Andrew Mailafia

The Federal Government has admitted that most of the problems confronting Nigeria were caused by bad governance from the nation’s leadership.

The government however scored the administration of President Bola Tinubu high for his sound decision on the Central Bank of Nigeria, saying the report of audit by a special investigator would be out soon

According to the Statement read, “In accordance with the fundamental objective set forth in Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this administration is, today, continuing the fight against corruption by appointing you as a Special Investigator, to investigate the CBN and Related Entities. This appointment shall be with immediate effect and you are to report directly to my office.”

But answering questions from journalists during a press conference in Abuja on the 63rd independence anniversary of Nigeria, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said Nigerians would know what really went wrong and what brought the country to its present situation.

He said that many problems confronting us are because of bad governance. The present government has confronted and is confronting these challenges. When President Bola Tinubu came on board, he made a very sound decision at the CBN. That singular act led to the massive improvement in the capital market, as experts have told us, it is something that can never happen in the past 15 years.

“We have a new team at the CBN and a special investigator has been in the CBN for sometime now and his result will soon be released and Nigerians will know what really went wrong and what brought us to where we are today.”

According to him, no world leader had been invited for the 63rd independence anniversary of Nigeria scheduled for October 1, saying the decision was taken in line with its option for a low-key celebration.

He said, “Low key celebration has nothing to do with whether we’re not doing well. Economic times are hard, we are looking at it not just at the national level but also as a family. We have not invited world leaders. During the inauguration of the President, 53 world leaders were invited, so we have not invited any world leader.

“As you are aware, the President has given his approval for this 63rd anniversary to be low-key in line with the present economic realities. The theme of the anniversary is “Nigeria @ 63, Renewed Hope for Unity & Prosperity.”

Speaking on national interest, he said, “We have all agreed to live in a peaceful, united, prosperous country, despite our diversity. Without these, no nation can move forward. Government is making sure our national interest is not undermined.”

According to him, the celebration is particularly important at this time having witnessed an unbroken democratic record since 1999 as well as the seamless, successful and peaceful presidential transition programme from one government to another.

The SGF said, “Despite political tremors and a wave of coups in some parts of the ECOWAS sub-region, Nigerians have fully embraced democracy with its core values and practices as the best form of governance. Democracy affords the citizens the opportunity through elective structures and processes to effectively participate in the affairs of their country.

“The relationship between the people and government in representative democracy is symbiotic: while the citizens support the government, the government provides security, protects, and enhances their interests.

“The government is fully aware of the economic challenges that Nigerians are confronted with since the removal of the fuel subsidy as well as the impact of the global economic downturn. The government is working assiduously to provide the necessary palliatives so as to mitigate such challenges and also the provision of buses to ease hardship on transportation among others. At the same time, the government is engaging with labour in order to address areas of concern for the well-being of all Nigerian workers and Nigerians generally.

“It is for this reason that this government led by His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is anchoring on the Renewed Hope Agenda which will improve food security; guarantee end to poverty; improve security; economic growth and job creation; access to capital; improve the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate; respect for the rule of law; and fight against corruption.

Among the programmes lines up for the event included anniversary symposium/public Lecture, on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at State house Conference Center @ 10 am; lecture on Friday September 29 2023 at the National Mosque Conference Center by 10 am and Juma’at Prayer at the National Mosque at 1pm.

Akume also announced presidential broadcast on Sunday, October 12023 at 7am; inter-denominational church service on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the National Christian Center at 10:00 am and military parade on Monday October 2 2023 at the Presidential Villa, at 9am.

“I therefore call on you as media professionals and patriots to support this administration and build a workable partnership in order to transform our country into the land of our dream. Also, I count on you to publicise activities lined up to mark Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary”, he said.

The federal government has expressed its commitment to boost and generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity by 2026 and 60,000MW by 2060.

Speaking in Osogbo on Friday, September 22, the Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu disclosed that the short and long term plans of the ministry towards increasing power generation, transmission and distribution in Nigeria.

During his visit to the National Control Centre of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Adelabu projected that Nigeria would be able to generate a minimum of sixty thousand megawatt of power by 2060.

He said, “Like I told you, it’s an aspiration for Nigeria to have minimum of 60,000 megawatts of power by 2060; that is 60 gigawatts. And 2030 is the medium term objective of achieving 30,000 megawatts of power.

“But like I mentioned in one of the programmes I attended, in as much as we are on course in achieving this, given the experiences of other countries who are even able to achieve over 100,000 megawatts within 40 to 50 years, this is not an ambitious target for Nigeria, we can easily achieve it.

“We have target for transmission capacity, we have target for distribution capacity and we have target for power generation capacity. By 2026, we should be able to achieve 20,000 megawatts of electricity”.

He added that two more power substations would come up in the next few months, courtesy of the presidential power initiative of the Federal Government.

