Buhari Wasted $100m World Bank Women Empowerment Loan On Meetings – Minister

 

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs, on Monday, accused the Muhammadu Buhari administration of lavishing the initial $100 million of a $500 million World Bank loan for women empowerment.

Making the revelation in an interview with Arise News on Monday, the minister said the immediate past government “lavished” the $100 million on meetings, advocacy and consultancy.

The World Bank on June 27, 2023 approved a fresh $500 million loan for Nigeria to help improve the livelihood of women in Nigeria.

Ohanenye commended President Bola Tinubu for his proactive involvement in the project, particularly his scrutiny of the initial $100 million expenditure.

She clarified that the funds were a loan, not a grant, and stressed the importance of proper management to ensure repayment.

Her words: “About the Nigeria for Women Project, let me first tell Nigerian women to clap for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who came in after the first $100 million had been expended. That was when he came in and when he came in, he looked at it with me and we were not satisfied with how the $100 million was used.

“Let me make it clear. This is not a grant, it is a loan and when some monies are loans, they must have to be managed well so that the loans can be paid back. If you don’t manage it well, how do we pay back the loan?

“And when money is a loan, we expect whoever you are giving loan to be allowed to utilise that loan properly in a way that it can yield back the money to be paid, so that Nigeria will not continue owing.

“The first 100 million, when I came in, I was not satisfied. It didn’t augur well with the vision of the new President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“It was mainly used for advocacy, meetings, consultancies and that was it. They shared it among the states.”

“My First Single Blew Up In Africa” – Ayra Starr Shares Her Journey To Stardom

 Ayra Starr, a Nigerian Afrobeats musician, has spoken up about her ascent to fame and growing up in the spotlight.

She discussed her artistic development in a recent interview with Visa’s ‘Music Talks’, which was shared on X Sunday.

With her 2021 release of “19 & Dangerous,” her first full-length album, and her debut EP, Ayra Starr has been making waves in the music business, garnering critical acclaim and a large fan base.

She claimed that she has grown up in the spotlight, and her music has evolved tremendously since her debut.

She stressed the necessity of allowing artists to mature and discover themselves, implying that she may not have reached her “final form” yet.

“My first single blew up in Africa and I was overwhelmed. I got to grow up in front of everyone. We need to allow artists to grow and find themselves. So I don’t even know if this is my final form yet, but I don’t think there’s any such thing as a final form. I don’t think so.

“I think there’s eras and times and you just become better. This is the vibe now with Ayra Starr, it might not be there next year. It might be better, it might be bigger.”

On her global acceptance, Starr said,

“Different people from different parts of the world love my music. My voice is kind of my sound. I bring the Afrobeats to every genre I enter.”

On her first day of recording with Don Jazzy, Ayra Starr disclosed that she worked on five tracks, three of which were included in her debut EP.

“I recorded five songs the first day I met Don Jazzy. Three of those ended up in my first EP,” she said.

I Didn’t Deny Davido Access To Imade, He Only Wanted My Body – Sophia Momodu

 Sophia Momodu, Afrobeats artist Davido’s first baby mama, has refuted claims she denied the singer access to his daughter, Imade.

It should be noted that Davido recently filed a suit seeking custody of the child.

Momodu stated in a statement filed through her legal attorneys on Saturday that Davido has refused to see their daughter of his “own choice” since July 2022.

The statement further alleged that Momodu has “solely shouldered” responsibility for their daughter for the past two years. Davido publishes Imade’s images on social media to “falsely portray himself as a supportive and active father.”

The statement said, “David has not seen their daughter since 2022 by his own choice. Sophia has never denied him the opportunity to see his daughter. He has not reached out on special occasions such as her birthday or Christmas for the past two years, which has left his daughter distressed and questioning why her father has cut contact with her. Despite this, David posts images of her on social media to falsely portray himself as a supportive and active father

“Since July 2022, David has not fulfilled his financial responsibilities towards their daughter, leaving her school fees unpaid. Their daughter’s school has contacted him multiple times regarding the fees for the 2021/2022 school term and January 3023, no response. Legal counsel was sought in February 2023, resulting in David’s father, Mr. Adedeji Adeleke, eventually paying the outstanding fees. Regardless of this neglect, Sophia strongly maintains that the most important support David can provide to their daughter is presence and emotional support.”

It added, “Sophia has never denied David access to their daughter, only access to her body and intimacy, which he has taken issue with. David is in a publicly known relationship and Sophia wishes him well. She seeks to move forward in her life free from harassment and verbal abuse.”

