WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADU
Dons Eze
- December 21, 2024
WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADU
WE’VE ACHIEVED 80% SUCCESS AGAINST KIDNAPPING – RIBADU The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, has said the security agencies recorded 80 per cent success against kidnapping in two years. Ribadu stated this at the official inauguration of the Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC) on Thursday in Abuja. “Within a short period of time, I can say less than two years, we are getting 80 per cent successes, but we do not talk about it,” he said. This is despite a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that Nigerians paid a ransom of over N2.2 trillion in the year 2024. According to the report, 2.2 million Nigerians were kidnapped, while 614,937 were killed in the same year. However, Ribadu admitted that kidnapping was the most worrisome threat in Nigeria and globally. He said the commissioning of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAAKFC) was a significant step forward in the nation’s collective fight against one of the gravest security challenges we face: ‘kidnapping’. “As we all know, kidnapping remains one of the most pressing security threats in Nigeria today. It has caused untold hardship for countless families, disrupted economic activities, and posed a severe threat to our national stability. This menace demands a robust, multi-agency approach, which the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell embodies.” He charged members of the cell to leverage their knowledge and expertise to ensure Nigerians are protected and feel safe. “The training and resources you received have prepared you for this critical task, and I expect nothing but professionalism, dedication, and innovation in your work. Embrace synergy, leverage the knowledge you have acquired, and ensure that this Cell fulfils its mission to protect our people and communities,” he added. The National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Center Office of the National Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, said the establishment of the Multi-Agency Fusion Cell was a result of the Security Defence Partnership (SDP) Dialogue signed between the National Security Advisers of Nigeria and the United Kingdom in 2022 in a bid to stem the rising spate of kidnapping in the country. Laka said that between 2022 and 2024, the United Kingdom, through the National Crime Agency (NCA), partnered with the Office of the National Security Adviser to provide capacity-building exercises as well as support to the National Counter-Terrorism Center in a bid to set up a kidnap fusion centre. He added that the output of this partnership led to a multi-agency approach, with over 15 law enforcement agencies and stakeholders working together to fight kidnapping in Nigeria. General Laka further said that the United Kingdom and Nigeria enjoyed a deep and long-standing security and defence relationship, underpinned by shared history, mutual trust, and shared Commonwealth principles of democratic governance and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law. This is in addition to a shared desire to support regional and international peace and security, hence the inaugural UK-Nigeria SDP Dialogue signed by the two National Security Advisors of the two countries between January 31 and February 2, 2022. The National Coordinator commended all the law enforcement agencies for working together to build capacity for the fusion cell, as well as the efforts in putting together Terms of Reference and Standard Operating Procedures to guide the activities of the cell. He, however, emphasised that the fusion cell is a 24/7 coordination centre and not an operational outfit that could duplicate efforts. While giving a background on the Security Defence Partnership, NCA Operations Manager, Chris Grimson, thanked the Nigerian government for the partnership and stressed the importance of having solutions tailored to the needs of Nigeria and implemented by Nigerians. The fusion cell is housed in the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser, and is supported by…
THERE’RE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS IN NIGERIA
THERE ARE HONEST POLICE OFFICERS IN NIGERIA On the night of January 29, 2024, four Nigeria Police officers led by Inspector Gambo Gamaraju were on patrol at a checkpoint on the Yola-Jalingo Road in Taraba State. That is not unusual. As police officers often do, they flagged down a passing car and in it, they found suspicious persons with suspicious cargo. The reports never stated the nature of these persons or their crimes, but that is beside the point. The occupants of the car, being criminals of some sort, decided to do what criminals often do when confronted by lawmen—they offered a bribe, this time to the tune of N8.5 million. Anyone who knows the antecedents of Nigerian police officers at their checkpoints could hazard a guess as to what happened. Except in this instance, the four officers rejected the bribe and arrested the suspects. The suspects and wads of cash were bundled to the police station to face the law. I know what you are thinking, but this is not fiction. The story was reported on