NHRC CALLS SECURITY AGENCIES TO FIND MISSING JOURNALIST, Tordue Salem
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has added it’s voice to the growing concerns and condemnations by individuals, civil society groups and media, over the disappearance of Mr.Tordue Salem, a journalist reporting for Vanguard Newspapers, since October 13, 2021, in Abuja.
NHRC Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, in a statement on Tuesday described tordue’s disappearance describing the act as one of the worst human rights violations which leave the victims, family members and the society traumatized.
The Executive Secretary appealed to the security outfits to as a matter of urgency, find out the whereabouts of the Vanguard Newspapers journalist.
South West Governors Forum converge after armed attack on Abolongo, Discuss security and other issues.
Three days after gunmen attacked the Abolongo Correctional Facility in Ibadan and freed inmates,
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, hosted his south west region colleagues at the State House, Tuesday.
The member Governors, under the aegis of South West Governors Forum, discussed insecurity, investment, and other issues of interest to the region.
Disclosing this, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on behalf of the governors, stated that part of their deliberations centered on the security situation in the region and on Oodua Group, a company owned by all six Southwest States. but declined to give further details.
Don’t delete Section 162 (2) of Constitution on derivation, PANDEF Warns lawmakers
An emergency General Assembly of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, was held (virtual) on Monday, 25th October 2021 and chaired by the National Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien (FNSE).
The Meeting extensively discussed a Bill cited as Constitution (Alteration) Bill 2021, intending to delete Subsection 2, Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), sponsored by 59 Members of the House of Representatives from the Northern part of the Country; given its socio-economic consequences on the Niger Delta Region and the Country at large.
As part of its resolutions, the meeting noted that derivation, as a revenue allocation principle, has been resolutely suppressed since crude oil became the country’s major revenue earner. Meanwhile, oil and gas exploration activities have degraded the hitherto luxuriant, healthy ecosystem of the Niger Delta, and damaged the indigenous people’s means of livelihood, with little or no effort to ameliorate their consequential dire standard of living. Therefore, PANDEF insists that the principle of derivation in revenue allocation in Nigeria cannot be deleted from the Constitution and warned that the Niger Delta people are ready and mobilized to dispense full resistance against what it called ‘wicked machination’ and that any future attempt to further economically emasculate the region and its people.
In attendance were critical and strategic stakeholders of the Niger Delta Region; including Representatives of Governors, Former Governors, Members of National Assembly both serving and former, Retired Top Military & Security Officers, Members of PANDEF Board of Trustees, Presidents of Ethnic Organizations, First Class Traditional Rulers, Leaders of Oil and Gas Host Communities, Women and Youth Leaders, Civil Activists as well as Niger Deltans in the Diaspora.
Elder statesman and PANDEF National Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, OFR, CON, delivered the goodwill message at the meeting while the Director-General of BRACED Commission, Ambassador Joe Keshi, OON, gave th keynote address.
Police fully ready for Anambra Polls: IGP deploys high powered team for task
Deputy Inspector General [DIG] Joseph Egbunike has been deployed as the Coordinator of the security component for the upcoming elections in Anambra State,
CP Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer has disclosed.
The deployment follows a directive from
the Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Usman Alkali.
DIG Egbunike will be assisted by the DIG in-charge of Operations, Acting DIG Zaki Ahmed. Other Strategic Commanders deployed to Anambra State include five (5) Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), fourteen (14) Commissioners of Police (CPs), thirty-one (31) Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and forty-eight (48) Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).
The IGP reassured the nation that the Force is adequately prepared for the Gubernatorial Elections in Anambra State come November 6th, 2021. He reiterated that the Force will do everything within its powers to work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders to protect democratic values, provide level playing field for all political actors, ensure adequate protection of voters, INEC personnel and equipment, accredited observers and other key players in Anambra State.
New National Development Plan will create over 21 million jobs – VP Osinbajo
Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, has declared that the new National Economic Development Plan, which was part of the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic in supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), will create over 21 million jobs and lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2025.
He was speaking at on Monday in Abuja at the Nigerian Economic Summit (NES), adding that the broad objectives of the new Plan are to diversify the economy, invest in critical infrastructure, build human capital and improve governance and security.
He made note, however, that
growth figures are meaningless if they do not translate to good-paying jobs, and improved standard of living for the people.
E-Naira may increase Nigeria’s GDP by $29bn in ten years
The federal government, through a media statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, has stated that the adoption of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and its underlying technology, called block chain, can increase Nigeria’s GDP by $29billion over the next 10 years. This was made known by President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, in Abuja at the official launch of the eNaira.
The President also declared that the introduction of the eNaira would enable the government to send direct payments to citizens eligible for specific welfare programmes as well as foster cross border trade.
President Buhari said that alongside digital innovations, CBDCs can foster economic growth through better economic activities, increase remittances, improve financial inclusion and make monetary policy more effective adding that the
use of CBDCs will help move many more people and businesses from the informal into the formal sector, thereby increasing the tax base of the country.
He commended the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, his deputies and the entire team of staff who worked tirelessly to make the launch of Africa’s first digital currency a reality.
