All Posts in "Month: July 2023"

APC Seeks Probe Of Gov. Dauda Lawal’s Assets

Mohammed Shosanya

The Zamfara chapter of All Progressives Congress,has implored the federal government to probe the assets of the current governor of the state,Dauda Lawa.

Yusuf Idris Gusau,APC Publicity Secretary,Zamfara State,who conveyed this in a press statement recently,said the development was necessary in order to clear air on the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the governor’s huge wealth.

The party noted late May to early June speculative assets declaration by the governor of Zamfara state, Dauda Lawal Dare of N9 trillion stared so much outburst that the governor had to deny it urging citizens to checkout what he declared on his assets declaration form, saying if he had so much money running into trillions, he would have personally made his state of Zamfara better.

The party accepted and followed the governor’s call to check his submissions at the Code of Conduct Bureau and discovered that the former banker, has over 5 billion USD, about a million pounds and over N1 billion spread across many accounts .

It maintained that the governor is supposed to come out and give details on the source of his income to Nigerians and Zamfara people in particular.

It advised that the Code of Conduct Bureau should not just accept the governor’s submission but go through his financial transactions in all the financial institutions within and outside the country with a view to verifying the claims and clear themselves from being accused as accomplices.

Besides,the party said the governor has had no link from available records with petrochemical industry, mining, textile, oil and gas, agriculture or any other known business to generate such money.

“Needless to say that these are the kinds of funds linked to suspected bandits and terrorism activities which have devastated Zamfara most especially.

“The same person was fingered sometimes between 2020 and 2021 in the celebrated former Minister of Petroleum Resources case tagged ‘Diesiani gate,’ that the nation’s anti graft commission had to block his accounts and charge him to court.

“When former and sacked Central Bank of Nigeria CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele was sacked recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and arrested, he also mentioned Mr. Dauda Lawal Dare when he was being questioned.

“The CBN former governor was said to have revealed how crafty and specialized Mr. Dare is in manipulating foreign exchange which desk he headed at the First Bank in his career at the bank.

“This is why we now find it pertinent to call on the presidency to set up a Special investigation while the anti graft agencies are doing their own to uncover how the Zamfara governor got this mind blowing money he personally stated on his assets declaration form which is only mentioning his cash minus other assets (which should be investigated too) so that Zamfara people will know who they are entrusting the state to.

“The bank cash breakdown include local currency in seven financial institutions like: GT Bank, Account number 0221555924 at Kaduna Murtala Muhammad Square with N214, 889, 997,GT Bank Account number 0021114419 Murtala Muhammad Square with N25, 000, 557, GT Bank Account number 0021114426 Murtala Muhammad Square, Kaduna with N41, 713, 495, First bank Account number 3088548215 CBD Abuja with N17, 378, 815, Taj bank Account number 0001632438 CBD Abuja with N402, 626, First bank Account number 2004435828 CBD Abuja with N1, 023, 479, 533 and Credit Advisory Limited fixed income with N200, 000, 000 giving a total of N1, 522, 865, 024.

“Under the US Dollar account there is First bank Account number 1000444115 CBD Abuja with USD29, 120.35, First bank Account number 1000806508 CBD Abuja with USD100.00, First bank fixed deposit CBD Abuja with USD5,000,000,000, Taj bank Account number 0002463838 CBD Abuja with USD2, 050, 000, First bank account number 2006263043 CBD Abuja with USD168, 458.52, GT Bank Account number 0252232038 Murtala Muhammad Square Kaduna with USD10, 688, 766.17, GT Bank Account number 0021114921 Kaduna with USD70, 844.56, GT Bank Account number 0631790441 Kaduna with USD64, 755.75, First Bank Account number 8914150037 Private Banking Wuse ll Abuja with USD 240, 000, First Bank Account number 2018141634 CBD Abuja with USD 45, 098.80 with a total of USD5, 013, 357, 125.15.

“Finally, there are pounds sterling accounts domiciled at GT Bank Account number 0770966026 Murtala Muhammad Way, Abuja with 819, 894.19 pounds, GT Bank Account number 0051673953 Kaduna with 203.87 pounds and First Bank Account number 2011128599 Muhammadu Buhari Way, CBD Abuja with 21, 606.71 pounds bringing a total of 841, 704.77 pounds.

“We strongly believe that no government will allow even its president to amass such wealth in cash without questions, thus, we beg the present government under an astute leader like Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu to find out how these monies were acquired based on the arguments we have presented above”

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Politics 0
Sahara Group Mulls Partnership With FG, Gates Foundation On Sustainable Development

Mohammed Shosanya

Sahara Group has said it would support efforts by the Federal Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aimed at tackling poverty, climate change and health challenges in the nation.

