Adegboruwa Condems Lagos Govt Over Attempt To Smear #EndSARS Report
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) has defended the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters.
Adegboruwa, who was one of the members of the panel, said there are documents to defend the report submitted to the Lagos state government.
Recall that days after the report was submitted, Counsel to the Lagos state government, Abiodun Owonikoko, questioned the integrity of the panel members, saying that the report contains at least 40 discrepancies.
Adegboruwa urged the Lagos state government to focus on the recommendations in the report instead of seeking to demonise panel members or to evade responsibility.
Buhari To Approve New Electoral Act As Gbajabiamila Shows Support For Direct Party Primaries
President Muhammadu Buhari has held a closed-door meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Gbajabiamila said he was in the State House to brief President Buhari on happenings in the country, especially in the National Assembly.
The Speaker, who addressed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting, expressed optimism that the Electoral Act recently passed by the National Assembly would soon be signed into law by the President.
He said the President has always declared his preference for direct primaries, and would soon sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law since he was back from official engagements.
Lagos needs $15bn for infrastructure — Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says Lagos will need about $15 billion for infrastructure over the next five years.
The Governor said this on Thursday at the third Lagos Investors’ Roundtable and Unveiling of Deal Book, organised by the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Investment at Victoria Island.
He said that the state needed such amount, as a result of its rising population and limited geographical space.
Sanwo-Olu called on investors to optimise the advantages of the opportunities in Lagos State toward the goal of developing a 21st Century economy which is the goal of his administration.
How Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo Weakened Nigerian Army – Femi Adesina
Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, has narrated what weakened the Nigerian Army in his weekly opinion titled “No Longer An Army Of Anything Goes”.
He explained how the Nigerian Army went from an institution of valour and bravery to the state of “anything goes” under the leadership of Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha, and Olusegun Obasanjo.
According to Adesina, it took the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari to restore the lost glory of the Nigerian Army.
The presidential aide, who compared the Nigerian Army to a fish which begins to rot from the head, emphatically accused Generals Babangida, Abacha and Obasanjo of deliberately formulating policies to weaken the army.
Taraba Ambazonia Attack: All Governors In Nigeria Are Helpless In Fighting Insecurity – Ishaku
Taraba State Government, Darius Ishaku on Thursday while speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today has said that the 36 Governors in Nigeria are helpless when it comes to fighting insecurity.
He maintains that the country’s security structure does not give enough room for governors to deal extensively with crimes in their states because the powers have been vested in the Federal Government.
In his words he said: “It is not only me that is helpless. All the governors in Nigeria are helpless. And that is why we are saying give us state police”.
His comments were in response to the recent attack in Taraba by some suspected Ambazonian soldiers from the Republic of Cameroon.
Four Die In Aye, Eiye Cult Clash in Ogun
At least four persons have died in a Cult Clash between rival members of Aye and Eiye confraternities in the Abeokuta and Itori area of Ogun state.
This has led to the arrest of many members of the two cult groups following a man hunt ordered by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident in a statement in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Oyeyemi said several cult members were apprehended following the fatal clashes in different parts of the state in recent time.
President Buhari Okays N656 bn fresh budget support facility for states
The National Economic Council (NEC) says President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a fresh N656 billion Bridge Financing Facility to the 36 States.
Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, disclosed this on Thursday at a virtual NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and anchored from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister said that the support was to help state governments meet their financial obligations, especially the previous budget support facility due for repayment.
Ahmed said that the each state will receive N18.2 billion, and that the bridge facility was being processed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Israel restates commitment to support NIBF, deepen cooperation with Nigeria
Israel on Thursday restates its commitment to support the Nigeria-Israel Business Forum (NIBF) initiative to further tighten economic cooperation between both countries.
Mr Yotam Kreiman, Charge d’ Affairs of Israel to Nigeria, disclosed this in his address at the NIBF 2021-Annual General Meeting organised by the Forum in Abuja.
Yotam, who is also the Acting Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, commended NIBF’s contributions in the area of trade cooperation between the two countries.
According to him, it is an opportunity for companies in Israel and Nigeria to closely work together on a company-to-company level, business-to-business level, equally on a business-to-government and government-to-government levels.
Buhari Regime Prudent With Loans From China — Onyeama
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama says the Buhari regime is prudent with the loans it receives from China while looking for the best deal for the country.
Onyema said this on Thursday evening while briefing a joint session of the press at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, alongside the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.
He said the market tussle between the US and Chinese interests in Nigeria only shows the attractiveness of the country to the developed world.
According to the minister, Nigeria maintains a good relationship with both the United States and China and is working towards a win-win.
We Await EndSARS Reports From State Govts, Buhari Tells Blinken
President Muhammadu Buhari says that the Federal Government awaits the report from the Star government that set up panels to probe Police brutality in the country.
The President disclosed this on Thursday at State House, Abuja, while receiving in audience Mr Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State.
Blinken described the report of the EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action,” stressing that America equally had its own police brutality, and hoping that necessary reforms would be made.