Fashola lying, refused to spend a kobo on Second Niger Bridge in 2016 budget- NASS

 The House of Representatives has said that the Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola peddled “inaccuracies, misleading and calculated mischief” about the 2017 budget, maintaining that Fashola’s ministry did not spend a kobo on the Second Niger Bridge in the 2016 budget as was allocated to his ministry then.

Similarly, the Senate, on Saturday, also warned Fashola to desist from spreading falsehood on the 2017 Budget with with regards to projects under his ministry.

In a news conference on Saturday in Abuja, Chairman Committee on Media and Publicity in the lower chambers, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, said that the minister’s statement tended to blackmail the National Assembly and set it on a collision with the executive.

He said that the minister was fixated on matters of power rather than issues that would benefit Nigerians.

According to Namdas, there was an obvious attempt to blackmail the National Assembly, paint it as an irresponsible institution, one not concerned with the welfare of the people.

He said that because part of funds allocated to Second Niger Bridge in 2016 was returned at the end of the year, the national assembly reduced allocation to the project in the 2017 Budget by N5 billion.

Namdas said that the deduction was applied to fund other projects in the South-East, and left N7 billion for the Second Niger Bridge.

“The truth is that in the 2016 Budget, N12 billion was appropriated for the Second Niger Bridge but not a kobo was spent by the ministry. Not a kobo was spent and the money was returned.

“The ministry could not provide the Committees of the National Assembly with evidence of an agreement on the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) or a contract for the Second Niger Bridge,’’ he said.

Namdas said that the legislature also queried an omnibus allocation of N20 billion in the ministry’s budget whose details were not provided by the minister.

He explained that it would have been irresponsible of the lawmakers to appropriate funds that were not tied to specific projects, adding that for doing so, “we incurred the wrath of the ‘almighty minister’”.

He reiterated that the national assembly had powers in Sections, 4, 59, 80 and 81 of the 1999 Constitution (Amended) to amend the budget estimates submitted by the executive.

Namdas said that the decision to redistribute the projects proposed by the ministry was in order to ensure even spread of projects across geo-political zones, which the proposal of the executive failed to do.

Moreover, the Upper chamber of the National Assembly said that in passing the Appropriation Bill, the legislators worked and applied equity in provision for new and outstanding projects across the country.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, in Abuja, the upper chamber said Fashola did not give the public details about the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which was on private finance initiative from beginning.

It said that Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council, in 2013, approved the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the expressway on Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) basis, “using private finance initiative”.

“The Federal Government provided about 30 per cent of the funding while the balance shall be provided by the private sector.

“The project was on course for completion by end of 2017 when the private finance initiative was being implemented, with over 30 per cent completion rate attained as at early 2015.

“But, in a blatant disregard for existing agreements, constituted authorities and extant laws, Fashola on assumption of office, got the government through the ministry to start voting money for the implementation of the project.

“Even, as at last year, the 2016 Appropriation Act voted N40 billion for the project on the insistence of the ministry and only N26 billion was released.

“If we had known, the rest N14 billion could have been allocated to other critical roads across the country,” it said.

It added that due to concerns and in the spirit of consensus-building and effective stakeholder engagement, the leadership of the Senate met with relevant stakeholders, including the Ministries of Works, and Finance.

According to it, “it was agreed that we should give the Private Finance Initiative a chance to complement government’s resources in the delivery of critical infrastructure across the country.

“Hence, in this year’s budget, we have engaged with the government and private sector groups, who have assured that they will resume funding of the project.

“So, we only provided the fund in the budget that would ensure that work does not stop before the funds from the private sector start coming in.

“It is our view that the Federal Government cannot fund the reconstruction and maintenance of all the 34, 000 kilometres of roads under its care,” the senate said.

It explained that what was necessary was the need for private bodies to fund some of the roads, particularly those with high potential of attracting private investors.

It said, “With private sector finance initiative, the rehabilitation of the road can be completed on time because full funding will be provided and there will be more certainty.

“The minister’s statement is in bad taste.”

The statement said that the National Assembly acted in the national interest to ensure that equity and fairness were achieved in the distribution of projects.

The senate said that it also ensured that all sections of the country had representation in the national budget as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Formula One: Vettel, Hamilton clash as Ricciardo wins in Baku

Sebastian Vettel was penalised for dangerous driving after deliberately crashing into title rival Lewis Hamilton in a wild and chaotic Azerbaijan Grand Prix won by Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday. formula one Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas snatched second place from 18-year-old Williams driver Lance Stroll in the final straight, as Vettel finished fourth ahead of Hamilton to extend his championship lead to 14 points. Despite Ricciardo’s win, the race will be remembered for the angry confrontation between former world champions Vettel and Hamilton. Ferrari star Vettel was handed a 10-seconds stop-go penalty during the race for “dangerous driving” after he deliberately drove into Hamilton’s Mercedes while both were following the safety car. Vettel claimed Hamilton had braked in front of him and he responded by driving into the back of his rival before then bumping the Briton from the side. “I think it’s just not driver conduct. It’s dangerous driving and to get a 10-second penalty for that… I don’t need to say anything else,” Hamilton told Sky Sports. Vettel pleaded innocent. “Nothing happened, did it? He brake checked me as well, so what do you expect?,” the German told Sky. “I’m sure he didn’t do it on purpose but for sure it was not the right move. If I’m struggling, people at the back struggling even more, so I don’t think it was necessary. “I got damage, he risked damage. He’s done something similar in China at the restart a couple of years ago so it’s not the way to do it, I think. “I passed him because he pitted. After the incident, we were side by side, I raised my hand and told him, well I didn’t say anything, but showed him that I wasn’t happy with that.” Making the most of a series of extraordinary incidents and interventions in an action-packed race, which included three safety car interventions and a red-flagged stoppage, Ricciardo, who started 10th, roared home 3.904 seconds ahead of the rest to deliver his first win of the season. Esteban Ocon of Force India was sixth ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso, who also survived a first-lap collision, two-time champion Fernando Alonso, who scored McLaren’s first points of the year in ninth, and Pascal Wehrlein of Sauber. Hamilton, who had dominated after a strong start from his 66th pole position, was also undone by a loose headrest that caused him to be ordered to pit for repairs, for safety reasons. Bottas meanwhile produced a brilliant drive to take his fifth podium finish of the season, having dropped to the back of the field after a first-lap bump with fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen.

