News

Reps Meet Defence Minister, CDS Over Presidential Directive On Military Farming

Published

4 months ago

July 16, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…as Rep Benson say LG autonomy will address security challenges

By Gloria Ikibah

House of Representatives Committee on Defence has with the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa on Monday July 15, 2024, to know how the military plans to carry out the presidential directives to farming.

Chairman of Committee, Rep. Babajimi Benson who disclosed this when he spoke with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, commended President Bola Tinubu for mandating the Armed Forces to also put farming in the front burner.

He said: “If there is food security, insecurity will go down. So the Army takes possession lets say they have 1 million hectares somewhere, there is not going to be insecurity, is going to be manned by the military.

“So we are taking initiative by next week (Monday) we are going to call the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff to come and explain to us how they want to transform Mr President’s directives into reality. Let the armed forces who protect us, all the vast land (they have) let them go and cultivate it”.

Rep. Benson also hailed President Tinubu for ensuring that there is local autonomy, even as he said the development will help in addressing insecurity in the country.

According to him, security starts from the grassroots, even as he stressed that the financial autonomy given to local governments will spur development and close ungoverned spaces which induced insecurity.

He further noted that the local government council chairmen will have more funds to develop their areas and secure lives as well as properties.

“I I give super kudos to the President of Nigeria for ensuring that there is local government autonomy because security starts from grassroots. So, if you empower a local government to have full receipt of their monthly applications, they don’t have immunity like the governors and people are aware that now the shackles are broken, I don’t think there will be any stretch or space in Nigeria that will not be governable.

“When I received report from my military people they tell us that there are a lot of ungovernable spaces, they are areas where no single government presence is existing. These will be made aware that this local government that is next to border or whatsoever has received so much money. So, it also behoves on the people to be wise in choosing people that administer them because if you do that, this is a game changer in my opinion.

“There will competition amongst local governments, there will be a spur to develop if they receive their full money and people will be moving from one local government to the other because these local government chairmen can concentrate on his campaign promise, some can be water, some can be infrastructure, some can be housing, some can be medical, some can have super fire service, some can have schools, different things. I think it is a game changer that can be catalytic for Nigeria’s development,” he said.

He also elaborated on his motion in which the House asked the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), to immediately halt the unfair business practices against Air peace, Dangote and other businesses by certain foreign businesses operating in Nigeria.

He explained: “I moved the motion, my intention was to ensure that there is fairness, justice, good conscience in doing business in Nigeria. It will be very unfair if there are conspiracies by foreign companies to undermine Nigerian companies. What we frowned against is these companies coming together to offer predatory prices that are below the market rates in order to edge out Nigerian own enterprises.

“These practices they do not do it in their own countries. It can stiffle Nigerian businesses by reducing their prices and then they jerk up the prices. So it is speculated that this happened against Air Peace. At some points, tickets from Lagos to London were selling as high as N4 million. All of a sudden, a local company came in and all these companies just dropped prices lower than what Air Peace was offering. So, you ask yourself, why this sudden drop is this sudden dropped aim to undermine or get Air Peace out of it and once Air Peace is out of it, the prices go up. There is also a flip side that at end of day Air Peace can also be added to that cartel.

“So my motion is not to protect Air Peace alone but to protect Nigerians to let them know that there are opportunities for operators in a certain industry to collude and whenever it pleases them, some will lower their prices, whenever it pleases others, they all collude.

“Second, we spoke about Dangote, there is also need to investigate because if Dangote Refinery (is reason for) this non sell of crude oil is not part of predatory way of ensuring that Nigeria keeps importing and Dangote refinery is left out.

“I am saying the Nigerian authorities, the FCPC should also be watchful of this and make sure that if there is gang up to stiffle Nigerians they should quickly step into it or do investigative hearing. So the world is aware that Nigeria is informed about predatory pricing strategies.

“The agency (FCPC) should be alert to its responsibility to know that its mandate is huge, the mandate is to protect Nigerians from being exploited by these oligarchs. The legislation on consumer protection is very robust. It’s new, it is one of the freshest legislations we have, I think the law was passed in twilight of the Buhari administration.

“So, I think the operators of law should ensure that they study and apply the full essence of the clauses that are contained to prevent these practices. It’s a wake up call, it is a motion to make them wake up to their responsibility and to let them know that, that agency can add tremendously to Nigerian sustenance of its business ecosystem.”