Adelabu also warned that any employee found sabotaging the efforts of government in the power sector would be made to face the music.

He equally revealed that a panel has been set up to investigate what caused the recent inferno at the power substation of the TCN in Birnin Kebbi.

The West African Examinations Council has said it is set to introduce the Computer Based Test mode in the administration of its examinations are at an advanced stage.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Lagos, the Head of National Office, Mr Patrick Areghan, gave the hint

Speaking against the backdrop of notable achievements and advancements of the council under his watch, as he prepared to bow out of office on Oct. 1.

He would be bowing out after completing his three-year tenure.

Areghan said that introducing the CBT mode of administrating some of the council’s examinations had been part of his vision for the body.

”We have already started something in terms of CBT examination. We have gone far with our planning and all of that, even in the sub-region, the registrar to the council is also doing something.

“But this is not as easy as some people will think. This is because we ask ourselves, how do we conduct CBT for practicals and essay papers?

“We can only readily do that in the case of objective questions. But so many people will not see it from that angle. They argue that some others are doing it, so why can’t WAEC do the same?

“Now, no one even talks about energy; how many schools are exposed to computer literacy? How many have computer facilities and how many have electricity to run these things?

“Even where you have all these things on the ground, how do you handle the issue of theory and practical papers? So, these are the issues, but that is what I want the council to do very shortly.

“We should be able to conduct CBT examinations, even if it means starting with the objective questions,” he said.

The outgoing WAEC boss noted that already, the council had concluded introducing the administration of its examination using the CBT platform under his watch, in no distant time, starting with the objective questions and later theory and practicals.

“But you can still be sure that not all schools will be ready. Maybe we can have a segregated market. Those who cannot afford the CBT will go for the pencil and paper mode.

Areghan said aside from the introduction of the CBT, he would also like to see all the operations of the council fully digitalised shortly.

He noted that almost every section of the council had been digitalised under his watch.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo ordering traditional rulers in Oyo State to stand and greet Governor Seyi Makinde, at a project inauguration in Iseyin, Oyo State, was tantamount to desecration of Yoruba traditional stools.

A short video of Obasanjo, who spoke in Yoruba language, had surfaced on the Internet, expressing displeasure to the monarchs for not rising to greet Makinde, describing the action of royal fathers as disrespectful to the office of the governor.

Reacting, Oba Akanbi, in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, on Saturday, September 16 condemned the former president’s action and demanded a letter of apology from him.

Noting that Yoruba monarchs could not be treated as uniform men who would be ordered around, the Oluwo blamed the royal fathers who responded to Obasanjo’s order.

The statement partly read, “I trust myself and my stool. In death, there are certain things my soul will not take let alone when alive, active, and kicking. I only blame the monarchs who stood in obeisance to such an ignoble and desecration of traditional institutions from the old man. Respect should be earned not demanded.

“Traditional rulers respect their subjects too. There is a way respect is accorded to people of old age and position by monarchs. Kingship is an institution of God. As such, relating with kings requires a high sense of modesty, courtesy, and respect.

“The display by the former president of Nigeria, General Obasanjo was an affront, an intentional desecration and sacrilege against revered stools of Yorubaland. An injury to one is an injury to all. Yoruba traditional rulers are not uniform men anyone can command at will. I don’t blame him, those royal fathers who stood up to obey such an embarrassing direction are to be blamed.

“The show by the former general is condemnable. Yoruba traditional institutions demand an apology for the open desecration to molest and bring down the institution. He needs to prove himself as a core Yoruba man with an apology letter. Kings are not toddlers. We are fathers. He will never dare that against the Northern Emirs.”

Not less than 67 persons have been announced missing by the Gombe State Police command between January to September.

In an interview with our the Punch, the Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, on Saturday said the cases were reported across the 11 Local Government Areas of the state.

Based on checks carried out by Punch correspondent in August only about 65 persons were declared missing, with the present inquiry bringing the number to 67 in September.

According to Abubakar, the cases are from January 2023 to September, adding that efforts were on to recover the victims.

“From January to date we have 67 cases of missing persons reported at the Headquarters,” he said.

Abubakar disclosed that although some of the missing persons have been found by their family members, stressing that the command under Commissioner Oqua Etim, is committed to securing residents.

According to the Police Spokesperson, “Let me add that some of the persons lost have been found. The cases were majorly reported by their family members and some of the missing persons have since returned home. I wish to reassure you and many other residents of the state that Gombe is safe as Commissioner Oqua Etim and his men are committed to securing the state and her people, there is no need for worries,” Abubakar added

The founder of Peace House, Bro Gbile Akanni has the newly installed Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye to refrain from marrying more wives

According to him, the new monarch must refrain from marrying more wives while advising him not to be materialistic in his new position.

Akanni, Leadingreporters gathered, gave the warning while preaching at the first public appearance of Oba Olaoye on Thursday, September 14.