Igbonla: Kidnappers demand N400m ransom

 

Kidnappers of six pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla in Epe have demanded a N400 million ransom for their release.

They are understood to have got in touch with the parents of the kidnapped children to make the demand.

But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode told pupils at a parade to mark this year’s Children’s Day at the Agege Stadium, Lagos that government would do all within its power to get the children out of the kidnappers’ den unhurt.

He said yesterday celebration would be incomplete without rescuing those innocent pupils and returning them to school to continue their education

The six students were abducted on Thursday morning when gunmen stormed the school and ferried them away through the waterways.

The Nation gathered yesterday that the kidnappers   established contacts with the parents at about 4:30pm on Friday.

The parents said the kidnappers did not allow them speak with the children.

They only told the parents what they wanted and how to go about raising the money: ask the school authorities and government to provide the money.

Parents who spoke to The Nation in separate interviews yesterday appealed to the kidnappers to release the pupils on compassionate grounds.

One of the parents said: “They called me around 4pm. They called the name of my son and asked if I knew him. I said yes and then, they gave him the phone to speak with me.

“As we were talking, they took the phone and told me to go to the government and the school authorities to provide N400 million before they would release the children. The call did not last long.

“I called other parents whose children were also taken and they also confirmed they were contacted by the kidnappers. We are appealing to them to release the children on compassionate grounds. If they have issues with the school management or the government, they can look for another way to address it.

“They should pity us, the parents and release our children. I have not been able to sleep since Thursday. My wife has not stopped crying either. They should please have mercy on us.”

The Nation gathered that the onslaught against the militants continued yesterday with several others said to have been killed.

It was learnt that about eight policemen were seriously wounded.

A source claimed that three of the wounded cops were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Some were taken to a specialist hospital.

However, Governor Ambode yesterday reassured Lagosians that the State Government would do everything possible to ensure that the six pupils are rescued unhurt and reunited with their parents.

The Governor speaking at the Agege Stadium during the Children’s Day celebration said the celebration would not be complete without rescuing those innocent pupils.

He said action was in progress to get them out and pledged that government would stop at nothing to ensure that kidnapping and other criminal activities are stopped.

Represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, Ambode said that government was committed to protecting children in the state from any form of abuse, child labour or molestation by religiously implementing the Child Rights Law and the Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, adding that “it was important to protect our children today, so that they can protect us tomorrow.”

The Governor, who said that this year’s Children’s Day celebration was a unique one as the state is equally celebrating the 50thyear anniversary of its creation, asked the children to remain focused, believe in themselves and set target that would make them attain greatness in life, promising that his government will continue to create opportunities and implement policies that would help them to become the best of what they can without any barriers.

“As we celebrate this year’s Children’s Day and the 50th anniversary of our state, I want you to believe that you too can achieve greatness. You must believe in yourself and in your dreams. Very soon, it will be your responsibility to take Lagos state to the level that we all desired in the next 50 years. You are agents of change and I urge you, do not just go through life, make a difference, impact life  and affect your community , What we are doing today is to lay a solid foundation for you to build on,” he said.

The Governor while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to repositioning public schools to meet world class standard, said that his administration in the last two years had invested heavily in infrastructural and manpower development in public schools, the effort which according to him, is yielding positive results as it has restored confidence in public schools.

“As a government, we recognize our responsibility to create opportunities for you to become the best you can be without any barrier, this is why in the last two years, we have invested massively in the infrastructural and manpower development in our public schools. Our plan which is being realized is to restore public confidence in our public schools,’’ he said.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adeshina Odeyemi, said the number of secondary schools in the state has increased from 55 at the creation of the state in 1967 with a total students’ population of 19,538 to 679 public secondary schools at present with over 564,758 students’ population.

Odeyemi noted that in spite of the current global melt down and general economic recession in the country, Lagos State government has continued to run free education policy from primary to secondary schools level and pay for the WAEC fees of its graduating students till date.

Lagos FA Cup win: MFM FC boss Adeyemi showers encomium on team

 Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries Football Club supremo, Emmanuel Adeyemi, has showered praises on the Olukoya Boys for claiming the 2017 Lagos State FA Cup with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Spartan FC on Sunday evening at the Soccer Temple, Agege Stadium.

Goals from petite midfielder, Onuwa Chukwuka, full-back Okorom Stanley and Olatunbosun Sikiru sealed the glorious win for MFM FC who are now back-to-back Lagos FA Cup champions.

Speaking after the triumphant FA Cup finish, an obviously ecstatic Adeyemi expressed gratitude to the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, for his support toward the team and the officials and players of the team for defending the trophy.
“The General Overseer has been of  tremendous support to the team. He has always given us the needed resources, support and enabling environment to excel. I really want to thank him for all he has done for us.

“I also want to thank the management of MFM FC, the coaches, officials and players they have been wonderful and I think they have done well so far.

“I will like to implore the players and officials of the team to replicate this performance at the national level and also to remain focus as we prepare for the second stanza of the league so that we can at the end of the season achieved our target,” Adeyemi concluded.

Olukoya’s unquenchable passion for the youths over the years is indescribable, and that has inspired him to float many programmes to steer away the youths from the paths where the devil always feed on their innocence.

Programmes such as the establishment of youth churches – the very first of its kind not just in Nigeria but in Africa, Mountain Top University, Gen 218 Club, MFM Football Club and so on were established to help the youths to achieve their divine purpose and positively impact their generation for Jesus Christ.

Minimum wage: our patience running out, NLC tells FG

 The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday told the Federal Government the patience of workers was running out on the proposed National Minimum Wage.

It demanded for announcement of membership of the Minimum wage negotiating committee.

The NLC also warned against military incursion, vowing Nigerians will resist military adventurers with everything they have.

The body asked the Chief of Army Staff to go beyond informing of the unholy interaction going on between some unnamed politicians and soldiers.

Such entities, the NLC said, should be brought to book to serve as deterrent for others.

NLC’s President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement to mark the 2017 Democracy Day, lamented workers have waited long enough for the review of the minimum wage act.

He said: “As workers, after over six years of the last salary increment which brought the national minimum wage to N18,000, with the excruciating suffering of our members as a result of galloping inflation caused by the massive increase in the price of petrol, and the massive devaluation of the Naira, our patience has been tested to the limit.