On State Police, Rep. Benson said: “If I have power to make legislation I will say state policing is not by force. If you want it, apply. If a governor applies for state policing, the authority veting it may be the Police Service Commission whatever, looks at it and if they pass they should be given on a pilot scheme. There should also be conditions if you give them the license and they don’t do well you can suspend, revoke and you may not renew.”

News

Alleged Assault: Lawyers dump bolt driver for apologizing to Abia Reps member

Published

5 hours ago

November 8, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Francesca Hangeior

The team of lawyers representing Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye, an Abuja based bolt driver that was allegedly assaulted by a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, have withdrawn from his case.

The withdrawal, came barely 24 hours after the driver made a volte farce by tendering an apology to his alleged assaulter who had since been docked in court by the police over his action.

Hon. Ikwechegh was arraigned after he had admitted that he manhandled the e-hailing cab driver and apologized for his unbecoming conduct.

However, in view of the recent turn of events in the matter, Abuwatseye’s lawyers said they were no longer ready to offer legal services to him.

A statement dated November 8, signed by Zainab M. Otega of Deji Adeyanju & Partners and titled: “PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGED ASSAULT OF MR. STEPHEN ABUWATSEYE: WITHDRAWAL OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION,” read:

“We wish to formally announce the withdrawal of our legal representation in the case involving the alleged assault of Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye.

“On October 28, 2024, Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye walked into our law firm, visibly distressed, and sought redress over an alleged assault. Following his complaint, and having verified his claim, we took steps to protect Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye’s rights, on pro bono basis, culminating in the arraignment of the alleged assaulter.

“However, in view of recent developments and after careful consideration, we have made the decision to withdraw our legal representation in other to protect our professional integrity and maintain the highest ethical standard in the legal profession.

“We wish Mr. Stephen Abuwatseye the very best, while we assure the general public of our continuous commitment towards protecting the rights of the oppressed and indigent members of the society.”

News

Olaiya Flyover Bridge In Osun Closed Temporarily

Published

6 hours ago

November 8, 2024

Naijablitznews

The popular Olaiya Bridge in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, has been closed temporarily.

According to reports, this closure is to allow for the installation of barriers at the bridge’s entrance to prevent heavy trucks from using the bridge.

Inside Osogbo shared the updates on social media, urging motorists and other road users to exercise patience along the axis.

The blog wrote: “ATTENTION: The popular Ọlà-Ìyá Bridge is currently closed to give way for the installation of barriers at the entrance of the bridge to disallow heavy duty trucks from using the bridge. Motorists and other road users are enjoined to exercise patience along this axis.Kindly rebroadcast

The Olaiya Bridge was constructed by the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

Recently, the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Osun accused the state government of planning to demolish the iconic flyover bridge.

However, Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied these allegations and banned heavy-duty trucks from plying the flyover.

News

NUJ FCT SEC Directs Members to Ignore Boycott Call by Ousted Chairman Osadebamwen

Published

6 hours ago

November 8, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

The State Executive Council (SEC) of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter has called on members to disregard a boycott order issued by Patrick Osadebamwen and Ochiaka Ugwu, referred to as former officials without authority.

In a joint statement signed by key chapel leaders, the SEC accused the duo of spreading false information to undermine preparations for the NUJ FCT Council elections scheduled for December 4, 2024.

The SEC emphasized that the sale of nomination forms is being conducted by the legitimate Credentials Committee, in line with the union’s constitution.

The statement reads: “The Credentials Committee operates under the constitution and has been cleared by the National Secretariat. It is independent of state and national officers, as stipulated in Article 5(9C)”.

The SEC clarified that Osadebamwen and Ugwu were impeached during a Congress held on October 19, 2024, and have no legal standing within the union, and urged members interested in contesting positions to obtain nomination forms from the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat in Utako, Abuja, starting November 8.

The council dismissed the boycott directive from the impeached individuals as baseless, describing their actions as “illegitimate, illegal, and void”, and reassured members that security agencies have been informed of the impeachment and urged members to carry out their union activities without fear of intimidation.

“We will not engage in public exchanges or inflammatory rhetoric, despite provocations,” the SEC stated, reaffirming its focus on protecting the union’s integrity.

The statement was endorsed by several chapel leaders, including:

– Jide Oyekunle, Chairman, NUJ FCT Correspondents Chapel

– Yahaya Ndambabo, Chairman, VON Chapel

– Ngozi Uloma Ufomba, Chairman, FCTA Chapel

– Collins Yakubu-Hammer, NAN Chapel

– Onuh Holina, Chairman, Aso Radio/TV Chapel

The SEC reiterated its call for unity and adherence to constitutional procedures, concluding: “For the union makes us strong.”