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  • Ondo Varsity Students Defy Akeredolu; Locks Down Akure

    Ondo Varsity Students Defy Akeredolu; Locks Down Akure

    A combined force of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko and Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, both in Ondo State has locked down economic activities in Akure, the state’s capital. The students in their hundreds are protesting and demanding the astronomical increments in their tuition by over 500 percent.

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had earlier threatened to “flush” any student who go on the street to protest against the increments when the NANS President, Bamidele Danielson Akpan visited him to agitate for a reduction in the “back breaking fees being charged by the schools raging from #150,000 to #300,000”.

    Sunshine Reporters gathered that the students of both universities have been in Akure since Monday but shelved the plan when the State Government mobilised hundreds of security agents to the streets of Akure in anticipation of the protest. 

    More details later.

  • NDLEA Disowns Akeredolu, Denies Encouraging Cultivation of Cannabis

    NDLEA Disowns Akeredolu, Denies Encouraging Cultivation of Cannabis

    The Chairman/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Col. Muhammad Mustapha Abdallah (Rtd.) has denied being on a mission with the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu to study the medicinal and economic value of cannabis sativa.

    Rather, the purpose of the visit was to understudy Thailand’s successful migration of her citizens hitherto engaged in illicit Poppy plant cultivation to the cultivation of legitimate economic crops and other lawful businesses.

    In a statement on Monday, though the agency is involved in such migration in Nigeria, Abdallah reaffirmed that growth of cannabis for recreation is still illegal in the country and his agency must see to the implementation of the law.

    He however noted that Nigeria stands to gain immensely from the Thailand experience, which was the reason behind the agency’s efforts to understudy the country.

    He said: “My attention has been drawn to the misinformation in the media that His Excellency, Executive Governor, Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and I were on a mission to Republic of Thailand to learn how to grow Cannabis sativa for medicinal purpose or economic gain.

    “This is far from the truth. I wish to by this statement categorically denounce the misleading information.

    “At no point did I make any remark in favour of the commercial and medicinal value or monetary gain of Cannabis while in Thailand.

    “First and foremost, the purpose of the visit to Thailand is to understudy how the country (Thailand) has successfully migrated some of her citizens hitherto engaged in illicit Poppy plant cultivation to the cultivation of legitimate economic crops and other lawful businesses.

    “Thailand’s model, referred to as Sustainable Alternative Development (SAD) is the direction the entire world is heading and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. The United Nations regards Thailand as the incubator of SAD of sorts.

    “Thailand is known widely as a success story in alternative livelihood development for building alternative income in farming coffee, tea, fruits and crafts which have helped in eradicating opium production.

    “The Mae Fah Luang Foundation in Thailand which implements the Doi Tung Development Project has curbed the growth of poppy through this process.  This subsequently has banished opium in Thailand”.

    Saying that all NDLEA is seeking to do was to explore how Nigeria can benefit from such projects, Abdallah added, “Nigeria seeks to achieve a similar feat in the eradication of cannabis.

    “Sometime last year, NDLEA and Oyo State Government visited the Foundation in Thailand and the lesson learnt is already transforming the cannabis cultivation landscape in Oyo State where the Government forests used for illegal cannabis cultivation have been acquired for a chain of agricultural activities, which gainfully engages the hitherto cannabis farmers.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, NDLEA under my leadership has been consistent in our opposition to legalization and decriminalization of cannabis. For example, Operation Thunderstorm undertaken by Ondo State Command of NDLEA destroyed 3,900.73 hectares of cannabis sativa planted in forest reserves.

    “Similarly, I make bold to state; Nigeria’s staunch opposition to legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes was restated at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, (CND), roundtable just recently concluded in Vienna, March this year.

    “Not only that, Nigeria canvassed for the position that status quo ante be maintained while decisions are made by the UN to alter the Single Convention of 1961 under which cannabis falls. These decisions are yet to be made.

