News

Tinubu unveils resettlement scheme for conflict victims

Published

5 months ago

July 6, 2024

Admin

President Bola Tinubu on Friday laid the foundation for the official launch of the Resettlement Scheme for Persons Impacted by Conflict to address the humanitarian crisis caused by internal displacements across Nigeria.

Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the at the launching of the pilot phase of the project in Tudun Biri, Kaduna State.

He said, “There couldn’t have been a better place for the take-off of this intervention than this diverse state,” according to a statement by the VP’s spokesperson, Mrs. Stanley Nkwocha.

He also said, “Kaduna State has offered us a launchpad to venture into the communities dislodged by conflict. For so long, we have been held hostage by the fear of ourselves and allowed preventable incidents to escalate into transgenerational disputes. Today, we gather to say, ‘Enough is enough.

“The project marks a shift in the government’s approach to internal displacement and conflict resolution.”

Earlier in February, Shettima inaugurated a steering committee to coordinate the implementation of the initiative in fulfilment of Tinubu’s promise to improve the lives of all Nigerians.

The committee chaired by Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, also has representatives of governors of the benefiting states as members.

Other members of the committee include the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; representatives of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BUA Group, Dangote Group and the Director General of NEMA, among others.

The project will initially focus on seven states that have been disproportionately affected by farmers-herders conflicts.

They are Sokoto, Kebbi, Benue, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kaduna State.

Tinubu said the administration is determined to break the cycle of violence and displacement that has plagued various parts of the country for years.

“Our journey to this point has been long and arduous, but today, we converge in this historic city to demonstrate our resolve to overcome adversity,” he noted.

The RSPIC is designed as a multi-faceted intervention that goes beyond mere infrastructure development.

According to the President, the scheme will construct residences, roads, schools, and essential facilities for victims of conflict” while also providing “a dignified environment to live and to dream.

He praised Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani’s efforts in promoting unity saying he has been an “inspiration for unity in this beautiful state. His approach is not only a template for other state governors but also for the nation at large.”

Tinubu added that the non-kinetic interventions explored by his government since taking office are best demonstrated by the state governors and “Kaduna is a light of hope in this aspect.”

The President noted the national significance of the project saying “Conflict and displacement, to us, are not merely regional issues; they are national concerns that demand a unified response.

“They threaten the very fabric of our society, and it is only through justice, distribution of democratic dividends, and collaboration that we can overcome these challenges.”

He also appealed to those affected by conflict, “To those who have been displaced by conflict, I say this: We see you, we hear you, and we stand with you.

“Your strength and resilience inspire us all, and under my leadership, we commit to bolstering our nation’s security infrastructure and advancing peace.

“Now is our time for permanent solutions. This intervention is ours together,” the President added.

Earlier in his address, Sani praised the initiative, stating, “Today is a day of joy because we are about to set the stage for the transformation of this community.”

He outlined ongoing efforts to support Tudun Biri, including “constructing a six kilometres road and building a skill acquisition centre” and a clinic to cater to the medical needs of the people.”

Also speaking, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, noted the broader implications of the project as it translates to the improvement of the welfare of the citizens.

Umar stated, “Let us remember that every brick laid, and every path paved is a symbol of our shared commitment to a future where peace and prosperity and unity reign supreme.”

She added that the project would “pave the way for similar initiatives in other states that would follow.”

Responding, the Dangaladiman Zauzau, District Head of Rigasa, Mohammad Idris, said, “We are happy that this pledge is being fulfilled. This is a commitment on the part of the government which we are very proud of.”

Idris expressed gratitude on behalf of the Zazzau Emirate Council, noting, “We sincerely thank Mr President for honouring this promise.”

Dignitaries who attended the event included the Governor of Jigawa State, Umar Namadi; Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Hadiza Balarabe; Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa; representatives of the governors of Kano, Katsina and Kwara States.

Others are the representative of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Sen. Kaka Lawan; the representative of the Chairman, House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Management, Joseph Bassey; Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Yusuf Liman; Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, and Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Dr. Abdulkadir Mayere, among many others.

