Headlines

President Bola Tinubu on Monday swore in three new ministers during the second Federal Executive Council held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The new cabinet members are Malam Balarabe Lawal from Kaduna State as Minister of Environment, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim from Kwara, Minister of Youths and Ayodele Olawande from Ondo, Minister of State for Youths.

The ministers were the three nominated by Tinubu to take charge of the newly created Ministry of Youths and a replacement for former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

The Ministry of Youth was formerly with the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development.

El-Rufai was rejected during the Senate ministerial screening process when a member brought up a petition against him.

Tinubu, who is chairing the FEC meeting, took their oath of office and allegiance and took photographs with the new cabinet members.

The council also observed a minute silence for a former member of the cabinet, Late Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, former minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Ajose-Adeogun, who died on July 1 at the age of 96, was appointed the FCT Minister in 1976 by the Murtala Mohammed military administration and served in the position until 1979.

The inaugural meeting was held in August where new ministers attended to take their first brief from the executive arm on their roles and responsibilities in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The FEC is a constitutional institution where government policies are discussed and endorsed by Ministers, with the President serving as the Chairman and the Vice President as the Vice Chairman.

At the August 29 FEC meeting, Tinubu unveiled an eight-point agenda to revive the country’s ailing economy.

He had said that the eight-point agenda was based on eight priority areas, with identified targets that would be delivered in the next three years.

These are food security; ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, particularly consumer credit, inclusivity in all its dimensions, particularly as regards youths and women, improving security, improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate, rule of law, and of course, fighting corruption.

Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina has said that he is ready to sacrifice his life to end banditry in the state.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Radda said security remains a top priority in the state adding that a law has been passed to establish a volunteer force for that purpose.

The governor had on Tuesday, inaugurated the Community Watch Corps to complement efforts of the conventional security agencies in the fight against banditry in the state.

“We have inaugurated, trained, and equipped the volunteers, providing them with cars, motorbikes, and even armoured cars,” the governor said.

Regarding allowances, the governor said the government has adopted the minimum wage system, and the volunteers will be paid accordingly.

“The public should be aware that these volunteers were doing this job unpaid and are motivated by a sense of duty to protect their families and communities,” the governor said.

“Some critics claim that the patrols are worsening the security situation, but this assertion is unfounded. Residents of affected areas know what is happening, and it is unacceptable to allow these people (bandits) to continue to kidnap and kill.”

While stating that he does not mnd paying the ultimate price, Governor Radda noted that he would ensure that no harm comes to the people of Katsina state.

“I swear, as governor, even at the cost of my life, I will not allow someone come and harm my people. The problem of banditry has reached a point where we must all unite and put an end to it.

“Those who oppose these measures are likely motivated by the fact that their loved ones are not the ones being killed. Once all necessary preparations are complete, I will also enter the forest,” he declared.

Popular Nigerian singer Habeeb Okikiola, widely known as Portable, was recently robbed of his money during a tour in Europe.

Leading reporters gathered that the singer was performing at an event when he was sprayed with money. However, after the performance, he discovered his money had been stolen.

In a viral video, Portable can be seen lamenting the loss of his money and lashing out at the person who stole it.

“This man na md man. Ueless human being. All my money wey de spray me, this man don carry am run. This u*less man! Oga, I go beat you for here. I be street boy for Lagos,” he said in Pidgin.

Portable is known for his controversial lifestyle, and has at various times been involved in a scandal.

Staff of the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) have shut down the head office of the service in Abuja in protest against the appointment of Tola Odeyemi as Chief Executive Officer/Post Master General.

Presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, had announced last week that President Bola Tinubu made some changes in the leadership of communication agencies, including NIPOST.

However, moments after the news of Odeyemi’s appointment broke, there were reports that Adeyemi Adepoju, the sacked Post Master-General had been reinstated.

In a viral video, Adepoju was seen addressing some workers who claimed Tinubu had reappointed him.

