News

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Democracy Day 2020 (Full Speech)

By Web News 878

President Muhammadu Buhari has addressed Nigerians on the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day, Friday, 12th of June.

NATIONAL BROADCAST BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON DEMOCRACY DAY, JUNE 12TH 2020

Fellow Nigerians,
1. The 2020 celebration of Democracy Day marks 21 years of uninterrupted civil administration in our dear country. This day provides us an opportunity to reflect on our journey as a nation, our achievements and struggles.

2. It is a day to honour our founding fathers who toiled to establish our republic and every Nigerian who has worked tirelessly to sustain it.

3. We are celebrating this year’s Democracy Day despite the COVID-19 pandemic which afflicts our nation and the whole world.

4. It is indeed a very difficult time for everyone especially those who have lost loved ones to the virus and those whose sources of livelihood have been severely constrained by the stringent measures we introduced at every level of government to contain the virus and save lives.

5. The dedication of our health and other essential services staff towards containing this virus is a testament of our courage and resilience as a people and as a great nation, and I use this opportunity to say thank you to all of you for your service to the nation.

6. Sustaining our democracy thus far has been a collective struggle, and I congratulate all Nigerians and particularly leaders of our democratic institutions on their resilience and determination to ensure that Nigeria remains a shining example of democracy.

7. In my 2019 Democracy Day address, I promised to frontally address the nation’s daunting challenges, especially insecurity, economy and corruption. I therefore find it necessary to give an account of my stewardship on this day.

8. We have recorded notable achievements in the course of implementing our nine priority objectives and are establishing a solid foundation for future success.

9. On the economic front, our objectives have remained to stabilize the macroeconomy, achieve agricultural and food security, ensure energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products, develop infrastructure, fight corruption and improve governance.

10. We have witnessed eleven quarters of consecutive GDP growth since exiting recession. The GDP grew from 1.91% in 2018 to 2.27% in 2019 but declined to 1.87% in the first quarter of 2020 as a result of the decline in global economic activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

11. Every single economy in the world has suffered a decline. Ours has been relatively moderate.

12. In order to stabilize the economy, the Monetary Authority took steps to build the external reserves which resulted in improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market. The external reserves grew from $33.42 billion on April 29th 2020 to about $36.00 billion in May, 2020 which is enough to finance seven months of import commitments.

13. Agriculture remains the key to our economic diversification strategy. The Presidential Fertilizer Initiative programme continues to deliver significant quantities of affordable and high-quality fertilizers to our farmers. This initiative has also revived 31 blending plants and created a significant number of direct and indirect jobs across the value chain.

14. Government is also revamping the cotton, textile and garment sector via a CBN Textile Revival Intervention Fund that would considerably reduce foreign exchange spent on cotton and other textile imports.

15. Through the food security initiative, we are promoting “Grow What We Eat” and “Eat What We Grow”. I am also delighted that more and more Nigerians are taking advantage of the opportunities in the agriculture and agri-business sector. I assure you that government will continue to support the Agriculture sector through the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme and similar schemes.

16. To protect our farming investments, we have deployed 5,000 Agro-Rangers and employed 30,289 in our para-military agencies.

17. We are also integrating rural communities to the formal economy by extending access to credit and inputs to rural farmers and building feeder roads.

18. Our efforts on growing non-oil exports have started to yield some results. For instance, in the past year, our revenue from Cocoa and Sesame Seed increased by $79.4 million and $153 million.

19. Africa presents a huge opportunity for our export base diversification and we are developing our strategy to grow intra-Africa trade through the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

20. Nigeria has risen by 25 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking from 146th to 131st and is now rated as one of the top ten reforming countries.

21. This development is due to the Visa on Arrival policy, consistent promotion of initiatives that expand facilities available to Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, robust electronic registration and payment system, seamless processing of business registration and reduction of cost of registering business by 50%. We are confident that on-going efforts would result in further improvement of this rating.

22. We remain committed to expanding our mining sector. To this end, I have directed the resuscitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant based on Government-to-Government financing and a Public-Private Sector financing.

23. With foreign and domestic investments and the participation of Small Scale Miners, we are harnessing the supply value chain in gold production.

24. We would also be launching a fully digitized mineral rights management platform for quick processing of mineral rights application, digitization of records and plugging revenue leakages.

25. The Power Sector remains very critical to meeting our industrial development aspirations and we are tackling the challenges that still exist in the delivery of power through different strategies.

26. We are executing some critical projects through the Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme including the:

a. Alaoji to Onitsha, Delta Power Station to Benin and Kaduna to Kano;

b. 330kv DC 62km line between Birnin Kebbi and Kamba;

c. Lagos/Ogun Transmission Infrastructure Project;

d. Abuja Transmission Ring Scheme; and

e. Northern Corridor Transmission Project.

27. Our agreement with Siemens will transmit and distribute a total of 11,000 Megawatts by 2023, to serve our electricity needs.

28. On transportation, another critical sector to improving our economic competitiveness, we are growing the stock and quality of our road, rail, air and water transport infrastructure.

29. Through the SUKUK-Funded Road Projects, a total of 412km of the targeted 643km road projects have been completed, representing 64%.

30. The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund projects are also progressing very well. On the 2nd Niger Bridge, piling work has been completed and the approach roads are being constructed. 48% of work on this bridge has been achieved. We have constructed 102km of the 376km Abuja – Kaduna – Kano Road, representing 38%, and the 42.9km Obajana – Kabba Road is 87.03% complete.

31. Furthermore, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency has completed routine maintenance on over 4,000km of federal roads out of the 5,000km targeted.

32. We are extending and upgrading our railway network too. We are introducing more locomotives, coaches and wagons for the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line. The Central Ajaokuta – Itakpe – Warri Line has been completed and is being extended from Itakpe to Abuja on one end and from Warri Town to Warri Port on the other.

33. The Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line is 90% completed and would be extended to the Lagos Port which would help address the long-standing grid-lock at the Apapa port.

34. The Kano – Maradi Single Track Standard Gauge Railway, Coastal Railway Project and Port Harcourt – Maiduguri Standard Gauge Railway, with its associated branch lines running through the South Eastern and Gombe States, industrial park and Bonny Deep Sea Port are all ready for concessioning.

35. Government continues to make investments in the Aviation sector to position it as a travel and trade hub in West Africa and the wider African continent.

36. Airport Terminals in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt are being expanded, while the rehabilitation of the Enugu Airport is almost completed. All our airports are being raised to international standards with the provision of necessary equipment, especially navigational aids, to guarantee world class safety standards.