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Military Has Destroyed Criminal Networks Of Boko Haram, Bandits – Tinubu Claims Despite Insecurity Challenge

 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the nation’s security forces are winning the war against insecurity in the Northwest.

Tinubu made this known at the North-West Peace and Security Summit organized by the region’s Governors’ Forum in Katsina, the capital of Katsina State on Monday.

Tinubu, who was represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima, assured Nigerians that the progress made so far is just the beginning as the government is making more effort to provide a better secure environment for all citizens.

He said: “Our military forces, through various operations such as Operation Hadin Kai and Operation Safe Haven, have made true their promise to the nation by targeting like Boko Haram and bandits who have held for too long.

“We have disrupted and dismantled criminal networks through enhanced border security and intelligence capabilities.

“Each of you here is aware of the high-profile figureheads of these groups neutralized by our forces, and I am here to share with you that this is just the beginning.

“To build pragmatic solutions to our security compromises, we are strengthening collaborations among the Services and other security agencies to ensure a unified approach.

“The kinetic and non-kinetic interventions we have pursued are designed to build the perimeter of our security infrastructure to the point that every child who goes to school returns safely.

“Every person who sets out on a trip arrives at their destination securely, every trader who goes to the market conducts their transactions without fear, and every farmer plant seeds and harvests their produce in secure environments. We cannot achieve this unless we come together.”

Dele Alake Presents Gold Bars To Tinubu, Says Transaction Added $5m To Economy

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, has presented refined gold bars to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the first transaction of the commodity added $5 million to Nigeria’s foreign reserves.

In a statement on Sunday by Segun Tomori, the minister’s special assistant on media, Alake said the refined gold will be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to bolster foreign reserves.

According to the statement, the gold bars presented to Tinubu were sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) to meet the London Bullion Market Association’s good delivery standard over the weekend.

He told the President that the event marked the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program (NGPP), a centralized offtake scheme supported by a decentralized aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives.

Alake said the transaction delivered a $5 million increase in Nigeria’s foreign reserves assets, 70 plus kilograms of gold refined to the London Bullion Market good delivery standard, and a successful aggregation of locally mined gold, thereby injecting about N6 billion into the rural economy.

“The successful completion of the first commercial transaction clearly demonstrates the National Gold Purchase Program’s effectiveness,” the Minister said.

“It has increased the nation’s foreign reserves assets and shown that using the Nigerian Naira to purchase a liquid asset traded in United States Dollars, such as gold, is a viable strategy.

“This transaction has also underscored the potential of the National Gold Purchase Program to enhance fiscal and monetary stability.”

Alake commended Tinubu for supporting reforms in the solid minerals sector, assuring that the NGPP will increase the country’s reserve and boost the naira’s value.

Also via X, Alake posted: “I am pleased to report that the National Gold Purchase programme, which aims to increase our country’s reserves and boost the value of the naira, is making significant progress.

“Recently, I had the honor of presenting the latest gold bars to HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The bars were sourced from artisanal and small gold miners and refined by an agency of our Ministry, the Solid Minerals Development Fund. They have met the London Bullion Market Association Good Delivery Standard and will soon be sold to the Central Bank of Nigeria to strengthen our foreign reserves.

“This marks the first commercial transaction under the National Gold Purchase Program (NGPP), which is a centralized offtake scheme supported by a decentralized aggregation and production network of artisanal and small-scale miners and cooperatives.

“Furthermore, I am proud to announce that this first commercial transaction has resulted in a substantial increase of over US$5 million in Nigeria’s foreign reserves assets, the refinement of over 70 kilograms of gold to the London Bullion Market Good Delivery Standard, and the successful aggregation of locally mined gold, injecting around NGN6 billion into the rural economy.”

Receiving the gold bars, Tinubu lauded the ministry for achieving a major milestone in the administration’s drive to diversify the economy.

“This is another concrete step towards the diversification process under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the President said.

Fubara: ‘It’s Madness To Be At War With Everybody – Ex-Gov Omehia Replies Wike

 

Former Governor of Rivers State, Celestine Omehia, on Friday, disclosed that an undying inclination for power is tormenting Minister Nyesom Wike of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), hence, his display of unstable moments.

He also advised Wike to reduce his propensity for power and greed, so as to allow his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara function at his job.

Omehia disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in response to a media parley which Wike, immediate past Governor of the State hosted in Abuja recently.

Wike on Tuesday, described Uche Secondus, George Sekibo and other PDP leaders in Rivers State as “expired politicians and buccaneers” owing to their support for Fubara.