    “Lastly, both Nigeria and Thailand still abide by that same Single Convention of 1961 involving cannabis. While I do not hold brief for Thailand, it is instructive to state that what research is conducted by them in order to confirm medical benefits of cannabis is done by seeds imported under their government control from Spain.

    “And for the records, only 100 (One Hundred) seedlings have been planted, still awaiting their growth, not to talk of research being conducted on them.

    “It is inaccurate therefore to say Thailand has approved the medical use of cannabis. This fact can be verified from Thai Embassy in Nigeria.

    “Once again, Nigeria’s position against the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis till remains in conformity with our laws – Cap N30 LFN 2004.  NDLEA’s mandate is to implement the laws, no more no less”.

  • South West Youth Leader Writes PMB, Urges Him to Allow Youths Participate In Governance

    South West Youth Leader Writes PMB, Urges Him to Allow Youths Participate In Governance

    The  Southwest Zonal Youth Leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has implored  the National Leadership of the party to set up a reconciliation committee to settle all the aggrieved members in the party, especially in the zone  in other to have a more formidable political party ahead of future elections.
    A statement by the Zonal South West Youth leader of the party, Lawal Kolade also stressed the need for the National leadership of the party, to do everything possible to ensure that the Southeast geopolitical zone be considered among the leadership positions of the national assembly.
    Lawal, while congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari for his victory at the last presidential poll, however, appealed to him to consult with the youth organ of the party as he prepares to make appointments that concerns the youths.
    It enjoined the President to look closer to the Southwest, as the zone  have a very large number of capable and result oriented youth, with distinct expertise and experience who could handle diverse responsibilities, impressively. 
    He expressed optimism that the president will perform beyond what it did in his first four years in office following its developmental programmes lined up in the interest of all.
  • INEC Withdraws 25 Certificates of Return

    INEC Withdraws 25 Certificates of Return

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has withdrawn 25 Certificates-of-Return issued to some candidates that won during the 2019 General Elections, following court orders.
    The Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr Festus Okoye, said this at a `Forum on Media Coverage of 2019 General Elections’ held in Enugu on Monday.
    Mr Okoye noted that 20 of the 25 certificates-of-return were withdrawn from All Progressive Congress (APC) members to other APC members; while 2 from People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members were withdrawn and issued to other PDP members.
    He said that the other three were withdrawn from APC and PDP; and given to other political parties.
    The Chairman however lauded the media for its openness and robust engagement with the commission before, during and after the election, adding that the media had become critical stakeholders for the success of future elections.
    Speaking, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Chris Isigozu, said that the media and its practitioners enjoyed a vast and robust relationship with INEC before, during and after the elections.
    In a welcome address, Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Emeka Ononamadu, noted that evaluation of processes of the elections would help better the electoral processes as well as strengthen institutions and stakeholders involved in the entire processes.
  • UPDATE: Naira Marley’s Mother Cries, Shivers As EFCC Hands Him Over To Nigerian Prison Officials

    UPDATE: Naira Marley’s Mother Cries, Shivers As EFCC Hands Him Over To Nigerian Prison Officials

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has handed over Azeez Fashola better know as Naira Marley to men of the Nigerian Prison Service for detention. 
    He pleaded not guilty to 11 count charge preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.

    Until his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi on Monday morning, he was in the detention facility of the EFCC.

    Naira Marley’s mother who was at the court to witness her son’s arraignment is currently in tears.

    Her agony was intensified when she witnessed the EFCC hand him over to the Nigerian Prison Service for detention until May 30, 2019.
  • NAIRA MARLEY: COURT ADJOURNS TILL MAY 30, 2019 FOR BAIL APPLICATION

    NAIRA MARLEY: COURT ADJOURNS TILL MAY 30, 2019 FOR BAIL APPLICATION

    Naira Marley appeared at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos earlier today following the 11-count charge filed against him by the EFCC.

    The absence of his lawyer stalled the court proceedings.

    Thus, the court adjourned till the May 30th, 2019 for the bail application.