37. For the first time in over ten years, Nigeria is conducting bidding process for 57 Marginal Oil Fields to increase revenue and increase the participation of Nigerian companies in oil and exploration and production business.

38. We continue to grow local content in other areas of the oil and gas sector with the disbursement of funds from the $200 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund to indigenous manufacturers and service providers.

39. With sustained engagement of youths, opinion leaders and other stakeholders, we have restored peace in the Niger Delta Region and maintained our oil production levels.

40. The Head office of the Niger Delta Development Commission will be commissioned shortly. The Funding of sections I–IV of the East-West Road shall be pursued with a view to completing the project by the end of 2021.

41. Furthermore, I am determined to ensure that development meant for the people of the Niger Delta get to them so I have authorised a Forensic Audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

42. Digital Economy continues to play an important role in our development agenda as we move into the age of Artificial Intelligence.

43. Since the creation of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy has been launched. Steps have been taken to achieve a reduction of connectivity cluster gaps from 207 to 114 as well as increase the level of 4G coverage by 30%.

44. Nigeria remains committed to expanding access to quality education to enhance the productivity of its citizens and would continue to pursue the enforcement of free and compulsory basic education for the first 9 years of schooling.

45. In pursuit of this, we have launched the Better Education Service Delivery for All in 17 states, established additional 6 Federal Science and Technical Colleges and currently executing a pro-active Teacher Training Plan with all states of the Federation.

46. In our revision of the operations of specialized education funds and to implement reforms that would optimize their benefits to the sector, we have adopted a Public-Private Sector Partnership for provision of infrastructure and also collaborate with the private sector to create jobs.

47. Our pursuit of affordable housing for the low and middle-income earners has received a boost with the delivery of 1,200 housing units, provision of 520 service plots with infrastructure through a Public Private Sector partnership and the issuance of 868 mortgages totaling N7.7 Billion. Similarly, Home Renovation Loans totaling N16.2 Billion have been granted to 19,210 people.

48. To enable sustainable access to safe and sufficient water to meet the social, cultural, environmental and economic development needs of all Nigerians, we continue to expand our water supply, irrigation and dam facilities.

49. The Completion of Amauzari, Amla Otukpo and other 42 Earth Dams with combined job creation of about 43,354 direct jobs and 71,172 indirect jobs, would provide more support for irrigation agriculture and water supply.

50. To further institutionalize our effort in this regard, I signed the Executive Order 009 on Ending Open Defecation in Nigeria.

51. In order to improve our forest cover and in fulfilment of my commitment at the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, we have commenced the planting of 25 million trees. This initiative will also contribute to our effort to mitigate the effect of climate change.

52. In the area of security, we remain unshaken in our resolve to protect our national infrastructure including on-shore and off-shore oil installations, secure our territorial waters and end piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

53. Ending insurgency, banditry and other forms of criminality across the nation is being accorded appropriate priorities and the men and women of the Armed Forces of Nigeria have considerably downgraded such threats across all geo-political zones.

54. All the Local Governments that were taken over by the Boko Haram insurgents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa have long been recovered and are now occupied by indigenes of these areas who were hitherto forced to seek a living in areas far from their ancestral homes.

55. The total collapse of the economies of these areas, which constituted a threat to our food security, has also been reversed with the gradual recovery of farming and other economic activities.

56. I regret recent sporadic incidents with tragic loss of lives in Katsina and Borno States as a result of criminals taking advantage of COVID-19 restrictions. Security Agencies will pursue the perpetrators and bring them to swift justice.

57. I must implore state and local governments to revamp their intelligence assets so that the Security Agencies can nip in the bud any planned attacks in remote rural areas. I send my heartfelt condolences to all the relatives and communities affected.

58. As part of the strengthening of our internal security architecture, the Ministry of Police Affairs was created.

59. Amongst others, Government has expanded the National Command and Control Centre to nineteen states of the federation, resuscitated the National Public Security Communication System and commenced the implementation of the Community Policing Strategy.

60. Government has similarly established a Nigerian Police Trust Fund as a public-private sector vehicle for alternative sources of funding security activities.

61. To reduce security challenges through our external borders especially smuggling of oil products out of the country, inflow of small arms and drugs into the country and equally protect our local manufacturers, we introduced operation “Ex-Swift Response” closing our borders from August 20th 2019, and have considerably succeeded in meeting its objectives as well as improving our national revenue.

62. Our Government has continued to work to reduce social and economic inequality through targeted social investment programmes, education, technology and improved information.

63. Our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other nations and has engaged 549,500 N-Power beneficiaries, 408,682 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme and 2,238,334 beneficiaries of the Growth Enhancement and Empowerment Programme. This is being done in collaboration with the States.

64. Similarly, “Marketmoni” and “Tradermoni” Programmes have provided affordable loans to small and micro scale enterprises to grow their businesses. Under the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, over 9,963,729 children are being fed to keep them in school and improve their nutritional status.

65. Fellow Nigerians, the year 2020 has been like none other. In January 2020, the COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. The number of global infections has risen from less than 8,000 shared between China and eighteen other countries to over 7million spread over 216 countries and on all continents.

66. Nigeria recorded its first case of COVID-19 on February 27th 2020 and within the first 100 days, I have had cause to address the nation on three occasions within one month, which underscores the gravity of this pandemic.

67. There is no doubt that this pandemic has affected the global economy and all known socio-economic systems. It has also brought grief and pain to families that have lost their loved ones. Like many Nigerians, I feel the grief and pain not only as your President but also as someone who has lost a close member of my staff and some relatives and friends.

68. In order to have a robust National response, I approved a Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to provide guidance and leadership in tackling the pandemic nationwide.

69. State Governments also constituted their own COVID-19 Task Forces. Complementing this was the establishment of a National Emergency Operations Centre responsible for providing technical and professional guidance in the National Response.

70. The overall objective of the PTF COVID-19 is to ensure that the pandemic does not overwhelm our health systems, while ensuring that we maintain an effective Case Management System to help in containing the spread of the virus.

71. The impact of the pandemic has disrupted our economic system and to ensure its functioning while still addressing the spread, the Federal Government put in place a number of various non-pharmaceutical measures to slow down the spread of the virus, in addition to a progressive re-opening of the economy.

72. As part of the strategy to create jobs in reducing the effect of COVID-19 on our youths, I directed the employment of 774, 000 Nigerians. These youths will be engaged in Special Public Works Programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic downturn. Each of the 774 local government areas in the country will be allotted 1,000 slots. I am pleased to report that this programme has commenced.