the NTA local station in Taraba. Why is it not trending, you ask? Why are Nigerians not queuing up to gift these officers money, generators, and plots? Learn moreWell, as both a journalist and a media scholar, I can tell you that no one knows exactly why certain things—news, videos, images, or memes—trend. It is a function of mood, time, algorithm, and a convergence of various factors, like the right sort of people picking up the story. They just catch a current and blow up. This one hasn’t yet, but I hope it does because for long, the reputation of the Nigeria Police has been dragged through the mud of a cattle market, often because of the actions and inactions of the police officers themselves. Recently, two police constabularies in Oyo State were dismissed for embarrassing the nation when they demanded a bribe from a Dutch traveller. That video, unlike this one, trended. Both the video of their soliciting a bribe and that of their dishonourable discharge from the police. The steady stream of negative narratives about the police has become so dominant that the force needs to counter the narratives. Is there a better counter-narrative than this, of officers rejecting such a massive bribe as this, especially in these challenging times? Inspector Gambo Gamaraju and his colleagues, although having received commendations from the state police commissioner, who has forwarded these recommendations to the IG for his own action, need to be recognised as an example for other police officers. The Nigeria Police must know the power of a positive example. Take the case of the Soviets, for example. During WWII, when the Soviet Army was being devastated by the German Wehrmacht and all hope seemed lost, a random Soviet soldier picked up a rifle and shot a German officer from 800 meters. It was an incredible shot from that distance, especially considering the basic weaponry he was using. Two other officers emerged to check on their comrade and were promptly sniped off. The shots from that distance were remarkable, and the shooter was soon identified as Vasily Zaitsev, who, as a child, was trained to shoot by his grandfather. He was celebrated and properly armed by the Soviets with a rifle with a telescopic sight, and within a month, he had shot 40 German soldiers. The legend of Vasily Zaitsev was born. His story and remarkable feats were published in Soviet newspapers, his posters were plastered all over the country as a symbol of Soviet resistance and courage. Between November 10 and December 17, 1942, Zaitsev killed 225 German soldiers before he was injured and evacuated from the front. Zaitsev may not have won the…
PH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATION
PH REFINERY SHUTS DOWN AGAIN AFTER $1.5BN REHABILITATION Less than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.Our correspondent, who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped.It was gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty.While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty.The depot, which is usually a beehive of activities where tankers scramble for space at the parking yard, was a shadow of itself with literally no vehicular or human activity relating to operations.$1.5bn celebrationRecall that the inauguration of the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare. This was after $1.5bn was approved in March 2021 and spent on the rehabilitation of the facility.During the re-opening of the facility, there was lifting of petrol to the excitement of the cheering crowd.However, less than 10 trucks of petrol were lifted that day as against widespread claims that about 200 trucks carried petrol out of the bay.Our correspondent also reported that no sooner had Kyari returned to Abuja than things returned to the old way, amidst allegations by stakeholders that the petrol lifted during the inauguration was old stock from the storage tank.When first visited the refinery three weeks ago, it was discovered that the loading bay was deserted without the lifting of products.In response to the discovery, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria said operations were scaled down due to the calibration of meters at the loading bay and de-watering of the old stock, which had to be emptied to pave the way to receiving newly refined products.A fortnight ago, tanker drivers drove in and started loading once again.Journalists were also taken on a guided tour of the refinery, led by its Managing Director, Ibrahim Onoja.Onoja stated, “The plant is running and we are trucking out our products. We have carried out an extensive revamp of this plant and changed most of the equipment.“The pump and instrumentation, the cables are all brand new. So what we have done here is massive change and upgrade of the plant.”Afterward, there was marked improvement as about 11 trucks lifted products, even as it was better the next day.Back to defaultHowever, when Saturday PUNCH visited on Thursday, it was learnt that production activities stopped one week ago.A handful of drivers were seen sleeping in their trucks while doing nothing.One of them, who spoke Hausa, said he learned the lifting of PMS would resume next Monday.He, however, expressed doubt about the information as he counted the number of days with his fingers and muttered, “Three days; they said they would load on Monday.”The number of workers and visitors could easily be counted as there were more security men clad in black trousers and blue shirts.The guards were stationed at the entrance of the depot and the loading bay, and inside the loading bay itself. They kept themselves busy as they chatted away.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, another truck driver said, “It was Friday last week they loaded last. About 15 trucks or so loaded that day. Since then, not even a single truck has been loaded till now.”Asked if any explanation was given, he replied, “I don’t know. Nobody is giving us any information or telling us anything. Some trucks that were here have left. I’m just here because my…