“We therefore urge the federal government to use the occasion of the Democracy Day to announce the composition of the tripartite negotiation committee so that we can negotiate and have a living wage as minimum wage.”

On the rumored coup plot, he said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress wishes to state in the strongest possible tone that it is categorically opposed to any further military adventurism in the body politics of our nation.

“The damage military incursion into Nigeria’s political  arena did over the decades when it imposed itself on the people is largely responsible for the underdevelopment of our political culture almost six decades after attaining political independence.

“The damage military rule caused our nation is not only in the realm of our political culture, it deepened and virtually institutionalised corruption in all segments of our national life.

“As some commentators have pointed to the fact that a number of our past military rulers are stupendously rich is a testimony that they indeed appropriated our commonwealth for their individual pockets at the expense of the vast majority of our people.

“We call on the Chief of Army Staff to go beyond just informing Nigerians and cautioning those trying to derail our democracy to desist from it.

” Rather, the Armed Forces should at the appropriate time after concluding its investigation, identify the individuals involved, prosecute them in the relevant courts, and if found guilty given the appropriate punishments as deterrent to potentially ambitious adventurers.”

Protest mars APC primaries

The Lagos State All  Progressives Congress (APC) council primaries election was yesterday marred by protest from aggrieved delegates.

The protest which started when the party started announcing the names of the 18 candidates endorsed by the party leadership almost took a violent turn as the  Chairman Electoral Committee, Tokunbo Afikuyomi was attacked and almost stripped naked.

He had to escape and protected by the police. Those protesting later destroyed the ballot boxes with most of the delegates protecting their heads from stones and chairs been thrown.

So, far the venue has been vacated with only security men taking strategic location to forestall further damages.

Soyinka to Buhari: Make your health status public

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make his health status public to Nigerians, saying the President is a public property.

Speaking at a programme in Lagos, Soyinka said “why is the President hiding his state of health? He’s supposed to understand he’s public property. Me, I’m still a private property, that’s why I’m not in Aso Rock.

“Once you are in Aso Rock, or you occupy a similar position, you have a responsibility to come out frankly to your citizens. Guarding your state of health like Donald Trump is guarding his tax returns is not what we expect from a Nigerian President. Let him address the nation and stop all these speculations which create unnecessary political manipulations among other things.”

I do not have $1.2bn in any account – Lai Mohammed

 The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says the report that he has 1.2 billion dollars (about N400 billion) in his imaginary bank account is “fake and vicious’’.

The minister stated this on Thursday in Ilorin at the Annual National Conference and General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) with the theme; “Communicating Values for Development and Sustainability’’.

The minister said that the report was invented by opposition and naysayers to malign him and the government, adding that the alleged fund is about the budget of his ministry for 25 years.

“How else can you explain that people will believe and circulate a fake report that the Minister of Information and Culture that is yours truly has 1.2 billion dollars in his imaginary bank account?

“Let’s examine this for a moment. 1.2 billion dollars is about N400 billion.

“The entire yearly budget of the Ministry of Information and Culture, where I preside, is under 15 billion Naira and these include salaries, overhead and capital projects.

“Assuming, without conceding that the Minister somehow manages to transfer the entire budget into his personal account, it will take 25 years for him to amass N400 billion.

“Yet, this disinformation was lapped up by the public, he said.

The minister said that similar imaginary huge sums of money had been credited to other ministers.

He condemned the ugly trend by opposition, who were inventing the fake and malicious stories using bloggers and some online media to malign government officials.

According to him, the intention of the perpetrators and carriers of the reports are to distract the government to lose focus, but it will not fall to their antics.

The minister said that Public Relations gave him the first break in life being the profession he practiced after his graduation for over 40 years.

Mohammed, a Fellow of the Institute said that the theme of the conference was apt and called on NIPR members to be proactive in the discharge of their duties.

“You must neither be intimidated, cowed nor be overwhelmed by the cynics, you must set your own agenda and daily review such with a view to improving on them.

“You must never lose touch with your traditional constituents. You must understand the tactics of the opposition, which is ambush and irrational,’’ he said.

The minister specifically tasked

government information managers to equip themselves with qualities such as integrity, courage, abnormal capacity for hard work, ingenuity resourcefulness and ability to think out of the box.

The President and Chairman Governing Council of NIPR, Dr Rotimi Oladele said the conference was to deliberate on how the profession could be used to promote communication values for development.

He underscored the need for practitioners to showcase national values and present them to global market.

Oladele commended the minister for the support given to the Institute and for creating time to attend the event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister also inaugurated a new Governing Council for the Institute to run for two years under the leadership of Oladele.

Some of the members of the Council are, former Defence Spokesperson, retired Gen. Chris Olukolade, former Director of Press and Protocol in the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mr Peter Dama and his successor, Mr Timothy Oyedeji.

Others are Mr Wale Adeniyi of Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Sule Yau a former Chief Press Secretary to Kano State Government and Alhaja Bola Osifeso.

NAN also reports that 10 members of NIPR were inducted to Fellowship of the Institute.

Police disperse Anti-Zakzaky protesters in Kaduna

 The Police in Kaduna on Thursday, dispersed hundreds on anti-Zakzaky protesters at the Government House Kaduna, leading to several sustaining minor injuries while scampering for safety.

The youth who filed out carrying banners and placards, were mistaken for Shi’ites, loyal to Sheikh Zakzaky and his proscribed group, Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN).

Few minutes after they had converged outside the Government House gate, waiting for an address from the representatives of the Kaduna State Government, anti-riot policemen from the state’s security outfit, Operation Yaki stormed the venue in trucks, firing tear gas, and armed with sticks.

Their presence took the protesters by surprise, because they informed that they had already informed the Police of the planned protest before embarking on it.

After they were identified as anti-Zakzaky, they were allowed to converge few metres from the Government House Gate, displaying their banners and posters.

Addressing the protesters, Comrade Richard Augustine who spoke on behalf of the group, Justice and Peace Development, condemned the calls by the IMN for the release of Zakzaky.

According to him, “our march today is therefore, to demand that El Zakzaky and other IMN extremists arrested for terrorism related cases must be prosecuted. IMN’s foreign sponsors must stop taking Nigeria for granted as we must not join the league of countries whose security agencies know terrorists and still leave them to carry out attacks before executing them to show they are working,” he said.