73. I receive regular briefing from the PTF on COVID-19. I note that the National Response relies on Science, Data and Experience in taking decisions. This informed my approval for the ease of lock down phase to ensure a balance between lives and livelihoods.

74. I am confident that the steps being taken by the PTF would result in flattening the COVID-19 curve. I, therefore, implore all Nigerians to abide by the approved guidelines and protocols. There is hope for us all if we take individual and collective responsibility.

75. Government is determined to turn this COVID-19 challenge into a motivation to action by building a nation-wide public health care system that will help us overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for any future outbreak.

76. Already, we have begun to look inward and I charge our inventors, researchers and scientists to come up with solutions to cure COVID-19.

77. Government has continued to implement accountability and transparent policies through the Open Government Partnership and the transparency portal on financial transactions. Similarly, we have strengthened auditing and accountability mechanisms so as to ensure that rules and regulations are followed strictly.

78. Anti-Corruption Agencies have secured more than 1,400 convictions and also recovered funds in excess of N800 billion. These monies are being ploughed into development and infrastructure projects.

79. The Public Service of Nigeria remains the bedrock for the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects in the country. This accounts for why it continues to evolve especially as new socio-economic challenges emerge for Government to address.

80. I will continue to give all the necessary support for the on-going reforms designed to return discipline, integrity and patriotism as the hallmark of the public service.

81. In the face of dwindling resources and rising cost of governance, I have authorized that the White Paper on the Rationalisation of Government Parastatals and Agencies be reviewed for implementation.

82. Our youth population remains a source of strength in achieving development objectives. In this regard, we would continue to concentrate in developing their skills, providing them with opportunities to express their entrepreneurial, research and industrial capacities as well as ample opportunity to take leadership positions in the service of the nation.

83. The commitment of this Administration to the well-being of people living with disabilities remains unwavering. Government recognises their contributions to development. I have directed that all relevant Government agencies pay special attention to the peculiarities of persons with disabilities in the formulation and implementation of their policies and programmes, and where suitable their employment.

84. Nigerian women remain a particular treasure to this nation and for this reason this Administration has continued to give them a place of pride in the affairs of our country.

85. I salute your courage, enterprise and resilience as well as your contributions to national development. I wish to assure all our women of this administration’s determination to fight Gender Based Violence through the instrumentality of the law and awareness creation. I am particularly upset at recent incidents of rape especially of very young girls. The Police are pursuing these cases with a view to bringing perpetrators of these heinous crimes to swift justice.

86. Government continues to recognize and harness the power of the media for positive development. The reforms of the broadcast and advertising industries including digital switch over and continuous engagement through town hall meetings remain central to accurate and credible information dissemination.

87. Our culture provides the basis for our existence as a people and a nation. In preserving iconic aspects of our national culture, this government has been pursuing the recovery of artefacts removed from Nigeria, promoting heritage sites and festivals and working towards designating some of our heritage sites as UNESCO World Heritage Centres.

88. This administration is focused on ensuring that Nigeria would always be governed by the Rule of Law and I would do my utmost to uphold the constitution and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.

89. Government has initiated a number of policies and programmes designed to promote the legal rights of Nigerians, facilitate the institutionalization of a responsive legal system, provide support to all constituted bodies in implementing their mandates and improve our custodial system of justice.

90. The National Assembly has been an important partner in our quest to sustain our democracy and achieve our development objectives.

91. I therefore greatly thank the leadership and members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their invaluable support at all times.

92. I will also like to convey our deep appreciation to members of the Press for your doggedness in the struggle for attainment of democracy since the beginning of our nationhood.

93. I must admit that the relationship between the media and successive governments has not always been perfect. But there is no denying the fact that you have been an effective watchdog for the society especially in holding public officers to account. It is sad that in the course of securing our democracy, some of your colleagues have had to pay a heavy price.

94. We will continue to guarantee freedom of the Press as we place high premium on responsible journalism that is devoid of hate speech, fake news and other unethical professional conduct.

95. Fellow Nigerians, as we celebrate this year’s Democracy Day, let us remember that notwithstanding our aspirations, humanity and indeed democracy is under the threat of COVID-19. Nigeria has survived many crises before and came out stronger. I am confident that by God’s grace we shall overcome this one and emerge stronger and more purposeful. 96. Thank you for listening. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

News Analysis

Protecting Children from Labour amidst Covid-19 Pandemic

By Web News 1081

Children around the world are routinely engaged in paid and unpaid forms of work that may be harmful to them.

However, child labour is when children under the legal age of adulthood work or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social or educational development.

According to World Bank records, Africa ranks highest among regions in the percentage of children involved in child labour.  

Child labour is not about children performing small tasks around the house, but the exploitation of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized children in society.

According to the recent estimates of the International Labour Organization, ILO, there are approximately seventy-two million child labourers between the ages of five to seventeen in Africa.

Children are withdrawn from school and put to work in order to fight the economic downturn.

Also revealed from past research studies conducted in Nigeria is the fact that, whenever most families have some shocks female children are used in replacement of their mother’s work in domestic duties instead of going to school.

Large proportion of female Nigerian children are used as domestic servants by trafficking them into some neighbouring countries, some hawk for their parents or their masters without directly been paid.

Parents who have the financial ability to forgo the income from their children in most parts of Nigeria still do not choose to send those children to school.

The Covid-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shocks are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.

Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer with the crisis pushing millions of vulnerable children into child labour.

Government should therefore intensify their efforts at educating parents on the need for a small family size.

This year, the World Day against Child Labour will be conducted as a virtual campaign and is being organized jointly with the global march against child labour and the international partnership for cooperation on child labour in agriculture.

As Covid-19 pandemic ravages the world, parents and guardians should protect their children and wards from labour and keep them at home.

Children should be properly engaged during this pandemic to protect them from contracting the dreaded disease.

Parents should be discouraged from giving their children for exchange or as servants in times of difficulty.

This the government can do by giving parents that wish to send their children to school but without the mean access to credit facilities to help them cater for their family.

Morenike Tony-Esan

News Analysis

Covid-19: The Need for Increased Proactive Actions by State Governments

By Web News 798

After weeks of total lockdown in some states including Lagos and Ogun, as well as Abuja, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Government decided to relax the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states, including Abuja for two weeks.

Residents of the affected cities did not hesitate to commence their daily activities on the first day of the relaxation, though restrictions on interstate travels, schools, religious and large gatherings remain.