NIGERIA’S MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS HIT 157.3 MILLION IN OCTOBER, MTN AIRTEL GAIN
NIGERIA’S MOBILE SUBSCRIPTIONS HIT 157.3 MILLION IN OCTOBER, MTN, AIRTEL GAIN Nigeria’s mobile subscription base increased to 157.3 million in October 2024 from 154.6 million in September, signaling the beginning of recovery after months of decline. The growth was driven by two network operators, MTN, and Airtel, that recorded an increase in their subscriber base in the month under review. This followed an extensive audit conducted by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and the implementation of the NIN-Sim linkage exercise, which plunged the country’s subscriptions database by 64.3 million lines between March and September. With the growth in actively connected lines recorded by the operators, the country’s teledensity, which measures the number of active telephone connections per 100 inhabitants living within an area, also rose to 72.7% from 71.46% recorded in September. According to NCC, the teledensity is calculated based on a population estimate of 216 million. How the operators fared The NCC’s statistics show that MTN, which is the largest operator by subscriber number, boosted the total industry database with a 2.2 million increase in its subscriptions. This brought its total active subscriptions to 80.3 million from 78 million it recorded in September 2024. What you should know Aside from the NIN-SIM linkage exercise which ensured that all SIMs not linked with the users’ NIN were disconnected from the networks, the NCC said it also carried out an audit on the telco’s databases, which led to the huge decline in the country’s subscription number from 219 million in March this year to 154 million in September. While noting that the audit aimed to eliminate inactive and improperly registered lines, the NCC in the process, said it discovered that one network operator had misclassified approximately 40 million inactive subscribers as active. These lines had generated no revenue for over 90 days, breaching the NCC’s guidelines for determining active users and distorting industry data.
JUBILATION AS FORMER KOGI GOV, YAHAYA BELLO, ACCUSED OF STEALING N110.4BN GOVT MONEY IS RELEASED ON BAIL
JUBILATION AS FORMER KOGI GOV, YAHAYA BELLO, ACCUSED OF STEALING N110.4B GOVT MONEY IS RELEASED ON BAIL Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has been captured in a rejoicing mood at home following his release from the Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre in Abuja after meeting his bail conditions. The embattled former governor was seen in the midst of jubilant supporters and political associates, including the incumbent Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo. The video emerged on the internet shortly after it was reported that the former governor who is standing trial for stealing over N110 billion government money had been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting the bail conditions in the case against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bello was released on Friday evening after meeting the ₦500m, and other bail conditions slammed against him by the Federal High Court in Abuja. The spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command, Adamu Duza, confirmed the development. “Yahaya Bello has been released after meeting the bail conditions. He was released this evening (Friday).” “The Controller of NCoS FCT, Ajibogun Olatubosun, was on the ground to ensure his smooth release and that all protocols were observed,” Duza said. The former Kogi State Governor, along with Shuaibu Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, face a 16-count charge of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and unlawful possession of property, brought by the EFCC. All of them have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
EKITI MAGISTRATE COURT CLAIMED RULING ON DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL APPLICATION MISSING