The Vice President, H.E Kashim Shettima, recently chaired a meeting where critical issues including desertification, deforestation, agriculture, education, and vaccination, among others, were discussed.

The meeting had Co-chair, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, President Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, Executive Director, Sahara Group, Kola Adesina and other stakeholders in attendance,

Speaking,Adesina said Sahara Group was exploring several avenues of contributing towards tackling the issues alongside the government and other stakeholders.

He added:“These issues are quite important in Nigeria’s quest for sustainable development, ensuring that no one is left behind. We commend the Federal Government for leading this vital charge . Sahara Group exists to bring energy to life responsibly. Sahara will support this initiative as we continue to contribute our quota towards developing, energising and transforming our nation.”

According to Global Forest Watch, Nigeria in 2010 had 10.9 million hectares (Mha) of natural forest, extending over 12% of its land area. However, from 2002 to 2021, Nigeria lost 153 Kilo hectares (kha) of humid primary forest, making up 14% of its total tree cover loss in the same period.

At COP 26, Nigeria with over 100 other countries pledged to end deforestation by 2030 by raising required finance to support afforestation and introducing initiatives such as removing deforestation from the global trade of food and other agricultural products such as palm oil, soya, and cocoa.

Going by a Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) 2022 research conducted by a group of scholars, over 70 million Nigerians were directly or indirectly experiencing the negative impact of drought and desertification, the latter in Nigeria, being less a function of climate change, but more a product of human activities.

According to Adesina,“Various studies and data indicate that we need to step up the rate of afforestation and galvanise collaborative interventions that will need all stakeholders on board. We will also need massive awareness campaigns to get our people to own the campaign by signing up to a paradigm shift from activities that endanger our environment”.

Adesina,who noted that the contribution of the agricultural sector to the national GDP was 24.05% percent in 2022, while that of the oil sector remained under 10%, maintained that channeling efforts towards boosting agriculture across the nation remained critical to promoting sustainable economic development in Nigeria.

“Nigeria accounts for up to 20% of the world’s cassava production (and 34% of Africa’s), making the country the largest producer of the crop in the world. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture records that Nigeria is also the world’s largest producer of yam, accounting for over 70% of yam production in the world. The country produces over 47 million metric tonnes of yam annually and is also the largest producer of maize and rice in Africa. Clearly, we can leverage the entire agriculture value chain for economic transformation,” he added.

He said Sahara Group would also work with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote polio eradication and vaccination to help the nation navigate health challenges that can be effectively overcome through prevention.

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Power 0
I’m Not Pursuing Vendatta Against Anyone- Gov. Yusuf

Mohammed Shosanya

Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf on Sunday declared that his administration was not pursuing political vendetta against anyone, but working towards the progress of the state.

Abba Kabir Yusuf spoke when he received the emir of Gaya, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Abdulkadir who paid a Sallah homage.He challenged critics to keep records of his work and judge him after he has finished his tenure.

His reaction might not be unconnected to outrage that greeted his administration policy reversal, mass sacking of civil servants employed by his predecessor, demolition of structures in public space over the last 30 days in office.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Hisham Habib,he lamented “why any one in power could take public property and convert it for personal use.”

He tasked cabinet members to liaise with the council chairmen in the various local governments to find out critical issues for government attention.

Addressing the first class emir,the governor also directed the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran to work round the clock to ensure the smooth restoration of the health services at Hasiya Bayero Paediatric hospital in a fortnight.

Hisham Habib quoted his boss to have said his administration will ensure free maternity policy is implemented effectively.

He noted that:”The governor also reiterated the NNPP led government’s commitment to refuse evacuation and management and expressed concern over sanitation in the state.”

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Politics 0
Tinubu Administration Blessing For Ibadan Dry Port Project -Makinde

Mohammed Shosanya

Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde, has envisaged that the Ibadan Dry Port Project will see the light of the day soonest because President Bola Tinubu, understands the benefits of developing the economic value chain.

According to him,the dry port project will also benefit hugely because his administration will collaborate with the Federal Government more than ever before, adding that the recent change of government at the federal level would not affect the project negatively.

He spoke at the weekend, when he inspected several ongoing projects, including the Ibadan Inland Dry Port, the College of Agriculture and Renewable Energy, Iseyin, a campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; the Engr. Lere Adigun Housing Estate, Basorun and the Ibadan Circular Road.

The state has made good progress with regards to the projects, though there is still a lot of work to be done,he said.

He noted that his administration had been creating wonderful opportunities through infrastructure building and other key developments, which have begun to attract investors.

He urged the youth to key into the opportunities by contributing and getting the rewards, rather than leaving the country for foreign lands in search of imaginary greener pastures.

Answering questions from newsmen on the projects inspected shortly after inspecting the Ibadan Circular Road Interchange at Egbeda Local Government, the governor said regarding the inspected projects: “Well, I will say so far, so good, there is still a lot of work to be done but we are making a good progress. You have seen it as well.