Relaxing the lockdown and ensuring strict adherence to “Stay Safe” regulations, places a great task on the people and governments in observing and enforcing the regulations.

Or what can we say about commercial drivers who overload their buses despite several warnings for them to observe social distancing while carrying passengers.

The markets still witness large turnout of people without facemasks, shoving one another.

This also defeats the social distancing regulation.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in his latest nationwide broadcast, said the easing of the lockdown was to strike a balance between protecting public health and preserving livelihoods.

No doubt, the threat from the virus is far from being over, with over four thousand cases now recorded in Nigeria.

Now is the time for state governors to exercise their powers at enforcing the “Stay Safe” regulations.

For instance, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state directed the demolition of a hotel that violated the lockdown order, while areas that flouted Covid-19 regulations were subjected to an indefinite lockdown.

The governor also constituted a task force to ensure compliance with the interstate travel protocols.

Also, state governors should be more vigilant, as many drivers conveying food items from the northern part of the country also smuggled passengers into some states.

Many state governments have come up with modalities to concerning the partial or total lockdown which included ban of commercial motorcyclists, fewer passengers in buses and taxis, hand-washing and sanitising at motor parks, controlled access to markets, allotting time-frame and schedules for business operations.

However, compliance by citizens and the ability of state officials to enforce the protocols are not forthcoming.

Despite the ban on interstate travels for those not on essential duties, many people not in this category still move from one state to another.

There is need for states to intensify public enlightenment campaigns, for people to know more about the dangers in violating the “Stay Safe” regulations.

The partial lockdown does not mean the nation has seen the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 In fact, the number of confirmed cases is increasing and if people fail to abide by all the regulations, there might be an explosion.

Now is the time for active testing and contact tracing measures, therefore state governors should set up the much-needed molecular laboratory test centres.

The Federal Government cannot alone provide the centres; therefore states should be actively involved.

The Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu, has hinted collecting samples for testing is the responsibility of state governments.

Lagos and Ogun states were the first states in the South that did not wait for the Federal Government before setting up testing centres, though some states have equally set up these centres.

Other governors should set up these centres now, while state health authorities should also stand on the front lines to ensure a collaborative response to the pandemic.

Countries hardest hit by the coronavirus have begun taking tentative steps towards easing lockdown, and as the country continues its fight against Covid-19, Nigerians should adhere strictly to guidelines issued by relevant agencies.

These guidelines include regular hand-washing, physical-distancing, wearing of face masks, taking body temperature in public places and avoiding non-essential travels, as it is widely believe that health is wealth.

Olaolu Fawole

News Analysis

On The Repatriation of Funds Looted By General Sani Abacha

By Web News 928

On May 4, 2020, the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami announced that the federal government has received over three hundred and eleven million dollars of the looted funds of former Head of State, late General Sani Abacha.

The money was from the United States and Bailiwick of Jersey.

The Attorney General of the federation and Minister Of Justice had in February travelled to the United States to represent Nigeria in the signing of the tripartite agreement between the governments of Nigeria, the United States and Bailiwick of Jersey for the repatriation of the looted funds.

The asset recovery agreement from the meeting was that the funds would be expended on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano expressway.

During the five-year regime of late General Sani Abacha, about five billion dollars were stolen and transferred to offshore accounts with the aid of some multinational companies.

However, since 1999, over two billion dollars had so far been recovered from diverse countries.

Some of the recovered looted funds had been expended on some projects and served as funds for the execution of Conditional Cash Transfers, CCT, the social intervention programme of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

There is no doubt that Nigeria has suffered greatly from the effects of corruption.

Reports have it that ten to fifty per cent of public procurement funds are diverted and laundered abroad.

US Department of Justice is accusing the Nigerian government of planning to handover about one hundred million dollars to an alleged ally of the late head of state, though this has been denied by the federal government.

To this end, the United States Justice Department has warned that Nigeria must spend the repatriated funds on the agreed public projects or refund it.

Governments of countries where the looted funds were saved are still in shock that the allies’ of late General Abacha are still walking freely in the society and holding top political posts in Nigeria.

In line with the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal government must be able to investigate, identify and prosecute those who looted public funds.

The government must be able to ensure and inform the world that recovered looted funds are not re-looted.

Nigeria is one of the one hundred sixty signatories to the United Nations Convention against Corruption that makes stolen assets recovery an international priority in the fight against corruption.

The practice of spending funds without parliamentary approval violates the constitution.

The National Assembly should approve all expenditure through supplementary appropriation bills, even where agreements are made to use the funds for specific projects.

The federal government must show more commitment to the fight against corruption by making it known that looters are punished and not rewarded.

Olaolu Fawole

News Analysis

Increasing Investment in Health Systems to Combat Covid-19

By Web News 803

As countries across the globe continue to grapple with the ravaging impact of the novel Coronavirus or Covid-19, a big issue which has come to the fore is the need to increase investment in healthcare systems.

The nation has to reorder her priority by putting health in the first place.

This will not only be in the best interest of Nigeria, it will also put an end to medical tourism which prior to now gulped millions of naira that should be in the country’s coffers.

Furthermore, it will defeat the projection by some evil-minded persons that Nigeria would be worse hit by the Covid-19 pandemic than Italy, USA and China due to inadequate health infrastructure.

Health Systems across the world has become over-stretched and overwhelmed.

In fact, some of the largest hospitals in Europe have been calling for donations from the public.

Not too long ago, the United States Mission in Nigeria warned its citizens planning to be evacuated back home that hospitals were already overwhelmed due to Covid-19.

Even countries with the most robust health facilities were all finding it difficult.

A functional healthcare system is no doubt important to deliver qualitative health service at this trying time.

Over the years, successive administrations have embarked on various programs to improve the health sector but these schemes have not been effective in achieving their aims and objectives due to corruption, poor welfare packages, poor implementation, unstable economy, inhumane attitude of some health workers and inadequate funding.

This had resulted to lack of access especially by those at the lowest rung of the ladder.

Also, the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, though laudable has not been extended to all Nigerians.

Many of the vulnerable population are left at the mercy of private hospitals that charge exorbitantly or quacks who endanger their lives.

Sadly, the Primary Healthcare Centers, PHCs, which are expected to service those at the grassroots have become weakened due to lack of basic amenities, drugs and consumables.

At this juncture, it is important to note that revitalization of the PHCs across the country is necessary if the war against Covid-19 will be won.

Although, a World Health Organization, WHO, report showed that Nigeria has one of the largest stocks of human resources for Health in Africa, these number is too low compared with the population coupled with the fact that they are being lured to countries with better welfare packages and emoluments on a daily basis.