The event which was monitored online by our reporter garnered large turnout who watched as Bro Akanni stood in front of Oba Olaoye preaching the gospel of Christ.

His words; “God has brought you here to be a blessing to the people. Here is the word of God to you. This is not the word of man. God is saying the king must not acquire wives. That is what God is saying.

“The king must not acquire silver and gold. If the blessings come, let it be for the people of the town. We pray that the people of Ogbomoso will experience something new in your time,” he stressed.

“Those who are hungry will be fed during your time. God who blesses us abundantly will rain his blessing on us.”

Nigeria Police Force has announced that it will carry out diligent investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba , popularly known as Mohbad.

This followed the emergence of a document, wherein the late singer reported a case of alleged threat to life, malicious damage, assault, oppression, among others, against a music promoter, Samson Balogun, aka Sam Larry and others, in a petition to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State.

According to the June 27, 2023 petition, Mohbad alleged that Sam Larry and 15 others all armed, stormed the venue of a video shoot where the deceased and another artiste, Omoniyi Temidayo aka Zlatan Ibile, were working, and threatened to wreak havoc.

He added that they eventually destroyed equipment worth over N5m at the scene, and assaulted him (Mohbad) before he narrowly escaped after sustaining injuries.

The petition states, “I, of the above name and address, a law abiding citizen and a Musician bring to your notice the assault and threat to my life by the above mentioned persons.

“On 25th June, 2023 while having a video shoot with another artist by name Zlatan (Ibile, the above mentioned persons numbering about fifteen led by Sam Larry Elegushi invaded the premises with dangerous arms such as guns, cutlasses etc where I was shooting video and scattered the whole process of the shooting, damaged the equipment I was using for the shooting valued about Five Million Naira and started threatening my life which in the process they became violent and assaulted me which I sustained injuries but narrowly escaped.

“Attached to this petition is the said pictures. Total amount I paid for the shooting they have destroyed is Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000) which is non-refundable.

“However, during the assault, they were boasting that they work for Oba Elegushi and that they have been asked to deal with me for reasons best known to them which till date they are still threatening to kill me if seen. Sir, I call on your good office to save my life from the above mentioned persons and bring them to book.

“Sir, I call on your good office to save my life from the above mentioned persons and bring them to book,” the petition partly read. Thank you for your timely intervention.”

When contacted earlier by our correspondent over the recent development, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a tacit WhatsApp message said, “Ok. I will find out.”

However, in a follow-up official statement entitled, ‘Mohbad’s Death: We Will Carry Out Diligent Investigation – FPRO,’ he noted that the police were committed to a comprehensive investigation into the matter, adding that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.

Adejobi said, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and fans of the late Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known as Mohbad, who recently passed away. We understand the concerns regarding his untimely demise.

“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to a comprehensive investigation into this matter, as the Lagos State Commissioner of Police has been tasked to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Rest assured, updates will be provided as investigations unfold.

“We encourage family members or close associates with valuable information to approach the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to assist in this process. In the meantime, we kindly request that individuals refrain from making statements or engaging in activities that could jeopardize the ongoing investigation. Your trust and support are deeply valued.”

Leadingreporters earlier reported that Mohbad, a twenty-five years old Nigerian singer died and was buried.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Zaccheus Adedeji, as the new Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

A statement titled ‘President Tinubu appoints new acting executive chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, on Thursday, September 14 said “Hon. Zaccheus Adedeji is hereby appointed in acting capacity for 90 days before his subsequent confirmation as the substantive Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service for a term of four years in the first instance.”

The President also directed the erstwhile FIRS Chairman, Mr Muhammad Nami, who has served since December 2019, to immediately proceed on three months of pre-retirement leave, as provisioned by Public Service Rule (PSR) 120243, leading to his eventual retirement from service on December 8, 2023.

Adedeji is a first-class graduate in accounting from the Obafemi Awolowo University.

He most recently served as the Special Adviser to the President on Revenue, following his service terms as the Oyo State Commissioner of Finance and as the Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Sugar Development Council.

By these directives of the President, “the new appointment takes immediate effect,” the statement affirmed.

A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has revealed that up-and-coming artistes may suffer irreparable loss without engaging the services of lawyers.

In a post made on X on Thursday , September 1, Inibehe said that for solid career progression, it is important for artistes and entertainers to engage the services of lawyers.

According to him, anyone in entertainment or any related business that does not have a lawyer is taking a huge risk.

“As an upcoming artist, you should have and retain a lawyer as an integral part of your career.

“If you’re into entertainment or any business for that matter, and you do not have a lawyer, you’re taking a huge risk that may cost you irreparable loss.

“This advice has saved lives.”

This is coming days after Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Olademeji Aloba, known better as Mohbad breathed his last.

The remains of the late singer were laid to rest in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State on Wednesday.