News

Reps Quiz Federal Polytechnics Damaturu, Mubi, Monguno Over Infractions

Published

56 minutes ago

November 24, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has queried the Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Borno State and Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State over series of administrative and financial infractions.

This was as Rectors and some management staff of the three institutions appeared before the house Committee on Polytechnics and other Higher Technical Education, as part of oversight function to render accounts of their budget performances.

But the Committee found various infractions in the documents presented by the three institutions which ranged from abuse of Federal Character in employment, Extra-Budgetary spendings and recurring abandoned, uncompleted projects in one of the institutions.

During presentation by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Dr. Abdulrahman Ishaku, the Committee discovered that projects that were to be completed in two to three years were not finished despite adequate release of funds in budget.

Specifically, the Committee was provoked by the non-completion of a staff quarters and an administrative block project by the institution for years.

Speaking, Rep. Emil Inyang who stood in for the Committee Chairman, Rep. Fuad Kayode Laguda at the meeting on Thursday, lamented that, the projects have not been completed and have been recurring in the budgets.

He said, “Physical Planning, can you show me where you rolled over the project to 2023? It’s not here. Is it in 2024? Why do you come here to lie? Where is it? That admin block, is it in use? Has it been completed? So, you have abandoned it.

“Gentlemen, I don’t know what to say to these kinds of people. Construction of staff quarters, Item number Nine under 2022 capital projects. Have you seen it Rector? What is the state of that building? Is it completed? It is completed, that’s what is shown here, and you are saying it is still remaining fittings. Is fittings not part of completion?

“You people are just disgracing yourselves. We are just killing this country from various directions. From our various positions we are just killing this country. Let me ask a question on this staff quarters. In 2022, the amount appropriated was N57.9 million, N28.9 was utilized was released, so remaining N28.9 that’s half.

“But, by 2023, appropriation was 88 and the entire amount has been released. So, is it the same project?If it is the same project, when this appropriation was done, does it mean that, the other 28 that was not done, not utilised that time, is it kept somewhere?”

The Rector however informed the Committee that, the fund was later mopped up.

In his ruling after the submission, the Chairman stated, “What I will tell you now is that, instead of going through this your document that does not satisfy anything, please, you will.list all the abandoned, all the structures you have not completed. When it started, How much was appropriated, How much you have put in till date, the state of those projects one after the other in the entire school.

“Not just in. your regime. From inception till date.So that, we will include them in your 2025 budget. You will not do any new thing as capital. You must complete these abandoned. You have turned some of these projects to conduits of putting money into them and not completing them. Even the ones you have written as completed here. You used your own mouth to tell us here that, you have not installed fittings. That is what you said.

“So, this is why it is necessary for us to go there and see things for ourselves.Because what you are doing here, you are just wasting governments’ resources. These abandoned projects or the state of the jobs especially constructions, let’s have it in one week time. How much you have put in there, at what stage are they, how much you will need to complete”.

Similarly, the Committee criticized the Federal Polytechnic Damaturu over using Insecurity as an excuse for financial malfeasance and other infractions as well the abuse of Federal Character in employment.

Chairman of the Committee noted that, the institution has carelessly spent its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) according to the records presented to the Committee.

In his presentation, the Acting Rector, Dr Ibrahim Babale Gashua said, the institution is faced with the challenge of low IGR as a result of the insecurity being faced in the state, which according to him, has reduced students intake and other activities.

He said, “We that are residing in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, we have three different high institutions. We have to lower our tuition fee because not everybody will come from outside the state. Even those in the state, it is only the course that is not available in their places that they come for in Damaturu because of the insurgency”.

The Committee however discovered that, despite the insurgency claim that reduced the institutions IGR, there was no commensurate reduction in its spending which the Committee said cannot be justified.