More so, inadequate personal protective equipment, PPE for health workers, ventilators and test kits for Covid-19 are beginning to generate concerns among Nigerians.

No wonder, a former Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who is the chair of GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance, said the outcry in virtually every country about lack of equipment and supplies to test and protect against Covid-19 would lead countries to re-examine their supply chain for critical Health and livelihood-related products.

To this end, Nigeria should look inwards for the provision of essential products locally as well as strengthening pharmaceutical companies and other manufacturers.

Greater investment is also needful in research for vaccines, equipment and other medical supplies.

Commendably, the presidency said the latest tranche of Abacha loot repatriated would be allocated to infrastructural development, the Health sector should be considered in this regard.

Furthermore, the agreement reached by heads of government in 2001 that a minimum of fifteen percent of the budget be ploughed into the Health sector should be revisited.

To prevent brain drain, upgrade of facilities and improved working condition for health workers would not be out of place.

A stitch in time saves nine, time is now, therefore, to consider massive investment in Health Systems to stem the spread of coronavirus and to build a lasting health infrastructure for the coming generation.

Anthonia Akanji

Health

Covid-19 Case Update

By Web News 20132

Five new cases of covid-19 have been reported in Nigeria: 3 in FCT and 2 in Oyo State
As at 08:00 pm 27th March there are 70 cases of confirmed covid-19 reported in Nigeria, 3 have been discharged with 1 death.
Currently break down of covid-19 cases state by state:
Lagos- 44
FCT- 14
Ogun- 3
Ekiti- 1
Oyo- 3
Edo- 1
Bauchi- 2
Osun-1
Rivers-1
@NCDCgov

Health

Covid-19 Case Update

By Web News 5356

14 new cases of covid-19 have been confirmed in Nigeria, 1 in FCT, 1 in Bauchi and 12 in Lagos.

From the 14 confirmed cases , 6 were detected on a vessel, 3 are returning travellers into the country while 2 are close contacts of confirmed cases.

Currently:
Lagos- 32
FCT- 10
Ogun- 3
Ekiti- 1
Oyo- 1
Edo- 1
Bauchi-1
Osun-1
Rivers-1
@NCDCgov

Health

COVID-19 Case Updates

By Web News 817

Two new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Nigeria, 1 in Lagos and 1 in Osun both cases are returning travelers to Nigeria in the last 7 days.

As at 07:00 am 25th March, there are 46 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria.

Two of the cases have been discharged with 1 death

 For a breakdown of cases by states Currently,

Lagos- 30

FCT- 8

Ogun- 3

Ekiti- 1

Oyo- 1

Edo- 1

Bauchi-1

Osun-1

Total: 46 confirmed cases

@NCDCgov

Health

Covid-19: FG Orders Closure of Tertiary Institution Nationwide

By Web News 840

The Federal Ministry of Education has ordered the immediate closure of tertiary institutions, secondary and primary schools nationwide over the outbreak of the Coronavirus in the country and as part of measures to contain the spread.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. Sonny Echono, confirmed this in Abuja.

A release by the ministry added that the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, asked all principals of the 104 Unity Colleges “to fast-track the ongoing second term examinations and close shop until further notice.”

The ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Ben Goong, in the release, said, “The Federal Government has ordered the closure of all the 104 Unity Schools in the country on March 26, 2020, as a proactive step aimed at preventing the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.”

“In the meantime, the minister said the management of all the unity colleges should immediately activate the necessary emergency procedures and processes such as the provision of alcohol-based sanitisers, and handwashing facilities among others.

“The minister directed the principals to immediately report any suspicious case to the nearest health authorities.”

Culled from Punch

Health

Nigeria Confirms Second Case Of Coronavirus

By Web News 794

The Federal Government has confirmed the second case of Coronavirus in the country.

Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the revelation on Monday at a press conference in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Ehanire briefed reporters at the boardroom of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where he gave an update on the Coronavirus infection in the country.

He, however, stressed that the newly confirmed case was a contact of the index case and not an importation into the country.

Details coming…

Foreign

Senegal Confirms Second Coronavirus Case

By Web News 734

A second person in Senegal has tested positive for Coronavirus, the country’s health ministry confirms.

It says the patient is an 80-year-old French national who arrived in the West African country on 29 February.

He is being treated at the same hospital for infectious diseases in the capital city, Dakar, where another Frenchman was hospitalised for Coronavirus last week.

News of this second confirmed case in Senegal brings the total number of confirmed cases on the African continent to 12.

Other countries with patients who tested positive for the virus are Algeria – five people; Egypt- two people; Morocco – one person; Nigeria – one person and Tunisia – one person.

Senegal is one of the 33 sub-Saharan African nations with testing facilities for Coronavirus. The authorities say they are well prepared to deal with the virus.

On Monday the World Health Organization, WHO, told the BBC it expects the remaining 14 sub-Saharan nations currently without testing equipment to gain facilities within a fortnight.

BBC NEWS

News Analysis

Harnessing Nigeria’s Tourism Potentials

By Web News 1231

Tourism over the years has proven to be a strong and resilient economic activity and a fundamental contributor to economic growth of any nation.

As it generates billions of dollars in exports and creating millions of jobs.

Acknowledging these facts, many developing and developed countries today rely on tourism as an option for sustainable development of their nations.

Though Nigeria is richly blessed and endowed with both physical and cultural tourism potentials it has been relatively insignificant on the world tourism map.

This is because the nation’s economy has been mainly petroleum-driven, with the result that tourism does not play any significant role in the economy.

Much prominence has been given to oil production as the major source of revenue, particularly, foreign exchange at the expense of other industries including tourism.

Factors that affect the nation’s tourism sector include poor implementation of tourism plans, absence of defined measures to encourage participation in tourism, policy formulation and implementation, and poor infrastructural development.

It was also discovered that successive administrations have not shown commitment to tourism development beyond mere rhetoric.

Unless tourism is seen as strategically important to the economy of Nigeria and the necessary plans, policies, actions and resources to support this initiative are put in place, tourism will continue to be a missed opportunity.

For instance, in Ondo state, much concentration is still on cultural tourism which is promoting the culture through festivals and celebrities.

The state is also endowed with natural resources which if developed, will help to generate employment for the people and boost the local economy.

The time has come for the country to harness the potential in the tourism sector to protect its culture and heritage.

To do this, government at all levels should commit a lot of resources to the development of tourism sector.

Also, federal government needs to create a conducive environment so that visitors could be attracted to the nation’s tourist sites.