  • “We Paid FG N515b in 2018” – Shell

    “We Paid FG N515b in 2018” – Shell

    Shell Petrolum Development Company (SPDC) has said it has paid the Federal Government N515.14 billion in 2018 in taxes, royalties and levies while contracts worth N393.94 billion were awarded to Nigerian companies in the same year. The Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor who stated this in Lagos during the media launch of the 2019 edition of the Shell in Nigeria Briefing Notes, said the contributions, were aside the N39.58 billion paid to the Niger Delta Development Commission and another N44.36 billion disbursed for various community-driven projects in the Niger Delta under the SPDC JV Global Memorandum of Understanding.
    He said Shell Companies in Nigeria also made direct spending of N17.03bn on social investment projects making Nigeria the largest concentration of social investment spending in the Shell Group. Speaking on the ongoing Assa North/Ohaji South gas development project in Imo State, southeast Nigeria, Okunbor said when completed, the gas project would produce 600 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, energy equivalent of about 2400 Megawatts which is enough to provide uninterrupted electricity to about 2.4 million homes.
    SPDC took the final investment decision on the Assa North/Ohaji South project last December giving a major momentum to the domestic gas aspiration of the Federal Government for increased power generation and industrialisation. Giving a breakdown of the gas production, Okunbor said 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day would be processed at a new gas processing plant owned by the SPDC Joint Venture while the remaining 300 million will go to a proposed gas processing plant by SEPLAT Petroleum.
    Source:Daily Trust
  • Local Government Autonomy: Nigerian Governors Fight Back, writes PMB

    Local Government Autonomy: Nigerian Governors Fight Back, writes PMB

    Nigeria’s 36 governors have risen against new financial regulations which seek to end their control of local government finances.
    PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) announced a ban on transactions on state and local governments joint accounts, arguing that such accounts are only transitional accounts from where funds should go directly o the accounts of local governments.
    The NFIU also placed a limit on cash withdrawals from local governments accounts to a maximum of N500,000 per day. It warned banks to ensure strict compliance.
    Governors, under the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), however, said they were angered by the new directive which they described as unconstitutional.
    In a statement by NGF’s head of media, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, on Sunday, the governors said the agency is going beyond its brief.
    The statement said the governors have sent a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking his intervention.
    The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, signed off the letter in which governors expressed “dismay and angst at this brazen attempt by the NFIU to ridicule our collective integrity and show total disregard for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.”
    The NFIU, which was excised from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), set June 1, 2019, as the takeoff date of the new order. The order makes it compulsory for local government allocations to go straight to their respective bank accounts. The decision is contained in a guideline released by the NFIU after a lengthy meeting with officials of commercial banks in Abuja.
    The NGF Letter was titled Re: NFIU Enforcement and Guidelines to Reduce Crime Vulnerabilities Created by Cash Withdrawal from Local Government Funds Throughout Nigeria Effective June 1st, 2019, and dated May 15th, 2019.
    The governors said they extracted “copiously from the constitution” to draw the attention of the president to section (6) (a) and (b) “which confers on the States and National Assemblies the powers to make provisions for statutory allocation of Public revenue to the Local Councils in the Federation and within the states respectively.”
    Similarly, the governors added, Section 162 (6) expressly “provides for the creation of the States Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) into which shall be paid all allocations to the LGAs of the State from the Federation Account and from the government of the state.”
    The NGF chairman said that nothing in the NFIU Act 2018 gives the body the powers that it seeks to exercise in the guidelines that it released. The governors, therefore, argued that the NFIU was acting in excess of its powers and with complete disregard of the constitution of Nigeria.
  • Boko Haram, Herdsmen Crisises Priming Nigeria For Islamisation – Obasanjo