Reacting, Omehia described Wike’s uncontrolled outbursts as product of a confused mind.

Wike’s anger, he said, was that his ambition of a third tenure has crashed and the people of Rivers State have realized that his quest for power is personal and not for the interest of Rivers State or the South-South at large as claimed.

“The FCT Minister thought that he would continue to control and abuse the resources and governance of the state but God, through the people, resisted the impeachment plot by his members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“Wike is notorious for lying against anyone, anytime and disrespects elders at will, so there is no surprise about his outburst and criticism against innocent personalities in Rivers State.

“Wike speaks from both sides of his mouth, he says something today and denies it tomorrow like a clown. I am not a buccaneer and my capacity to contribute to the growth and development of my state and country is not impaired.

“I wonder why he is pained by our support for the Governor and the Federal Government under President Tinubu. Does he want us to perpetually be at political war with everybody, even long after elections are over and governance taken over? Is it not madness?” Omehia queried.

He added that Wike’s excesses, inconsistencies and hallucinations had reached a shameful peak and advised him to face his job in Abuja as the state was not missing his presence and nuisance value.

Ganduje, Wife, Son To Be Arraigned Over Bribery Allegations In Kano

 A High Court sitting in Kano State has fixed April 17, 2024, for the arraignment of the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje, his wife, son, and five others, for alleged bribery.

It was gathered that the former governor and others will be arraigned on eight counts bordering on a $413,000 bribery allegation, diversion, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N1.38bn, among others.

Reports show that the State Government, which initiated the criminal suit against the respondents, in a statement issued by the state Attorney General, Haruna Dederi, declared its readiness to present 15 witnesses to testify before Justice Usman Na’aba of State High Court number four.

Dederi said: “It is very true. We have filed the case and it’s going to hold on the 17th of April, 2024. What I cannot confirm is whether he is served or not, but he will definitely be served.

“What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day, it will definitely come to you, and this will even serve as a deterrence to all of us that are also in government now.”

“He was saying that we can’t prosecute him, forgetting that the offence also falls under the category of the state offences.

“It’s not totally a federal affair and we have even appealed to Justice Liman ruling on that.”

Lagos-Calabar Highway Project: ‘You Can’t Insult Your Way Out Of Every Inquiry’ – Atiku Replies Tinubu

Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration of always insulting its way out of inquiries made into the activities of the government. This stems from a response made by the Tinubu government, which faulted the comments made by Atiku on the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

Recall that Atiku had, in a statement on Sunday issued by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said the Bola Tinubu administration is engaged in questionable dealings over the coastal highway construction.

He said Tinubu puts personal business interests before Nigerian infrastructure and there is so much secrecy with the project.

Reacting to Atiku’s comments in an interview with The Punch, the Special Adviser to Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, described the claims as “erroneous” and “irresponsible.”

Atiku however knocked the Tinubu government, saying it could not continue to keep silent on how much of public funds would be spent on the project at a time Nigeria was still facing dire economic challenges.

Speaking via a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku dared Tinubu to disclose the full cost of the Lagos-Calabar highway project and how it got the design, and right of way for the project in seven months.

The former Vice President questioned the Tinubu administration’s decision to award the contract to Gilbert Chagoury’s Hitech without a competitive bidding.

He had also wondered why the Tinubu administration released N1.06tn for the pilot phase or 6% of the project, which begins at Eko Atlantic and is expected to terminate at the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

The statement read in part, “The Tinubu administration cannot continue to respond to public inquiry with insults. They must come clean on this project because Nigerians deserve to know the truth. I, therefore, present six posers to the administration.

1. How much is the total cost of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway?
2. Why is the project being funded by the Nigerian government despite being a PPP?
3. Why is the project taking off from Chagoury’s Eko Atlantic?
4. Why is N1.06tn being spent on the pilot phase, which is just 47km?
5. Why did the N1.06tn not get the approval of the National Assembly?
6. Why wasn’t there a competitive bidding for the project?
7. Finally, how did the Tinubu administration get the design as well as the right of way in just 7 months, since it claims the past administration of Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari never touched the project?”

Atiku asked the Tinubu administration to, in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act, respond to the questions line by line instead of taking the mundane and jejune route of “insulting their way out of every inquiry.”

Debt: ‘You Should Be Ashamed Of Your Family’ — Kaduna Politician Blasts El-Rufai’s Son For Attacking Gov Sani

 

Kaduna-based politician, Ibrahim Ahmadu has slammed Bashir, son of the former Kaduna Governor, Nasir El-Rufai over his “ill-mannered” attack on Governor Uba Sani.