The provision of efficient transportation, stable power supply, water and telecommunications will make Nigeria a tourism destination for foreign nationals.

Above all, there should be attitudinal change by states and local government to improve their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, through tourism development thereby reducing dependence on federal allocation.

Abisola Oluremi

Religion

PMB Felicitates with Nigerians on Christmas

By Web News 869

President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined Nigerians to imbibe and demonstrate the essence of Christmas to facilitate peaceful co-existence, which will in turn usher in progress.

In a message, President Buhari said love; goodwill among ethnic groups; giving and sharing; strengthening bonds of brotherhood and good neighbourliness; would promote and sustain unity and development.

He said celebrating the spirit and virtues of Christmas need not be a one-day affair, but to continue into the New Year.

He appealed to those, whose actions are opposed to what the season represents, especially, insurgents, terrorists, armed robbers, kidnappers and economic saboteurs, to retrace their steps and join people of goodwill and common humanity.

He warnsed that the armed forces, security and law-enforcement agencies were poised to confront and defeat them.

While it is gladdening to note that incidents of violence and conflicts have reduced drastically owing to the several operations embarked on by security agencies, Nigerians must not let their guards down, he said.

The President said as Christmas indicates good tidings of hope and redemption, “Nigerians can look forward to a turnaround in the administration’s priority areas of fighting corruption, providing security, economic diversification, job creation and infrastructure upgrade.”

He called on Christians to remember to pray for members of the armed forces and other security agencies “who are making so much sacrifice to protect Nigerians from people of evil intent.”

He says Nigerians should extend love to the families of those whose bread-winners have made the ultimate sacrifice while defending their fatherland.

The President appealed to motorists to drive with care this festive season, while road safety and security officials should ensure compliance with safety measures.

Abdullah Bello

Religion

Xmas: Clerics Call for Humility, Moderation

By Web News 869

The world is globally celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ known as Christmas, first, with services across the churches.

Radio Nigeria crew of reporters went round some churches in Ibadan to gather different messages on the significance of the birth of Jesus Christ. 

At Assemblies of God Church, Apata, Ibadan members dressed gorgeously in different attires to celebrate the birth of Christ. In a sermon Reverend Emmanuel Olubiyi while highlighting reasons for Christmas celebration, said Christ’s birth brought salvation  to mankind. 

Rev Olubiyi, who explained that Christmas symbolized freedom from judgment and death, maintained that Christ brought hope of eternity. 

He encouraged Christians to be moderate in their celebration.

Assisting Priest, Canon Babatunde Memorial Anglican Church, Apata Ibadan, Reverend Segun Agunbiade admonished Christians be humble in in their conduct as revealed in the birth of Jesus Christ.

The cleric advised Christians to emulate the humility of Jesus Christ during this Christmas season and beyond.

In a Xmas sermon, Venerable Adewale Sanda of Saint Annes Anglican Church Molete Ibadan called for attitudinal change. According to him,

many social vices in the country can be avoided if Nigerians imbibe the virtue and teaching of Christ.

Members of the congregation, who spoke with Radio Nigeria reporter, said the essence of the teachings was becoming more pronounced on yearly basis.

Adelowo/Akinlosotu/Akinola

Religion

Xmas: Let us Imbibe Christ’s Virtue – Gov. Makinde

By Web News 775 Post a comment

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has urged Christians, residents of Oyo State and Nigerians in general to ensure they live in peace and harmony in the spirit of Christmas.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa urges Christians to imbibe the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose birth is being celebrated at Christmas.

Governor Makinde said that every resident and indigenes of Oyo State needed to imbibe harmonious coexistence to engender development in the state and Nigeria generally.

The statement encourages Nigerians to reflect on the need to assist the needy as the world celebrate Christmas with family, friends and loved ones.

 Governor Makinde also warned against religious bigotry, declaring that only gullible persons use religion to divide the people.

“I would want our people to live in peace and harmony because development only thrives in an environment where peace reigns.

“Jesus Christ, whom we are celebrating today came to the world and loved his enemies. He preached peace everywhere he went, his lifestyle is worthy of emulation by our people, especially now that certain forces are seeking to divide our people along religious lines.

“I want our people to know that poverty, squalor, and lack know no religion or ethnicity. If those divisive elements come to you, tell them to find other things to do because our unity would remain our source of strength.

“As we look forward towards a prosperous 2020, let us all love our neighbours and brothers like ourselves, let us pray that the Almighty would touch the hearts of some persons who take joy in inflicting pains on the hapless common man. God urges us to be our brothers’ keeper and the least we are expected to do is to show care, love, and compassion and as we live in peace and harmony, our society would be better for it.”

 Iyabo Adebisi

Security

Ijoba apapo gbe igbese lati dekun igbesunmomi

By Web News 819

Ijoba apapo ti seleri lati raa awon nkan ijagun tofimo awon oko oju ofurufu tiwon nlo fun ijagun lati ile Russia nidi gbigbogunti igbesimomi ati iwa odaran nile yi.

Olubadamoran pataki saare foro iroyin ati ibaraalusoro, Malam Garba Shehu lo so eyi di mimo ninu atejade kan.

Olubadamoran pataki ohun to k’owo rin pelu aare losi ile Russia sope awon adari ile yi yoo so asoyepo lori eto abo pelu aare ile Russia, Vladimir Putin nibi ipade apero ile Russia ati orileede Nigeria.

Gege bi Malam Shehu se wi, awon orileede mejeji yoo fenu oro ko lori ona lati seranlowo fun ile Nigeria lona ati fopinsi iwa igbesunmomi lawon apa ibikan lorileede yi.

Oluwayemisi Dada/Kemi Ogunkola

Economy

Experts Examine Economic Implications of the New Minimum Wage

By Web News 715

Since the signing of the thirty thousand naira minimum wage by President Muhammad Buhari early this year and the promise for immediate implementation when the harmonisation is carried out, many Nigerians have continued to express their displeasure on the fall out of the development on the society.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, Wale Oluokun, in this special report x-rayed the implications of the salary increase on the economy and the reactions of some civil servants in Ogun State on the new salary regime.

While Economists agreed that the consequential implications of the new minimum wage which has come to stay is always negative not minding the margin of the increments.

The economic experts were also of the view that the possibility of inflation arising from the increment should be considered. 

However, as the implementation is being awaited from both the federal and the state levels, traders and artisans have already started tailoring their prices to the new wage regime in some parts of Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

Inflating and repair of vehicle tyres in Abeokuta have suddenly got hiked by 100 percent.