    Boko Haram, Herdsmen Crisises Priming Nigeria For Islamisation – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the deadly activities of Boko Haram and herdsmen in the country.
    According to him, the challenges have grown beyond what Nigeria alone can tackle following the groups’ collaboration with the Islamic State West African Province fighters.
    Obasanjo said, “It is no longer an issue of a lack of education and employment for our youths in Nigeria which it began as, it is now West African Fulanisation, African islamisation and global organised crimes of human trafficking, money laundering, drug trafficking, gun trafficking, illegal mining and regime change.”
    The ex-Head of State spoke on Saturday at the second session of the seventh Synod of the Anglican Communion, Oleh Diocese, in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.
    Obasanjo, who delivered a paper titled, ‘Mobilising Nigeria’s Human and Natural Resources for National Development and Stability’ at the  event  said,  “Every issue of insecurity must be taken seriously at all levels and addressed at once without favouritism or cuddling.  Both Boko Haram and herdsmen acts of violence were not treated as they should at the beginning.
    “They have both incubated and developed beyond what Nigeria can handle alone. They are now combined and internationalised with ISIS in control.
    “We  could have dealt with both earlier and nip them in the bud, but Boko Haram boys were seen as rascals not requiring any serious attention in administering holistic measures of stick and carrot.  And when we woke up to the reality, it was turned to industry for all and sundry to supply materials and equipment that were already outdated and that were not fit for active military purpose.
    “Soldiers were poorly trained for the unusual mission, poorly equipped, poorly motivated, poorly led and made to engage in propaganda rather than achieving results.  Intelligence was poor and governments embarked on games of denials while paying ransoms which strengthened the insurgents and yet governments denied payment of ransoms.  Today, the security issue has gone beyond the wit and capacity of Nigerian government or even West African governments.”
    Punch 
  • ‘Atiku Is Trying To Make Nigeria Ungovernable’, Says Lai Mohammed

    ‘Atiku Is Trying To Make Nigeria Ungovernable’, Says Lai Mohammed


    Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture has said the Federal Government is in possession of strong evidence that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is putting plans in place to truncate Nigeria’s democracy. 

    Mohammed said this Saturday in Oro, Irepodun local government area of Kwara state during the annual twelfth Ramadan lecture.

    According to him, “Our interventions are based on credible evidence, and no government with the kind of evidence that we have, of plans to subvert the power of the state, attack the nation’s economic live wire and generally unleash mayhem on the polity, will keep quiet.

    “The security agencies are all alert to their responsibilities and will not sit by and allow anyone to reverse the gains of our democracy under any guise. 

    He added that “Since our intervention, pseudo and partisan analysts have teamed up with the spokesmen for the main opposition party and its presidential candidate to either exhibit their ignorance or to engage in red herring and name-calling.”

    Addressing the alarm raised by the Defence Headquarters and The Department of State Services, he said: “As you are aware, a few days ago we raised the alarm that either by themselves or via their proxies, the PDP and it’s presidential candidate are doing everything possible to sabotage the Buhari Administration, generally overheat the polity and make Nigeria seemingly ungovernable.

    “Of course you are aware of similar alarms that have been raised by the police, the military, and the DSS.

    The minister called on Nigerian to in the spirit of Ramadan, shun ‘anti-democratic forces’ in the country. 

    “I make this request against the background of those who are daily plotting to exploit our national fault lines of religion and ethnicity, those who masquerade as Democrats but can’t take electoral defeat, those who will not hesitate to collude with anti-democratic forces and dead-enders to fan the embers of violence in the country and those who have elevated their personal ambition over and above our survival as a nation.”

    DSS Warning 
    Similarly, the Department of State Services (DSS) issued a warning to those it said were calling for a revolution Nigeria Continuity and Progress (NCP).

    The DSS in a statement on Friday said: “It is evident that the misguided group and its cohorts have also planned to instigate widespread violence against the government in order to actualize their infamous agenda of forceful change of regime.

    “The DSS not only supports the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria but will leave no stone unturned in rooting out persons or groups desirous of truncating the process or undermining the country’s peace and corporate existence.

    “The service will, therefore, not condone any form of extra-judicial activities or methods designed or adopted by persons or groups to subvert constituted authorities.

    “Instructively, defaulting persons will surely be brought to book.”

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