EKITI MAGISTRATE COURT CLAIMED RULING ON DELE FAROTIMI’S BAIL APPLICATION MISSING The Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti had on Friday morning shockingly claimed that its ruling on the bail application filed by human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi is missing. The court was slated to give its ruling on the bail application filed by Farotimi, Friday morning. However, SaharaReporters gathered that the sitting magistrate claimed that he could not find his ruling and adjourned the hearing again for a short period. “The magistrate said his ruling note is missing and for this he’s taking a break,” a source inside the court sitting told SaharaReporters. “The Kangaroo magistrate expressed embarrassment for appearing in court without the ruling on @DeleFarotimi’s bail application, claiming it had been left at home, a truly astonishing turn of events today! #FreeDeleFarotimiNow,” prominent human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore also tweeted. The court later granted Dele Farotimi bail in the sum of N30 million by a chief magistrates’ court sitting in Ado-Ekiti in the “defamation” suit instituted against him by the police in Ekiti State. Legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola has accused Farotimi of defaming his person in his (Farotimi’s) new book titled, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.” The Magistrate, Mr. Abayomi Adeosun, said Farotimi, should deposit his passport with the court, provide two responsible sureties who have a house in Ekiti State, adding that he must refrain from granting press interviews either from electronic or print media on the matter henceforth. Sowore had earlier said the magistrate received a call while delivering the ruling which made him stop. Sowore said: “The kangaroo magistrate, while delivering the ruling on the applications regarding the eligibility of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to appear before a magistrate court and @DeleFarotimi’s bail, received a phone call notification and promptly adjourned to his chambers to answer it. FreeDeleFatotimiNOW.” Farotimi was arrested following a petition by a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). SaharaReporters learned that the trial court pronounced this ruling to grant Farotimi’s bail application on Friday morning. This comes barely after the same court initially denied the human rights lawyer constitutional freedom. The charge suit no: MAD/1,476.C/2024, pits the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant against Farotimi as the defendant. Some of the charges read, “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you stated at page IX of the book: “That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients” which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the Statements is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of Criminal Code Act. “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you stated at pageX: “That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got that Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-abnegation which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the Statements is false and thereby committed an offence.”
SOARING COSTS, SHRINKING INCOME DAMPEN YULETIDE CELEBRATIONS
SOARING COSTS, SHRINKING INCOME DAMPEN YULETIDE CELEBRATIONS In this feature, VICTOR AYENI delves into the harsh realities facing Nigerian citizens and business owners as they grapple with shattered expectations of a festive and joyous Christmas. From the crippling high prices of food to the unavailability of physical cash to the devastating blow of low patronage, he mirrors the challenges that have cast a shadow over what should be the merriest time of the year Amid the vibrant hustle of a bustling morning in Alagbole, a lively town straddling the border between Lagos and Ogun States, the air was thick with anticipation and the scent of freshly cooked delicacies. Chef Dotun Oladokun, his face a canvas of focus and determination, worked tirelessly against the clock. With swift, precise movements, he scooped steaming jollof rice and tender, well-spiced meat into rows of gleaming food packs. Beside him, his assistant moved with the same speed, organising the packs for seamless distribution. These meals were no ordinary orders—they were bound for a church Christmas concert in Lagos, a festive event set to unfold later that day. As the Yuletide season loomed ever closer, the town buzzed with the electric excitement of Nigerians preparing to celebrate a time marked by indulgent purchases, grand orders of food items, and the shared joy of the holidays. For Oladokun, it was a race not just against time but against the mounting challenges of the season. Christmas is when individuals typically travel to reunite with their families, host parties, and attend concerts or special services in their churches. “I’ve been awake since 5 am to start with this preparation,” Oladokun told Saturday PUNCH as he wiped the sweat off his brow. As his phone buzzed incessantly with messages, the chef paused to take a call from one of his clients before resuming his count of the sorted food packs. The clock edged closer to 9 am, and with the final pack arranged and ready for delivery, the 28-year-old wiped his face gleaming with sweat and leaned back in a plastic chair, taking a moment to catch his breath. “I am happy to have received this order because, to say the truth, this year has been a tough one for our business. The prices of food keep increasing each time you go to the market. “And with the way it is now, people are not ordering food like they used to because our prices, along with delivery costs, have increased within a short time,” Oladokun noted as he momentarily