Speaking further, he condemned what he termed the denigrating of the office of  the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo by IMN. He said “Osinbajo merely stated the fact when he said El Zakzaky remains in detention because there is an appeal against his court ordered release. Those calling for the release of Zakzaky have failed,” he added.

Comrade Augustine said by their protest on Thursday, they have made a strong statement that those pursuing the release of Zakzaky will be faced pound for pound by even bigger anti-Zakzaky protests.

“But unlike them, we would not be asking for the release of extremists, we are rather demanding that all extremists and terrorists should be tried under the stiffest of our laws to serve as deterrence,” he submitted

Buhari to Jonathan: I allow the law to take its course

 The Presidency yesterday denied that President Muhammadu Buhari was harassing members of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s family.

Buhari spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina. He was reacting to the story,  “Buhari’s govt harassing my family, says Jonathan” published in yesterday’s edition of The Nation.

Dr. Jonathan made the allegation in a new book, “Against The Run of Play”, written by the Chairman of ThisDay Editorial Board, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi.

Jonathan was also reported to have criticised the Buhari administration’s style of fighting corruption.

Adesina’s statement reads: “We make bold to state unequivocally that President Buhari harasses nobody; he merely allows the law to take its course.

“For the umpteenth time, we say that anybody without skeleton in his or her cupboard has nothing to fear about the bared fangs of the anti-corruption initiative. Fear belongs only to those who have abused trust while in office.

“Anybody who feels aggrieved is free to approach the courts to seek redress or justice. President Buhari believes in the rule of law and that is why his campaign against corruption is anchored on that plank.

“With regard to President Buhari’s anti-graft style, which the former president deprecates, given the scale of revelations and recoveries so far by the anti-corruption agencies, it is obvious that corruption had an uninhibited course during our recent past.

“In any case, time will give the verdict on whose style of fighting corruption ultimately yielded the most dividends. For now, President Buhari is resolute and single-minded in the fact that his crusade against graft is not targeted at any individual or group.”

Buhari, the statement said, firmly believes that national interest must always be placed above personal interest, no matter who is involved.

To fight malaria, invest in African scientists.

  I lost my best friend to malaria at nine years old. Growing up in Nigeria, it was not uncommon to see loved ones fall ill with the disease, go to their doctor for treatment and continue on with their lives. But for my best friend, the drugs didn’t work.

Her death was a puzzle that motivated me to focus my career on malaria research. Through my studies and work, I’ve learned about one potential cause of my friend’s death, a remaining challenge in the malaria fight today: drug resistance.

Drug resistance occurs when the malaria parasite learns to outsmart our best treatments. We’ve seen its damaging effects before – notably, with chloroquine, the malaria treatment of choice in the 1950s.

Chloroquine use

After heavy chloroquine use across the globe, resistance developed in Southeast Asia, and then spread to nearly all malaria-endemic areas, leading to dramatic increases in malaria deaths.

Now, we again have evidence of drug resistance in Southeast Asia – this time, to artemisinin, our most effective malaria drug. Artemisinin-based treatments – along with mosquito control, new diagnostics and other tools – have transformed the fight against malaria and helped drive a 60 percent reduction in malaria deaths since 2000.

Yet resistance threatens the power of these treatments to save lives in the future. If these parasites move from Asia to Africa, where 90 per cent of malaria deaths occur, we will lose the great gains that have been made in preventing infections and deaths from this disease.

This doesn’t have to happen. As a master’s student at Oxford University and later as a Ph.D student focused on identifying and tracking drug resistance in the laboratory, I have seen the power of scientific research to solve problems.

Through research, we can prepare to monitor, contain and treat artemisinin-resistant malaria.

Cutting-edge surveillance techniques can keep us one step ahead of the parasite. Targeted control programmes using timely data can ensure that effective interventions reach those who need them. Drug discoveries can produce the next class of lifesaving treatments.

Scientists around the world are creating tools to fight malaria on the African continent, but my vision is that these discoveries will be developed in Africa, by Africans.

For example, Nigerian scientists know the problems their country faces and are best positioned to craft solutions. We can lead the fight against drug-resistant malaria where malaria matters most.

Opportunity: This opportunity is personal for me: as a scientist, I would like to return home to Nigeria for work, but for now – unfortunately – the best opportunities for me are in the United Kingdom and this shouldn’t be the case.

To achieve this vision, we must empower scientists across the continent to solve pressing challenges with homegrown, sustainable solutions. This will require key investments and actions from international donors and domestic governments.

First, we need people – more trained researchers to tackle the toughest problems in their own countries. I know the benefits of investing in future scientists because I have experienced them myself.

Scholarship: My scholarship to Oxford University, supported by the ExxonMobil Foundation, allowed me to advance my research skills and knowledge of malaria, leading me on the path to my Ph.D.  Such programmes offer a model for encouraging young Africans to pursue careers in science and equipping them with skills to lead in their countries.

Second, our scientists need tools. Researchers must have the proper equipment – including scientific instruments, laboratory space, and electricity access – to conduct their work.

Donors should prioritize these needs in the grant making process, following the example of investments made in the Kenya Medical Research Institute, home to accredited, state-of-the-art laboratories.

Other countries must also address their gaps in scientific infrastructure, with financial assistance from international groups.

Finally, for these investments to have an impact, countries need to consistently adhere to science-based policies for malaria control.

For drug-resistant malaria, this means national projects to monitor, contain and manage the threat, saving millions of lives from potential treatment failure. African countries can take inspiration from Cambodia’s Village Malaria Workers Programme, which deploys community health workers to provide directly observed screening and treatment for malaria in containment zones, as a government-coordinated strategy to prevent the spread of drug resistance.

My best friend’s death remains a puzzle to me, but this World Malaria Day, I am more confident than ever that African scientists, working in their home countries, can tackle artemisinin resistance. If we make the needed investments, we can ensure that no young child loses their best friend to drug-resistant malaria in the future.

Ify Aniebo is a molecular geneticist, focusing on malaria drug resistance,  at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Corruption: Umar is frustrated — Presidency

ABUJA—The Presidency, last night, rebuffed allegations of selectiveness in the war against corruption made against Muhammadu Buhari’s administration by the erstwhile military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Abubakar Umar, describing him as a frustrated man.