But on Monday, the protesting workers denied entry to the newly appointed NIPOST CEO, saying her appointment was against their wish.

The workers, who said they preferred Adepoju, chanted solidarity songs and wielded placards.

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 Lagos government, on Monday, issued a 7-day ‘Vacation Order’ to motorists/commercial bus drivers operating on top of bridges across the state.

The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Hon.Sola Giwa said the ultimatum was given based on the need to remove every infraction impeding free traffic flow on bridges across the state.

Hon. Giwa disclosed that despite several warnings, motorists/commercial bus drivers have continued to defy government orders and cause severe obstructions around these bridges, negatively impacting the integrity of the bridges and traffic.

He confirmed that the present administration is expending enormous resources on constructing standard bus terminals/garages for commercial activities in every part of the state.

According to the Special Adviser, “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.”

He added that the activities of these motorists/commercial bus drivers on bridges are contrary to the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law 2018 provisions as amended.

Hon. Sola, however, affirmed that after the expiration of the ultimatum, any vehicles contravened would be immediately charged to the Lagos State Mobile Court for prosecution.

He added that the ultimatum takes immediate effect from Monday, 16th of October, 2023.

Nigeria has maintained its fourth position on the World Bank’s top 10 International Development Association (IDA) borrowers’ list after moving up from fifth in the 2022 fiscal year.

Even though Nigeria maintains the fourth position, it has accumulated about $1.3 billion in debt within one year.

This was disclosed in the World Bank Fiscal Year 2022 audited financial statement, which showed that Nigeria moved to the fourth position on the list with $13bn IDA debt stock as of June 30, 2022.

However, the World Bank Fiscal Year 2023 audited financial statement showed that Nigeria owed about $14.3bn IDA debt stock as of June 30, 2023, but maintained its fourth position on the list.

With $ 19.3 billion, Bangladesh moved up the list to become the topmost IDA debtor, taking over from India ($ 17.9 billion debt), which fell to the second position.

Pakistan maintained the third position from the last fiscal year with a debt of $16.9bn.

The World Bank 2022 audited statement also showed that Nigeria has the highest IDA debt in Africa, while the top three borrowers, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, are from Asia.

Also, in the World Bank 2023 Annual Report, Nigeria was among the top 10 countries that acquired fresh IDA loans this year.

The report showed that the bank committed $ 1.55 billion to Nigeria in the fiscal year of 2023, with the country recognised as the ninth-highest beneficiary.

Armed security operatives from the police and the Directorate of State Security (DSS) have stormed the Ondo Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prevent a planned peaceful protest by youths of the party.

LEADING REPORTERS reports that the protest organised by the youths demands the whereabouts of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who has been absent from the state since April 2023.

Kennedy Peretei, the spokesman for the Ondo PDP, said that staff were not allowed into the secretariat by the security operatives.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had raised the alarm on Sunday over alleged plots by the PDP and some APC chieftains to instigate crisis in the state.

The APC, however, said that Governor Akeredolu would soon be back in the state and that he has been performing his official duties irrespective of location.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board has said that 30,000 households will be disconnected over non-payment of utility bills.

Daniel Salka, acting general manager of the board, said the disconnection exercise became necessary to recover all unpaid debts from customers.

Salka said many consumers have been “enjoying uninterrupted water supply but are not ready to be responsive”.

He said only 15,000 of the board’s 50,000 customers are paying the water utility bills regularly.

Salka added that officials of the board have been directed to ensure compliance with the disconnection to increase the revenue base of the FCT administration.

He also “challenged the staff to wake up to their responsibility by ensuring no further delay in meter reading and transmission of the same to the billing office to ensure early printing of bills”.

The acting general manager also directed all the commercial officers to ensure early distribution of water bills to customers “to make sure at least 80 percent of revenue is collected to justify their pay”.

Salka said he would personally lead the distribution of bills to customers in the city.