Another member of the Committee while commenting on the matter said, “Everybody comes to claim insurgency. Students don’t want to come to the schools. But it doesn’t stop them from spending the whole money.IGR, you blow it, Overhead, and yet, there is insurgency. So, it’s funny. You see, if I have a house and I am supposed to have 10 people occupying it. If 10 people are not occupying it, it means that my NEPA.payment, my PHCN money will reduce, because consumption of power supply will reduce. My water consumption will reduce. My number of cleaners will reduce because I don’t have full occupation. You understand what I am saying? My security personnel will reduce in terms of numbers.

“So, these are the issues.Most of the Polytechnics in the North come here brandishing this insecurity issue as the major reason for non performance. You are not performing on students admission, but you are performing on your expenditure profile”.

Speaking, Chairman of the Committee said, “Ok, this insurgency is a big excuse. Once you mention it, you will all close our mouths.Look at your Nominal Role, a federal Institution. Open to page 47 and 48, you will see how you have obeyed the law of the land, the Federal Character. Have you seen it Acting Rector? That’s the best you can do? You think from all those Zero-Zero states, if you offer them employment they wouldn’t come?”.

The Rector however reacted saying, “Some of them don’t come. Even those that we have left. I am telling you Sir”.

But a member of the Committee, Rep. Adebayo Adepoju faulted the Rector’s claim and said, it was not justifiable.

He said, “You cannot defend it, because if you are trying to defend it, saying that you’ve done everything in your powers and Nigerians have refused to come to your school, at that point, you say you have done the most you can do.

“But, when you did not even given Nigerians the opportunity to apply. We know what goes on in Federal Character. We know. I am telling you, if you go there and you want to apply, everybody has an interest, they give you. And before you know, they give you Certificate of Compliance.

“That Certificate of Compliance, we have shredded it so many times. Give yourself the opportunity to be fair to Nigerians.People want jobs in this country. We have so many jobless people and you will agree with me, there are many that will say, I won’t mind to go to Borno to teach.Please let’s give them an opportunity”.

The Rector and Management of the Polytechnic were directed to remedy the anomalies in their employment and henceforth advertise all vacancies in national dailies in order to give all Nigerians equal opportunity.

Similarly, after a presentation by the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Prof. Garba Mohd, the Committee directed the institution to also be diligent in its observance of Federal Character and other issues as the Committee discovered a skewed empolyment in the institution in favour of a particular section of the country.

It reminded the Rector and members of his management that, as a federal institution, it is required by law to treat all parts of the country in terms of employment and other considerations.

News

Obasanjo narrates how he escaped becoming drug addict

Published

4 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Naijablitznews

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he almost became a drug addict.

He spoke in Abeokuta over the weekend at the second edition of ‘Fly Above The High’ anti-drug campaign conference organised by the Recovery Advocacy Network.

Obasanjo stated that smoking during his youthful age led to chronic coughing and almost became an addiction.

The former President, while lamenting the increase in drug abuse among Nigerians and other West Africans, urged Nigerian students and young people to refrain from abusing psychoactive drugs, saying that they ruin life rather than enhance it.

“If I had persisted, I could have become addicted. Once you get involved, it is difficult to get out.

“There’s nothing drug can do for you except destruction.

“We found out that West Africa has equally been a centre for drug consumption in a very bad way. That was more than 10 years ago, so the situation has since gone worse. And whatever applies to West Africa applies to all other parts of Africa,” Obasanjo said.

He cautioned against stigmatization and urged individuals who are already addicted to psychoactive drugs to get help.

News

We saved $20bn after Petrol Subsidy Removal and FX Rate Reforms, Says Finance Minister

Published

4 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Naijablitznews

Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, says Nigeria has saved $20 billion from petrol subsidy removal and market-based pricing of the foreign exchange rate.

Edun spoke at a ceremony recently held to mark the first 100 days in office of Esther Walso-Jack, head of civil service of the federation, in Abuja.

“An amount of five per cent of GDP is what those two subsidies were costing when there was a subsidy on PMS; when there was petroleum product generally for a long time and when there was a subsidy of foreign exchange. Between them, they were costing five percent of GDP,” he said.

“If you say GDP was on average, let’s say $400 billion. We all know what five percent of that is – $20 billion of funds that could be going into infrastructure, health, social services, education.”