It also said it had become accustomed to a fight back by the elite class.

The Presidency in a statement by a Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media and Publicity), Mallam Garba Shehu, also said none of the elite class fighting back had shown evidence of the selectiveness of the fight against corruption.

He further said President Buhari had not at any time interfered with the prosecution of corruption suspects, even as he said several of those fighting back had at one time or the other benefited from security votes from the office of the National Security Adviser. Mallam Garba was, however, quick to exclude Col. Umar from such beneficiaries.

Col. Umar (retd) had in a statement issued, weekend, flayed the Presidency for directing its anti-corruption war at only the opposition, saying the decision to ignore court orders to release erstwhile NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd(, is inexcusable.

He further said the Buhari administration had in its actions sought to humiliate former President Goodluck Jonathan who he, Umar, praised for his excellent democracy credentials.

Responding, yesterday, Shehu said:  “By now, President Buhari’s administration is quite familiar with the barrage of verbal attacks that have accompanied the administration’s determined war against corruption.

“A number of Nigeria’s elite, uncomfortable with the disruption of business as usual, have fought viciously, usually via the media. However, this comment, coming from Colonel Umar, is highly disappointing, because he is not in a position to label accusations. He should, instead, allow others to do this.

“Curiously, despite the various accusations and media attacks, no one has so far come forth with any evidence of President Buhari’s selectiveness in the war against corruption.

“All the agencies involved are allowed freedom to carry out their responsibilities, without any interference whatsoever from the Presidency.

“If Colonel Umar or anyone else feels that they have any evidence to the contrary, they are encouraged to make this public.

“A number of Nigerian elite have over the years, benefitted from various forms of corruption, including monthly payouts from the office of previous National Security Advisers.

“Let me clarify that this is not in reference to Colonel Umar in particular.

“The Buhari’s administration has offended so many of our greedy elite by putting a stop to this, plugging many of the holes through which our country’s resources, belonging to each and every one of us, were looted by a few.

“Naturally, these elite are frustrated. But we shall not allow them to frustrate the war against corruption.

“The war against corruption is here to stay. As long as President Buhari is in power, Nigerians can be rest assured of that. It will not succumb to media attacks. It will not be deterred by false accusations. It will not be quenched by disgruntled elements.”

Motorists groan as contractors abandons work on third mainland bridge

 

The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has come under heavy criticism from residents in Lagos over the abandonment of the repair works in the Third Mainland Bridge and other adjoining roads.

The Agency, last month had begun repairs on both carriage ways of the Bridge, scrapping the asphalt on some section of the bridge, but had vacated site for over two weeks, leaving motorists to contend with the current state of the road.

Motorists had attributed several accidents which had occurred on the Bridge in recent times to the uncoordinated method by which FERMA was carrying out the repair works.

But investigations on Friday, however, showed that though the sum of N10billion was voted for FERMA in the 2016 Budget of the Federal Ministry of Works, the contractor engaged for the job was yet to be mobilised.

With the March 31, 2017 date for the end of the implementation of the 2017 budget fast approaching, FERMA had hurriedly moved the contractor to site, however its failure to mobilize them led to the repair works being stalled.

Some motorists in the State are however calling on the Minister of Works to rise up to the challenge and ensure that the Agency completes the repair works so as to save motorists the nightmare and the incessant accidents caused by the present state of the Bridge.

Mr. Babajide Kasali, a motorist who plies the axis on a daily basis, decried the long hours of traffic occasioned by the slow pace of the repair works, saying that it was gradually taking a toll on his health and productivity.

Another motorist, Mrs. Abidemi Otegbola said FERMA’s inability to carry out its duties was due to lack of proper monitoring by the parent ministry.

Only blind, deaf, dumb or idiots would line up behind Ali Modu Sheriff – Fani-Kayode

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode former minister of Aviation and a People Democratic Party stalwart has said that those who want to work with Ali Modu Sheriff are misguided and naive. Mores so he said that anyone who wants asked members of the PDP to rally behind, recognise Modu Sheriff as the party’s National Chairman ‘is a simpleton and a fool’. Fani-Kayode made this known in a statement on Sunday. He said “Those that say that they will work with Ali Modu Sheriff are misguided and naive. ‘Worse still anyone that calls for members of the PDP to rally behind him and recognise him as our National Chairman is a simpleton and a fool. ‘I say this because the man is evil: he is an agent of destruction and no good can come out of him. I was the first to see him for what he was and I said so publicly. ‘Then came the PDP Ministers Forum who also stood their ground. At first no-one believed us until eventually 90 per cent of our party members lined up behind those of us that opposed Sheriff and that supported Makarfi. ‘I read his insulting comments about Fayose and Wike and I laughed. Are these not the very same people that brought him in the first place and convinced others in the PDP Governor’s Forum to support him? ‘Now he has finished using them to get what he wanted he is insulting them and saying that they must be kicked out of the party and dealt with. ‘I say shame on him because that will never happen. Fayose particularly has proved his worth to Nigeria and Wike has stood firm and strong in defence of his people and state. They are both lions and I am proud to stand with them and Makarfi. ‘Sheriff is nothing but a traitor who is biting the fingers that fed him. Fayose is one million times the man he is. As a matter of fact so are almost all the governors and other party leaders. Sheriff comes nowhere near any of us in any shape or form. ‘Only a blind, deaf and dumb simpleton or prancing village idiot would line up behind a man with such filthy and evil antecedents. ‘This is a man whose fundamental purpose and ambition in life is to sell the PDP down the river and to help the ruling APC and the Buhari government to destroy us and win the presidential election in 2019. ‘Sheriff is the Angel of Death to the PDP. He is worse than the bubonic plague: not only is he a curse to our party but he is also an affliction to our nation. ‘I stand with Ahmed Makarfi and our Caretaker Commitee and unless and until the Supreme Court says so he remains our National Chairman” – Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, 19th February 2017.’

Residents flee community as rival cultists behead five in Rivers

No fewer than five persons were feared dead during a battle for supremacy that ensued between rival cult groups in Egbeda community, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

A source in the community told Saturday PUNCH that the Icelanders cult and the Greenlanders cult groups were locked in war over who takes charge of the community.