To inflate a tyre now cost 200 naira from the former 100 naira which when questions was raised, no satisfactory answer was provided.

Increase in prices of services and commodities, is synonymous to increase in salary of civil servants.

It is also worth of note that in some years before, petroleum prices sometimes got increased making the consequential increment  to be of no significance.

As the civil servants await the payment of the new wage increase, what are the thoughts of federal and state civil servants about this increment and the difference the increment will make in their lives.

Mr. Adeoye Dacosta a Federal civil servant with National Orientation Agency, Abeokuta while speaking said the labour unions and the government should ensure that power, housing, health and transportation sectors are well managed to make the new salary meaningful to the workers.

Also speaking, another civil servant with the Ogun State government Mr. Babatunde Abatan said state government should comply with the resolution of the labour at the federal level as the workers will buy from the same market.

It is also believed that problems have solutions, what possible step could be taken to prevent possible price increase of services and commodity and measures needed to prevent inflation, A professor of Production and environmental Economics of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Professor Idris Ayinde called on the federal government to reenergize the non-formal sector to create more employment opportunities and to also put in place price control mechanism to stabilize prices.

According to him, crisis that will spring up from non-implementation of the new salary could affect the Gross Domestic Product of the nation.

With the concerns from the experts on the undue publicity given to the increase in salary, they also agreed that there may not be significant change in the livelihood patterns of the workers as a cost-push inflation is a possible problem that will affect the new salary regime.

Wale Oluokun

Yoruba

Alákoso fọnrere àsà ọwọ́ fífọ̀

By Web News 715

Alákoso fọ́rọ̀ ohun àlùmọ́nì inú omi, onímọ̀ẹ̀rọ Suleiman Adamu, ló ń fẹ́ káwọn ọmọdé kásà bééyan se fọwọ́ lóre kóre pẹ̀lú ọsẹ àtomi, látidpenà ọ̀kan ọ̀jọ̀kan àrùn.

Omímọ̀ẹ̀rọ Adamu tó sàlàyé pé pàtàkì ọwọ̀ fífọ̀, rọ àwọn alágbàtọ́ láti kásà ìmọ́tótó fi dábòbò àwọn ọmọdé kúrò lọ́wọ́ àwọn àrùn lọ́lọ́kan òjọ̀kan.

Kò sài sọ́ọ́di mímọ̀ pe, ìjọba kòní káarẹ láti pèsè omi tómọ́ gaara, èyí tí yóò wà lárọwọ́tó gbogbo aráalu, láti dènà àwọn àisàn tó ń tara omi jáde.

Kò sài fikun pé, ọwọ́ pẹ̀lú se pàtàkì tó sì máà ń kópa tó jọjú lórí ìmọ́tòtò ara, óúnjẹ àtàwọn ǹkan min-in tóda bi rẹ̀.

Kẹmi Ogunkọla/Seyifunmi Ọlarinde

Yoruba

Ilé asòfin àgbà késí àwọn iléésẹ́ láti farahàn lórí àbá ìsúná wọn

By Web News 645

Àarẹ ilé ìgbìmọ̀ asòfin, Sẹ́nátọ̀ Ahmed Lawan ti kéde pé, gbogbo àwọn ilé-isẹ́ àti lájọlájọ,  gbọ́dọ̀ wa farahàn níwájú ilé láti wá sọ̀rọ̀ gbe àbá ètò ìsúná wọn lẹ́yìn, títí ọjọ́ kọkọ̀ndínlọ́gbọ̀n osù yíì.

Asòfin Lawan sọpé, ìgbésẹ̀ yíì ló wáyé níbamu pẹ̀lú bí wọ́n se ka àbá ètò ìsúná ọdún 2020 fún igbákejì nílé asòfin àgbà, tíwọ́n sì ti késí ìgbìmọ̀ tẹkótóilé lórí àatò gbogbo láti sisẹ́ lórí rẹ̀ kíwọ́n sì wá fi àbọ̀ jẹ́ ilé láarin ọ̀sẹ̀ méjì.

Sẹ́nétọ̀ Lawọn kò sài tun tọ́kasi pé, ilé isẹ́ ẹ̀ka tàbí àjọ ìjọba yóòwu tó bá kùnà láti wá farahàn níwájú ilé kó tó di gbèdéke àkókò tíwọ́n làkalẹ̀ fún wọn, kò gbàgbé lórí ìgbésẹ̀ sísọ̀rọ̀ gbe àbá ètò ìsúná rẹ̀ lẹ́yìn.

Kẹmi Ogunkọla/Modupe Tọba

Health

2019 World Food Day: Experts Tasks Nigerians on Healthy Diet

By Web News 944

The number two goal of the Global Sustainable Development, SDGs, to improve people’s lives by 2030 is zero hunger.

The goal is targeted at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

Little wonder then, why the 2019 World Food Day has, as its theme “Healthy Diets for a Zero-Hunger World”.

The Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, of the United Nations noted that, urbanisation and available income had affected the diets and eating habits of people across the globe.

It is observed that many people had shifted from eating plant-based and fibre-rich meals to processed foods, and they prefer delicacies from fast food outlets to foods prepared at home.

The country representative of FAO in Nigeria, Suffyan Koroma, while reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to zero hunger, described the day as an opportunity “to reflect on what to eat, how we eat it and where we get it from”.

While commenting on the theme of the 2019 World Food Day, a dietician, Mrs. Oluwatooni Opelami said, good eating habits help prevent frequent visits to hospitals.

She said healthy foods help to keep fit and boost the immune system especially of the young children.

Mrs. Opelami submitted that, nutritious foods are available and affordable, contrary to the belief of some people that, only the wealthy can access them.

Similarly, a nutritionist, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Bolarinwa explained that poor quality diets could make the brain weak and lead to many disorders such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, and cancer.

Mrs. Bolarinwa therefore advised the people to consume foods from natural sources such as legumes, cereals, fruits and vegetables.

Meanwhile, the federal government has reiterated its commitment to ensure food sufficiency and healthy living.

The permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammed Bello-Umar at a rally to mark the World Food Day, in Abuja, said the ministry would open up lands for agricultural activities.

He noted that there was no need to import rice, because the country had attained self-sufficiency in rice production.

Statistics reveals that, globally, more than 670 million adults are obese, in addition to 120 million children between the ages of 5-19 years in similar condition, while ironically, over 820 million people still suffer from hunger.

The 2019 World Food Day is calling for action across sectors to make healthy and sustainable diets, affordable and accessible to everyone.

