large scale industry facilitation in the country:

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) — Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN

Industrial Training Fund (ITF) — Afiz Ogun Oluwatoyin

National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) — Kamar Bakrin

Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA) — Olufemi Ogunyemi

Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) — Nonye Ayeni

Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) — Aisha Rimi

Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA) — Bamanga Usman Jada

Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) — Charles Odii

Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) — Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke

Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) — Rabiu Olowo

Nigeria Commodities Exchange (NCE) — Anthony Atuche, CFA

Lagos International Trade Fair Complex (LITFCMB) — Veronica Safiya Ndanusa

Tafawa Balewa Square Management Board (TBSMB) — Lucia Shittu

National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) — Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin

In view of the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration, President Bola Tinubu expects all new appointees in this critical sector to optimally deliver in accordance with new key performance indicating benchmarks as established by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

By this directive of the President, all of the above listed appointments take immediate effect.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)