The source, who described how the cultists went on rampage, killing and beheading their victims, said that about five people were killed.

He said that the head of one of their victims was pinned on a stick at the community’s market square.

“Several people have been killed now in the community. I saw about five people. The boys are killing and cutting off people’s heads. There is fear in the community, so people are moving out,” the source said.

A resident of the area, simply identified as Uche, said he was going to stay with his relatives in Port Harcourt.

Uche said the shooting started on Wednesday night, adding that the rival cultists moved freely in the community, in the absence of security operatives.

He also said that residents who had fled their homes were wondering “aimlessly” in neighbouring communities, calling on the government for swift intervention.

Uche said, “There is panic in the community. I don’t know the actual number of people killed, but they have killed more than five people since the incident started.

“We are calling on the government and security operatives to intervene. Our people are suffering; right now, they are in other communities.”

Saturday PUNCH learnt that most senior officers of the Rivers State Police Command had gone out of the state due to the burial of the late Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Francis Odesanya.

The spokesperson for the Command, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, said he would comment on the situation on Saturday (today).

Client’s breasts explode in tattooist’s face during inking session

A tattooist got a shock after a client’s breasts exploded during an inking session.

It turned out that the heavily-tattooed 25-year-old girl, named Mint, had put on balloons for fun to hopefully promote her boyfriend’s tattoo shop.

Owner and tattooist, Feist, said, “Mint had put the balloons on for fun to promote my shop. I did not think it would get this much attention.”

It comes after footage emerged of a woman with 34J breasts showing off a bizarre party trick.

Samanta Lily, from Russia, uses her ample assets to pop open buttons on her shirt, simply by flexing her chest.

The 27-year-old model has found her 15 minutes of fame after the video was shared on Facebook by Models Place.

A caption alongside the footage read: “She’s got some real power there.”

Samanta, who describes herself as an adult model, says that her huge 34J breasts are completely natural.

She says her breasts had already reached double DD size at the age of 15.

The video has now been watched on Facebook several thousand times, and has attracted droves of comments

Army arrests fake major who operates clinic in Abuja

The Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army has said that the lady identified as Juliana Gumel who was arrested in Abuja on Friday operated an unregistered clinic at the Dutse area of Abuja.

A statement signed on behalf of the Guards Brigade by Major Abdulahi Abba stated that the 42-year old woman had been operating the illegal facility identified as El-Sone Clinic and Maternity located at Buki Village, Dutse, off the Bwari Expressway, Abuja since 2014.

Abba said that the fake major lived in a makeshift apartment as a doctor in the area.

He said that troops recovered a pair of Nigerian Army Woodland Camouflage with a Nigerian Army rank of major, a pair of combat boots, a jungle hat, a fake, outdated Nigerian Army identity card and a fake current Nigerian Army identity card.

Other items recovered from the woman included a camouflage T-Shirt, a pair or camouflage trousers, a pair of handcuffs, a pepper spray and passport photographs and pictures of her in military uniform.

He said that the mother of one, who hailed from Kaduna State, produced the Nigerian Army identity card at a business centre where she claimed to be a major.

He said that the house and the clinic of the impostor had been sealed off by the military as a crime scene, adding that the case would be handed over to the police at the end of the ongoing investigation.

Abba dismissed the claim that the woman was arrested along the Abuja Keffi Road with children strapped with bombs.

He gave her real name as JUMMAI ANN (surname withheld.)

Vehicle plunges into dam, husband escapes, wife missing

There was weeping and wailing along the Ife-Ibadan Expressway on Monday after a vehicle conveying three persons, including a couple, plunged into the Asejire Dam.

Asejire Dam separates Osun and Oyo states.

Our correspondent observed that two male occupants of the car, which was completely submerged in the river, were rescued alive by local divers, but the only female occupant in the car could not be brought out of the water for over one hour after the accident.

Eyewitnesses at the scene told our correspondent that the blue colour vehicle first hit the concrete at the edge of the bridge before somersaulting into the river.

One of the people at the scene said the vehicle landed on a rock inside the river before it eventually submerged in water.

Our correspondent overheard the husband of the woman, who was trapped inside the submerged car ,asking for his wife’s whereabouts after he was rescued.

He said, “Where is my wife? She is wearing the same dress like this. Where is she? Is she dead?”

Sympathisers assured him that his wife was slightly injured but she was okay.

A police van on patrol was stopped and the van took the victims to a hospital in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Motorists and other persons, who trooped to the scene, called on the Federal Government to erect railings on all the sides of the bridge to prevent vehicles from plunging into the river.

Some of them said such accident was common on the bridge because there was nothing to prevent any vehicle that skidded off the road from falling into the river.

Copyright PUNCH.

‘Trump plans to keep Comey as FBI director’

President Donald Trump intends to keep FBI Director James Comey in his post, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, as the bureau continues its investigation into potential ties between Trump aides and the Russian government.

Comey drew furious criticism from Democrats for announcing the FBI was looking at additional emails related to Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton emails 11 days before the November election.

He told his top agents Trump asked him to stay on, the Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

EFCC re-arraigns Dasuki, Bafarawa for diversion of N13bn arms fund

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned the immediate-past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), and his co-accused, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama.
The accused persons, including a former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, and his son, Sagir, were re-arraigned before Justice Baba Yusuf on 22 counts involving alleged diversion of N13bn said to have been meant for purchase of arms.
Others named in the case as accused persons are a former Director of Finance and Administration in the Office of the NSA, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda as well as Sagir’s firm,  Dalhatu Investment.
Dasuki was produced in court for the re-arraignment on Tuesday from the custody of the Department of State Service, where he had been remanded for over one year despite meeting his bail conditions.
He  and his co-accuse persons, pleaded not guilty to all the charges, when read to them on Tuesday.
The 22 counts comprised alleged criminal breach of trust, receiving stolen property and misappropriation of funds involving N13bn.
The case was transferred from another judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Peter Affen, last year.
The transfer which necessitated the case starting afresh by a way of re-arraignment before the new judge, followed a letter by Dasuki, through his lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), requesting that the case like, a similar one already pending before Justice Yusuf, be tried in one court.
Before the transfer of the case, there was a similar case comprising 19 counts bordering on similar allegations of diversion N32bn arms money, pending before Justice Yusuf.
The case was also filed against Dasuki and others by the EFCC.
The two cases will now proceed simultaneously before Justice Yusuf.