Afolasade Osigwe

Yoruba

Ìjọba àpapọ̀ sọ àsọyánlórí ìpèsè óunjẹ

By Web News 810

Alákoso fétò ọ̀gbìn àti ìdàgbàsókè àwọn agbègbè, ọ̀gbìn Sabo Nanono sọpé, ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa ńpèsè óunjẹ́ tootoo, láti bọ́ àwọn èèyàn rẹ̀, tí yóò sìtún ma kólọ sáwọn orílẹ̀dè alámulégbé rẹ̀.

Alákoso náà sọ̀rọ̀ yíì nígbà tó ńbá àwọn oníròyìn sọ̀rs nílu Abuja, lórí àyájọ́ óunjẹ lágbayé.

Ó fikun pé ìjọba àpapọ̀ ti pinu láti ti gbogbo àwọn ẹnu bodè ìlú yíì paapaa fáwọn orílẹ̀dè alámulégbé tó ti sọ ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa di ibùdó tíwọ́n ńkó àwọn ìrẹsì àtàwọn ọjà min-in tọ́jọ́ ti lọ lórí wọn si.

Kẹmi Ogunkọla/Ọmọlọla Alamu

Yoruba

Ìjọba àpapọ̀ ti ní kòsí ìkọlù sílé asojú ilẹ̀ yi ní Cotonou

By Web News 719

Iléésẹ́ tó ń bójútó ọ̀rọ̀ ilẹ̀ òkèèrè ti sọ pé, irọ́ funfun báláu ni fọ́rán àwòrán kan tó wà lójú òpó ẹ̀rọ ayélúgára, èyí tó ń sàfinhàn bí àwọn kan se lọ sèkọlù sí ilé asojú ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa tó wà nílu Cotonou, lórílẹ̀dè Benin.

Agbẹnusọ fún iléésẹ́ nà, Ferdinand Nwaye, sọ pé fọ́rán àwòrán nà, jẹ́ ohun tó ti sẹlẹjẹ lọ́dún mẹ́fà sẹ́yìn, àti pé ilé asojú ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa tó wà nílu ọ̀ún wáyé lọ́dún 2013.

Ó sàlàyé síwájú pé àwọn olórí àwọn tó lọ sèkọlù sí ilé asojú Nàijírìa nígbà ni àwọn alásẹ orílẹ̀dè Senega ti mú, tí wọ́n sì jùwọ́n sẹ́wọ̀n osù mẹ́fà.

Iléésẹ́ tó ń bójútó ọ̀rọ̀ ilẹ̀ òkèrè na, wá rọ́ọ̀ àwọn arálu, pé kí wọ́n máse kọbi ara síì òfegè ìròyìn tí àwọn èèyàn wọ̀nyí ńgbé kiri tó sì jẹ́ pé, wọ́n mọọrọ n sebẹ ni, láti fi lè dáà àarin ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa àti ilẹ̀ Bẹnin rúù.

Kẹmi Ogunkọla/Oluwayẹmisi Dada

Education

Stakeholders Call for Recruitment of Young Teachers

By Web News 744

Stakeholders in the education sector have called on the relevant authorities to introduce a mechanism for regular employment of qualified young teachers to replace ageing professionals in the system.

A cross section of the stakeholders who spoke with Radio Nigeria in commemoration of the 2019 World Teachers’ Day expressed the hope that engaging the services of qualified teachers would enhance the quality of education. 

Radio Nigeria correspondent, Olusegun Folarin completes the story.

Olusegun Folarin

Lifestyle

Xenophobia: South African Leaders are Guilty of Incendiary Remarks – Don

By Web News 796

Inciting remarks by some leaders in South Africa have been identified as part of the factors fueling xenophobic attacks in the country. 

Director, Indigenous Language Media in African Research Institute, South Africa, Professor Abiodun Salawu stated this while speaking with Radio Nigeria.

Professor Salawu noted that the negative comments being made about foreigners by leaders in the country including President Cyril Ramaphosa had contributed to the recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

“To worsen the matter, the leaders are not helping; their utterances are fueling this problem on hand. Even, the president himself is a culprit of this. During the campaign in the last election when he was addressing a rally he said that foreigners were setting up illegal businesses in their townships and rural areas. Sometimes later, the Deputy Minister of Police said eighty percent of jobs in Hebrow have been taken over by foreigners. He raised alarm that very soon they will take over the entire South Africa before you know it in future they will have president who is a foreign national. Those kinds of sentiments go a long way to put fire into the issue and the whole things will end in a conflagration. In 2015, it was the king of Zulu who started the whole thing by reckless statements”.

Professor Salawu noted that as both Nigerian president and his counterpart from South Africa planned to meet next month, they should find a common ground to address the problem stressing that as South African government has a lot to do to bring lasting peace, Nigerian government should also look into the allegation against her people that they were responsible for selling hard drugs which were affecting their youths.

“South Africans should be more accommodating. They should mind their utterances when this kind of thing happens. Let them try to educate their people about this issue. Some of them might also claim that Nigerians are selling drugs; they are into crimes, all that, foreigners are taking their job, all like that. The president should do something about it not only in South Africa, all over the world. In Malaysia, even in the neighbouring country, we have to do something about this”.

He explained that xenophobic attacks have been on and off in South Africa since 2008 stressing that there have been pockets in the recent past as it was only on a grand scale which involved death that the world used to know.

“There are instances where the world did not hear about it. It’s not every time that it happened on a grand scale like it’s happening now. Even a few weeks ago it happened when the local people alleged that foreign shop owners were stocking counterfeit goods to sell to their people. Based on that kind of allegation the people went on rampage they started looting shops of the foreigners. The goods they claimed to be counterfeit, they were taking them to their homes. This thing is a recurrent thing. It happens now and then, it’s only that when it happens on a grand scale when lives are lost and a lot of shops looted and burn, that is the only time, the world attention is called to it”.

He explained that South Africans including educated ones were xenophobic, perhaps because they believed a lot of foreigners were threats pointing out that those who used to spark off the attacks were street boys.

“A lot of people who are into this violent attacks are miscreants, criminals, never do well to do people. But the fact remains that a good number of South Africans are xenophobic in nature. Even, the very educated among them, the xenophobic attitude is there. Though, I’m not saying it’s peculiar to South Africa, if Nigeria were to be in the same shoe where a lot of foreigners from different parts of the continent and the world begin to flood our country, we might also have that kind of attitude and it cuts across” Professor Salawu said. 

Dare Olorunfemi