sipped from a malt drink. Gesturing toward the neatly arranged food packs beside him, Dotun explained how he narrowly avoided incurring a loss because the woman who placed the order had paid less than the cost of the ingredients. “I’m sure she knows how costly things are in the market, but I just considered the fact that she’s a friend of my pastor. She brought down the money she ought to pay me to a ridiculous amount, but what can I do except hope for better patronage” he said throwing up his hands in exasperation. Christmas vibes It was gathered that while many Nigerian adults fondly recall the joyous and memorable Christmas celebrations of their childhood, the narrative has shifted significantly in recent years. Christmas celebrated annually on December 25, marks the birth of Jesus Christ and is observed by billions of people worldwide. Over time, the holiday has transcended religious boundaries, with non-Christians in many parts of the world also partaking in the festivities. According to Statista, a leading platform that provides access to a wide range of market, industry, and economic data, Christmas typically serves as the largest economic stimulus for many countries, with sales dramatically increasing across almost all retail sectors…
WE BUDGETED N213BN FOR ROAD NOT N55BN – ENUGU GOVT
WE BUDGTED N213BN FOR ROAD, NOT N55BN – ENUGU GOVT The Enugu State Government has expressed dismay over a report in the December 19, 2024 edition of the Punch Newspaper stating that the government earmarked N55bn for the construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads in the state’s 2025 budget proposal by Governor Peter Mbah, while allocating N50.27bn to the Office of the Governor. The government in a statement signed by the senior special assistant to the governor on mainstream media, Dan Nwomeh, described the report authored by Punch’s reporter, Raphael Ede, as misleading and borne out of deliberate mischief, pointing out that the actual provision for urban and rural roads in the state’s 2025 budget estimates presented to the House of Assembly on November 26, 2024 is the sum of N213,129,267,000 (Two hundred and thirteen billion, one hundred and twenty million, two hundred and sixty-seven thousand naira), not N55,000,000,000 (fifty-five billion naira) as misrepresented. “It beggars belief that a reporter who supposedly witnessed the budget presentation by the governor at the House of Assembly chamber and thereafter filed the report published in the paper’s edition of November 26, 2024 (https://punchng.com/enugu-gov-presents-n971bn-2025-budget-to-assembly/) would concoct this N55bn figure from nowhere. “In his budget speech, the governor clearly stated inter alia: ‘The total Capital Expenditure for the year 2025 is projected at N837,944,000,000.00…. In the area of Works and Infrastructure, we will continue our relentless advance towards our target to build or refurbish all key roads across the state by 2031. In line with this, we will spend a total of N213,120,267,000.00 in 2025,”” the government statement read. According to the government, the 2025 budget breakdown was presented by the State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barr. Chris-Roberts Ozongwu, at a press conference on December 19, 2024, was consistent with the one earlier presented by the governor, wondering why the reporter failed to seek clarification from the Commissioner or crosscheck from previous reports authored by him if he was confused. “It should be noted that this same reporter had authored a report published in the August 4, 2024 edition of Punch titled ‘Enugu approves N183bn for road projects’ (https://punchng.com/enugu-approves-n183bn-for-road-projects/) in which he reported that “the Enugu State government has approved the sum of N183bn for the construction of 141 roads across the Enugu metropolis and 20 rural roads across the three senatorial zones of the state.” How did the N183bn announced by the state in one fell swoop in August 2024 and the N213bn contained in the governor’s budget of November 2024 for the same purpose suddenly plummet to N55 billion in December 2024?”, the government queried. It further clarified that the allocations of N50.27bn for the Office of the Governor, N665.71bn for the Office of the Deputy Governor’, and N3.42bn for the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, as highlighted in the Punch report, were not for the personal uses and comforts of the governor, the deputy governor, and the secretary to the state government as wrongly implied in the report, saying they were for recurrent and capital needs of the numerous departments and agencies under those offices. “The allocation for the governor’s office is for recurrent and capital purposes, including provisions for state security, operational vehicles for the ministries, departments and agencies, the Project Development and Implementation Unit, which undertakes special intervention projects, and others. Several government departments and agencies are typically domiciled in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, and this is also true of the Office of the Deputy Governor. “It is a known fact that the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Dr. Peter Mbah has consistently remained prudent and by far the lowest in the ranking of states by empirical analysis in…