Nigeria deports 792 illegal immigrants

The Nigeria Immigration Service, Cross River Command, says it has repatriated no fewer than 792 illegal immigrants to their countries and rescued 65 trafficked victims in the state in 2016.

The State Comptroller of NIS, Mrs Funke Adeuyi, said this when when the Country Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Mrs Cristina Albertin, paid her courtesy visit in Calabar on Tuesday.

Adeuyi told Albertin that the illegal immigrants were arrested at different border posts across the state.

She said that the command did a thorough profiling of the said immigrants and found them lacking valid travel document to enter Nigeria.

The comptroller also said that during the period under review 55 illegal immigrants were denied entry into Nigeria at different border posts across the state.

She said, “Between January and December 2016, we repatriated 792 illegal immigrants to their countries while 65 victims of traffick were rescued at different border posts in the state.

“During the same period, 55 illegal immigrants were refused entry into Nigeria for lack of valid travel documents and other related reasons.

“Due to the contiguous nature of borders (land and marine) between Nigeria and neighbouring countries, we have challenges of illegal immigrants coming in through irregular border lines outside regular control posts.

“We will, however, continue to police the borders to curb illegal migration, child theft and trafficking and other heinous crimes in the state.

“The UNODC is one of the partners of the NIS and we believe we can work together in the area of workshops and public enlightenment.”

Adeuyi said that the command would sensitise transporters, boat owners and local communities to enable them see the ills of child trafficking and child labour among others issues.

The NIS boss attributed the success of the command’s activities in the state to the sustained efforts of the Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr. Muhammed Babandede.

The comptroller said Muhammed had provided the command with the necessary tools to fight trans-border crimes.

Responding, Albertin said UNODC had collaborated greatly with the NIS in capacity building of immigration personnel and donation of border equipment.

Albertin, who lauded the successes recorded by the command in 2016, said her visit was to strengthen existing relationship between NIS and UNODC and find areas that required further assistance.

“The UNODC and NIS have outstanding relationship. I am here to further strengthen that relationship.

“We will continue to support NIS in its efforts to combat child trafficking and child labour in Nigeria,” she said.

(NAN)

BREAKING: Magu, SGF cleared of corruption, Buhari tells Senate

President Muhammadu Buhari has informed the Senate that the Acting Chairman of the Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, have been cleared of corruption charges following an investigation into allegations against them.

Buhari said this in a letter to the Senate re-nominating Magu as Chairman of the EFCC.

In the letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki, Buhari said Magu and Lawal were cleared of corruption in a report by the Attorney General of the Federation.

Details later…

EFCC dehumanised me just to implicate Jonathan – Dudafa

Waripamo-Owei Dudafa, a former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has pleaded with the Federal High Court in Lagos not to judge his case based on a series of statements he wrote while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Dudafa, who is being prosecuted for an alleged fraud of N5.1bn, told Justice Mohammed Idris, before who he is being tried, on Monday that using those statements would occasion injustice against him, claiming that he did not voluntarily make them.

He told the judge that the anti-graft agency locked him up for about two months and subjected him to what he described as dehumanising treatments, thereby giving him no other option but to write and sign the statements against his will in order to secure his freedom.

Dudafa stated this while being led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr. Gboyega Oyewole, during a trial-within-trial to test the authenticity of the confessional statements and asset declaration form he filed while in the EFCC custody.

“After the 13th of May, 2016, they took me back to the cell and they continued taking me out each day so that I could go through agony.

“In the cell, I was isolated. I was not treated like any other detainee. All other detainees had access to their phones and food but me. My family members were stopped from bringing food to me and I accused the EFCC of planning to poison me.

“They wanted to break me down, to make me implicate some people. They asked me questions about former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; they said I was not their targets and made all sorts of overtures but I said over my dead body,” Dudafa said.

Earlier, Dudafa, who now limps, narrated to Justice Idris how he got his spinal cord dislocated in the EFCC cell, adding that the condition deteriorated because the EFCC allegedly shunned the recommendation of the military hospital to transfer him to a specialist for treatment.

 “The ailment I have today, a spinal cord dislocation, I want to state that it was within that period of torture and agony that my spinal cord got dislocated for sitting all through from morning till night and no one would talk to you, it was excruciating.”

He claimed that the EFCC also rejected the offer by his family to take him out for treatment and foot the bill.

He further claimed that no fewer than 30 of his friends and family members were arrested because of him.

He claimed that by the time they had frozen all his bank accounts, that of his wife and his children and he could not pay the tuition of his child studying in the US, while he was still in serious  daily pain due to his dislocated spinal cord, he succumbed to pressure.

He said after being detained for many weeks he was taken before the EFCC’s Deputy Director of Operations, Mr. Iliyasu Kwarbai, who threatened and then made overtures to him that he would be released if he could cooperate.

“Eventually I had no objection to what he said, because I needed my freedom.

“I was dying at that time; my son was stranded in the university; my wife and children were hungry, everything became a yardstick to my freedom.

“These statements were largely dictated based on my freedom. The entire so-called asset declaration is a sham.

“I want to conclude that it will be unfair to use these statements against me. These statements that they themselves orchestrated and teleguided is what they want to use against me in a court of law? It was bad.

“Statements that were made under such dehumanising, agonising conditions are what they want to use against me in the temple of justice,” Dudada said.

Under cross-examination by the EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, Dudafa maintained that his statements were not voluntary despite the cautionary words written and read to him before he wrote the statements.

Justice Idris adjourned till Tuesday (today) for continuation of cross-examination.

Copyright PUNCH.

Katsina varsity bans Christian groups, okays Muslim society

The authorities of the Umar Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina, Katsina State, have outlawed any other religious or tribal associations on the institution’s campus besides the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria.

The institution’s acting Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr. Sulaiman Kankara, conveyed the new directive to all students’ clubs and associations that were operating on its campus in an internal memorandum dated January 17, 2017.

A copy of the memo, obtained by one of our correspondents, was captioned, “Re: Registration of Students Clubs/Associations.”

Sulaiman said the new directive was part of the resolutions of the institution’s management at its 59th meeting, which held on January 10, 2017.