“We were on that campus [LAUTECH Campus, Iseyin] before the election and we have seen between then and now that a lot of progress has been made. And even here [Ibadan Circular Road], we have interest-investors coming around to say, look, what exactly are we projecting in terms of the opportunities in Oyo State.

“To the people, we have many opportunities around here especially for our young folks. They should not japa because if they are hardworking, they can contribute and get their rewards.So, I will say we are creating opportunities across the spectrum and people are paying attention to what we are doing.”

Governor Makinde, while responding to a question on how the change of government at the federal level might stall the Ibadan Inland Dry Port project, reassured residents of the state the project would come on stream quicker than expected.

He said: “I think the change of government is even positive for Oyo State because we have a new administration at the federal level that understands what it is to develop the economic value chain.So, I think we will even cooperate more with the federal government and that project will come on stream quicker than we were expecting.”

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Business 0
OiI, Gas Industry Not Doing Enough To Reduce Global Emission- IEA

Mohammed Shosanya

The International Energy Agency,IEA,has criticised the oil and gas industry for being too slow to reduce global emissions despite the record profits that the oil and gas industry saw in 2022

Expressing this in a recent report,the agency also said Methane abatement in the oil and gas industry is one of the cheapest options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions anywhere in the economy.

The report emphasized the need for a zero-tolerance approach to methane leaks and intentional releases. It also calls for the elimination of non-emergency flaring by 2030, where natural gas is burnt on oil rigs as a means of disposal.

It recommended that the oil and gas industry invest $75bn in reducing its methane emissions. This would represent 2% of the industry’s 2022 net income.

The investment would reduce greenhouse gas emissions through to 2030 and move it closer to the agency’s pathway for achieving net zero by 2050.

The concentrations of methane in the atmosphere are 2.5 times higher than pre-industrial levels, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. A growing number of governments are taking action on methane emissions and gas flaring.

The US Government has committed to a crackdown on the practice, charging producers up to $1,500 per tonne of emitted methane under the country’s Inflation Reduction Act.

Besides, in the UK, flaring has fallen by 50% since 2018 following efforts from the North Sea Transition Authority. Flaring represents around a fifth of the emissions from North Sea and gas production.

According to the IEA’s timeline, in order to reach net zero by 2050 methane emissions from the entire energy industry must drop by 75% by 2030.

COP28, taking place in Dubai later this year, will offer an opportunity for producers to commit to cuts by the end of the decade, the IEA states.

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
I Chose A Surrogate Due To Miscarriages I Experienced- Ini Edo

Mohammed Shosanya

Actor and Producer, Ini Edo,has shed lights on why she opted for surrogacy,co-producing Shanty Town,her failed marriage and her career as an actress.

She discussed these recently in a chat with
host of #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo.

Speaking on her choice to have a surrogate carry her baby and owning it gracefully, she said, “I chose a surrogate because I had couple of miscarriages. I just got tired of trying and I didn’t want to try. I don’t have a husband, and I want a child for myself whether I have a husband or not. What other options could I have had? And I wanted it to be my child, my eggs. Thankfully, my eggs are good.

On owning her story in spite of the way it was accepted, she said, “You live this life for yourself. It’s just you that matters. You can’t be the judge of your own life and my life at the same time. No! This is my own life. The truth is people don’t really care. If you care enough for yourself, that’s enough. Don’t expect people to care. Everybody has their own problems to deal with. People have issues.

“They’re just thinking of themselves; they’re just using their own frustrations and venting it out on you. Perhaps the courage you have, they don’t have. So, just do you, because you’re listening to them, you’d sit in the same seat with them and that’s basically what they want”

On the positive feedback for the series, Shanty Town, she said:“To be honest, we knew what we had done. I knew it would blow people’s mind, what I didn’t expect was the kind of reaction I got from some people who I least expected, people who didn’t watch Nigerian film, I didn’t expect the reach. It became a movement, because we are carrying everybody along. It was that part I didn’t see coming. Did I know that it would blow people’s minds? Yes, because I saw it beforehand, and it has just been incredible.”

She also mentioned the iconic scene shared with Nse Ikpe-Etim speaking the Akwa Ibom language and how interesting it was to film.

“It was very sunny in the middle of the road, and we had to get multiple takes. Other than the regular pressure of filming, the weather and all that, just speaking the language alone with Nse was a breath of fresh air. It was something that we both jumped at. It was really seamless. Every minute of it was interesting”.

She also spoke about how the acceptance of the language took her by surprise the most.

She said:“Originally, the characters were supposed to be Benin or Yoruba, that was what the script writer wrote. I was like, if I am going to co-produce something of this magnitude, I wouldn’t want to go learn somebody else’s language, what about making them Akwa Ibom. Thankfully, Nse was already a cast member in the movie, so it just really made sense for the two of them. So, we switched names right there on set and we started working on it”.