HOW TINUBU’S N1B OFFER TO NASS MEMBERS AVERTED TAX REFORM BILLS SHOWDOWN DURING BUDGET PRESENTATION
HOW TINUBU’S ₦1B OFFER TO NASS MEMBERS AVERTED TAX REFORM SHOWDOWN DURING BUDGET PRESENTATION A fresh report has revealed an alleged offer to lawmakers prior to the Wednesday presentation of the 2025 budget to the national assembly last week. The Senate and the House of Representatives, at their separate plenaries on Thursday, passed for second reading the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ 2025 budget. President Bola Tinubu’s administration has been accused of using a hefty ₦1 billion offer to appease lawmakers and avoid a showdown over tax reform bills during the 2025 budget presentation. According to sources, an increased constituency project allowance was granted to each member of the House of Representatives, totalling ₦1 billion, just before the president presented the budget estimate to the National Assembly. The move allegedly eased tensions between the executive and legislative branches, as lawmakers had initially planned to protest the tax reform bills. It is understood that an emergency meeting with the House leadership led to the decision to shelve their plans. The source said, “During the meeting, they appealed to members to respect the sanctity of the hallowed chambers and the existing cordial relationship with the Executive, to shelve their plans to disrupt President Tinubu’s speech. “They therefore announced that the president had graciously increased the constituency allowance to N1billion per member.” The report also revealed that each senator is likely to get about N2 billion to N4 billion, although the exact amount could not be independently verified. Experts have raised concerns that this move may be a strategic manoeuvre, as the projects are likely to be awarded to companies handpicked by the lawmakers. The money will be padded in the 2025 budget in the name of constituency projects, but it’s a mere red-herring, a legislative expert revealed. In the 2024 budget, lawmakers received between ₦200 million to ₦500 million, depending on their closeness to the Speaker or Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. In July, each senator and House of Representatives member received ₦500 million and ₦200 million, respectively, after approving the president’s request to increase the 2024 Appropriation Act by ₦6.2 trillion. The tax reform bills have sparked intense debate, with some lawmakers and governors prominently from the Northern part of the country opposed to the proposed bills.
NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS – DOGARA
NORTH IMPOVERISHED BY ITS POLITICAL LEADERS FOR OVER 40 YEARS –DOGARA A former Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has attributed the North’s current state of backwardness to its leaders. He also urged Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in transforming the nation through the tax reform bills currently awaiting the endorsement of the National Assembly. Dogara spoke as a guest speaker at a town hall meeting for Christian leaders in northern Nigeria. The event, themed “Church and Society: Tax Reforms and Matters Arising”, addressed issues surrounding governance and development. The former Speaker lamented that Arewa political leaders mismanaged opportunities to lead Nigeria for over 40 years, leaving the region plagued with poverty and underdevelopment. According to Dogara, northerners should resist the temptation to blame President Tinubu for the North’s current plight. He emphasised the need to unite in supporting the tax reform bills, which he said were designed to bring transformation to the North and Nigeria as a whole. “We are all northerners, and it should be made clear that President Tinubu or the South is not our problem. They have not come to cheat the North. That is out of the question. Some are claiming that Yoruba people are getting appointments, but let’s reflect. We ruled this country for over 40 years when northerners were in power. What did we achieve? The North remains the same, impoverished by our own leaders,” Dogara said. Speaking on Value Added Tax (VAT) and federal allocations received by states, Dogara asked, “We have had so much, but what did our governors do with the resources? They squandered them instead of investing in meaningful development.” He also cited the Ajaokuta Steel Industry, initiated by the Shagari administration, which was 98 per cent completed but was later allowed to deteriorate. “The project was almost finished, yet it was left to rot,” he said. Dogara urged northerners to support President Tinubu’s efforts to transform the country through the tax reform bills currently in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Christian Awareness Initiative of Nigeria (CHAIN), Reverend Joseph John Hayab, stated that the organisation was established in 2007 to provide platforms and opportunities for Christians to explore effective ways of participating in Nigeria’s national life, particularly in areas related to spiritual, social, and economic growth. Hayab urged Christian leaders to deliberate on the issue of tax reforms currently being considered by Nigeria’s legislative arm.