The memo read in part, “The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria is the only religious association allowed to operate in the university.

“All tribal and local government associations are prohibited by the university. Duly registered departmental associations should be allowed to operate, but they should observe item (I) above.”

However, sources within the university told The PUNCH that that the new directive was unlikely to elicit any reaction from the students when the institution resumes its new academic session on January 30, 2017.

“The university has never hidden its posture to be an Islamic institution despite the fact that it is a public institution,” one of the sources said.

The state government had last week approved the construction of a new mosque for Fridays’ Jumat service at the state-owned Hassan Usman Polytechnic at the cost of N64m.

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Baddiya Mashi, in her contribution at a press briefing at the end of the state executive council meeting, made the disclosure.

But a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Norrison Quakers, who is a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, described the directive by the UMYU authorities as unconstitutional and one that could fuel crisis in the country.

Quakers, who argued that the directive was a specific affront to Section 10 of Nigeria’s constitution, called on the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to immediately, as the country’s chief law officer, take issues with the UMYU.

Quakers said, “By virtue of Section 10 of the Nigerian constitution, we have what is called a secular society, meaning that the state has no official religion. No component state of the federating unit is allowed to promote any particular religion or place any particular religion above another.

“What the university authorities have done, in this case, is to promote a particular religion or prefer one religion above the others and that is actually calling for chaos and unrest.

“My position is that the decision of the university authorities is one one-sided, and what this has clearly shown is that this particular administration seems to be promoting ethnicity and religion and that, we must avoid.

“The constitution of Nigeria is very clear concerning our unity. My position is that all right-thinking Nigerians must rise up to condemn this directive; it is not something that should be condoned, it is not something that is acceptable. The Attorney General of the Federation should take it up; that policy is an infraction on the constitution and the Attorney General of the Federation is the Chief Law Officer of the country.”

Also, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu, who is a Muslim, said the directive by the university authorities had no foundation in the country’s constitution, stressing that it should be challenged immediately.

Shittu said, “Clearly, it is a violation of the constitutional provision, permitting freedom of association. There is no fundamental right that can derogate from that on grounds of public safety. The fundamental rights of the students to freely associate and express their views have been violated directly by that directive. By virtues of the constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, there is nothing to suggest that the directive can be accommodated in any of the exceptions or derogation from the fundamental rights as contained in the constitution. The directive is constitutional, null and void; it is ultra vires and it should be challenged.”

Buhari writes Senate, insists on Magu as EFCC chair

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Senate, asking the lawmakers to confirm the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

Buhari’s letter was in response to the communication from the Senate on the rejection of Magu as EFCC chairman based on damning security report by the Department of State Services on the nominee.

Details later…

Eko Atlantic developers complete 14 bridges

The developers and promoters of the Eko Atlantic City, South Energyx Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the Chagoury Group,have said significant progress has been made with the completion of 14 bridge structures within the city in just two years of its development.

The firm said the bridges were built to international standards and extended over five million square metres, representing half of the entire planned city development, adding that work on the bridges commenced in December 2014 when the first deck was cast and project was completed on schedule in December 2016.

According to the firm, the city, which is divided into eight districts, is planned for mixed-use with commercial, residential, entertainment and leisure activities to make it a lively environment, adding that with the new bridges, all the districts were now accessible by road.

It added that the bridgeworks had formed a major element of the city project and had also enabled all major avenues to overpass the canal system running through the spine of the project, with all the bridges having between two and six lanes.

The Managing Director, South Energyx Nigeria Limited, David Frame, said, “We are fully committed to ensuring that the project is completed on schedule. With the successful completion of all the bridges, all the major avenues within Phases 1 and 2 of the city are now fully interconnected, with the comprehensive road network of the city defined and all zones accessible.”

Frame explained that the company had a lot of announcements planned for the year as it achieves more key milestones on the project.

Copyright PUNCH.              

Ambode’s Lake Rice: Matters arising

While the euphoria that greeted the sale and distribution of the Lagos/Kebbi Rice initiative begins to wind down, one will not forget in a hurry, the news of the Memorandum of Understanding which was recently consummated between the two aforementioned states on the production and marketing of this fast-growing Nigeria’s most staple food – rice.

Needless dabbling into the nitty gritty of the agreement.  It is pertinent to point out here that the consuming public was kept longer than necessary while the speculation lasted, concerning the delivery date, modalities and pricing and name.  Not much was done to bring things to the public knowledge until a few days preceding  the Christmas and New Year period when the true picture began to crystallise.

At the end, decision was taken by the state government to the effect of distributing the commodity across designated centres, mainly at local government areas.

There is no doubt that the delay might have been occasioned by certain logistics such as adoption of appropriate name for the product, channel of distribution, pricing among others.

Before the final decision, feelers had brandished different names such as Ambode Rice, Laskeb Rice, etc, ostensibly to reflect the nomenclature and mutual interest of the states involved in the collaboration, until the name ‘Lake Rice’ eventually emerged.  On the lips of many Lagosians, let there be rice!  It does not matter in whatever name, but enough of the commodity to go round to desiring citizens.

It is important to equally note that at the unveiling ceremony, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in his magnanimity, further crashed the price from the speculated N13,000 to N12,000.

Frankly speaking, the governor deserves encomium for blazing the trail in this arrangement, no matter the shortcomings.  Those within Lagos State may not appreciate what it took an average Nigerian outside the state to procure a bag of rice during the last festive period, in terms of psychological stress and cost.  While I may stop at that, it is also instructive to appeal to the Federal Government to take a leaf from the Lagos example, in order to ameliorate the excruciating pains and hunger ravaging the suffering masses.

In short, with the position of Lagos State as a mini-Nigeria, the Federal Government owes a lot of gratitude to the state for making the Yuletide period worth the while for some of its inhabitants, notwithstanding that I have neither seen a grain of the said Lake Rice, (except in the press) nor encountered anyone who can attest to its quality.  This is against the backdrop that it is needless for residents of major rural communities to embark on the rice adventure beyond their catchment areas, since it would have amounted to a futility.  For instance, any prospective buyer coming from the adjourning towns of Ijagemo, in the Iba LCDA to and fro Ijegun – Ikotun would have spent not less than N6,000 to convey the rice from the closest selling point in any of the urban areas.

It therefore, made no sense to go and queue for it.