On playing the dual role of a co-producer and actor on the project, she shared on how she had been interested in making a film of this magnitude for a while.

She added:“There was a hunger to make a kind of film that gets this kind of reception. I have been in this industry for too long; it would be weird to not want something like this. I have always known that I wanted to be this kind of film maker. It is just not the right time or sometimes you are looking for the right project.

” In terms of character, over time I have not really gotten roles that have challenged me or intrigued me. And If I don’t get things that challenge me, it sort of gets me bored, and it looks like I am losing the fire. So, for a period, I have been so hungry to even just do it for others even if I am not doing it for myself, but people would do what they want to do. So, I am like, ‘you know what, I will create my own table, I don’t have to wait for it’”

She also shared on journey into acting, “I wanted to be a lawyer or a newscaster. My role model was the late Tokunbo Ajayi; I always loved to watch her on the news. That was who I wanted to be like. Although I had never really wanted to be an actor, I have always been in the arts in church and in school. I did a diploma in theatre art while waiting to go do law. Then I started doing stage acting and an opportunity to do a film came and I just became an actor. I think it was destiny.”

Speaking on her regrets about her failed marriage, she said, “I regret getting married because it just wasn’t the right move to make. If the right person comes, I will do it again in my own time. If he doesn’t come, I am good.”

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Arts/Entertainment 0
Candidates Claiming Fake High UTME Scores Will Be Prosecuted -JAMB

Mohammed Shosanya

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has dismissed the parade of certain candidates as the high scorers in the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Board in a statement signed by Fabian Benjamin, Head, Public Affairs and Press, JAMB stated that many of the results which many of the candidates are parading are fake.

The Board in the statement said: “Many Fake JAMB High Scorers Deceiving Good-spirited Nigerians: The Case Of Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma And Dr. Innocent Chukwuma”, read “The attention of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) has been drawn to several publications in both print and online media celebrating certain candidates for being high scorers in the 2023 UTME.

“The Board is constrained to set the records straight and wishes to state unequivocally that many of the results which many of these candidates are parading are fake. In many instances, some of these candidates had obtained far lower scores than they are claiming and had used some funny software packages to manipulate their results to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.

It said, the most pathetic of them all is the case of Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma, who claimed to have scored 362 in the 2023 UTME and was awarded a N3m scholarship by Chief (Dr.) Innocent Chukwuma.

“She was even set to be honoured by the Anambra State Government when one of its top officials put a call through to JAMB to confirm her claim only for the Board to reveal that Miss Ejikeme Joy Mmesoma had scored 249 and not 362 she claimed. She had manipulated her UTME result to deceive the public to fraudulently obtain scholarships and other recognitions.

“The Board would like to state that the likes of Mmesoma are still out there deceiving those who are always in a hurry to bestow honours on candidates without confirmation from the Board.

“A similar case was that of one Atung Gerald in Kaduna, who claimed to have scored 380. His ethnic group had taken the issue up requesting that he should be given special recognition only for the Board to disappoint them with the incontestable fact that Atung never obtain the 2023 UTME application documents not to talk of sitting the examination.”

“The Board would, therefore, want to advise the public to always cross-check these claims by candidates with the Board before rushing to honour them with undeserving awards as certain software have been created to fake their version of their results and put same out in the public space for fun and this is what the sponsors of these candidates are using to defraud good-spirited Nigerians such as Dr. Innocent, the founder of Innoson Motors, who sincerely desire to celebrate academic excellence by investing in the education of a young Nigerian.

The Board commended Dr. Innocent Chukwuma and encourage other Nigerians, who desire to invest in the future of genuine youngsters, never to be discouraged but to always ensure that they get authentic results from the Board as done by the Anambra State Ministry of Education.

JAMB said unknowingly many Nigerians would end up celebrating criminality as this is just another new fraudulent method in town.

“However, these candidates only succeed in manipulating what they are holding as the authentic results are with the Board and would be transmitted to their schools of choice at the appropriate time.

“It is to be noted that Miss Mmesoma had sent a message to the Board’s platform to request her UTME result after which she manually inflated her scores and pasted the same on the 2022 UTME result sheet.

“Unknown to her, the Board had changed the design of the 2023 UTME result sheet. Her original result remains 249 as nothing can change that. With this ignoble act, Miss Mmesoma would be prosecuted and her original result withdrawn. This is not all as the Board would, in due course, investigate all candidates laying claims to higher scores than they actually obtained.

“Once discovered, such candidates’ original results would be withdrawn forthwith and they would be handed over to relevant security agencies for prosecution”.

admin by — July 3, 2023 in Education 0