Recall that the Governor, while addressing a town hall meeting in Kaduna on Saturday, revealed that his administration inherited $587 million, N85 billion, and N115 contractual liabilities from the El-Rufai administration.

Sani, however, said the situation had not stopped his administration from meeting its contractual obligations, despite making it difficult for him to pay workers’ salaries.

Reacting, Bashir took to social media to say the Governor was trying to cover his administration’s incompetence and failure in office.

Ahmadu, in defense of Governor Sani, stated that it is reasonable for the governor to disclose the state’s financial situation to the public.

He said in an interview with The Nation on Sunday: “What is wrong is the inability of the former governor’s son to comprehend the rationale behind the disclosure to the public.

“His vituperations are unguarded and unacceptable, especially when the man involved has helped the family during hard times of political waves.

“Was it wrong for Governor Uba Sani to address Kaduna citizens at a town hall meeting where he said he inherited a huge debt burden that was eating deep into the state’s allocation?

“For us as citizens of the state, we cannot accept a situation where N7bn out of the N10bn allocation for the state in March was deducted to service the state’s debt.

“And for a son of a former Governor of state to attack the incumbent Governor is unacceptable in all sense of decorum.

“Bashir should put his head in shame, if Uba Sani opens his mouth to talk about how the state was looted, they will all be in jail.”

“No Regrets Criticising Kaduna Gov” – Suspended APC Women Leader

 Suspended Women Leader of the rulling All Progressives Congress in Kaduna State, Maryam Suleiman, has insisted that she has no regret over her criticisms on Governor Uba Sani.

Suleiman led this out during an interview with PUNCH on Monday, adding that her suspension by APC party for criticising the governor is an act of God.

Recall that the Kaduna State APC had on Sunday knocked Suleiman with indefinite suspension following her criticisms.

It was learnt that Governor Sani, on Saturday, during a Town Hall Meeting, lamented that his predecessor, El-Rufai left him $587m, N85bn and 115 contractual liabilities.

However, the APC women leader while speaking in Hausa language, in a viral video, berated the governor over his remarks.

Meanwhile, the embattled women leader, on Monday, disclosed that she had said spoke the truth.

Suleiman added that she was only aware of her purported suspension on social media, noting that 24 hours after the announcement, she had yet to be served any letter of suspension from her Nasarawa/Malaki Ward.

She said: “I only read of my suspension on social media. I am yet to receive any suspension letter from our party.

“I have no regrets over my criticism of Governor Sani. I thank God for all that happened.

“I only heard of my suspension on social media. I am yet to be served the suspension letter.

“In any case, I stand by what I said about the governor. I have no regrets at all. I remained unruffled by my actions because I stated the obvious.

“As a senator, Governor  Uba Sani is the arrowhead of securing loans by El-Rufai administration. He was deeply involved in that.”

Impeachment: ‘Complete Show Of Shame’ — PDP Slams Rivers Assembly For Threatening Fubara

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday, faulted the Rivers State House of Assembly and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for attempting to hury Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of the State to act outside the law.

Recall that the 27 lawmakers believed to be loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Sunday said they may revisit Fubara’s impeachment as a last resort to enforce their responsibilities and uphold the constitution.

Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, who read a text of a communique to newsmen, accused Fubara of acting unlawfully despite signing the presidential peace agreement in the political crisis in the State, adding that the state was running without an approved budget.

The PDP however described the renewed threat by the lawmakers to impeach Fubara as an “embarrassment” and a ”public nuisance” to the state.

The state PDP Publicity Secretary, Sydney Gbara, said this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt.

Gbara called on the lawmakers, who he said defected from the PDP to the APC without consulting their constituents, to stop disturbing the peace of the state and allow Fubara to concentrate on governance and deliver his mandate to the people.

The state PDP spokesman reminded the Amaewhule-led lawmakers not to forget that the issue of their legitimacy is before the court.

Gbara said the lawmakers have continued to make retrogressive laws and utterances that are inimical to the growth and development of the State.

“Those people were the first beneficiaries of the magnanimity and peaceful disposition of Governor Fubara by signing the lopsided peace accord despite a court of conpetent jurisdiction that recognised Rt.Hon Edison Ehie as the Speaker of the Ribers State House of Assembly, which gave them a live line to still operate, because having defected to APC without any crises in PDP, their seats were vacant constitutionally.

“But to show how ungrateful they are, the several court cases querying their legality, seeking the interpretation of Section 109 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, will settle the dust around them in due course. No matter how long they try to run away from it, justice must be served because they no longer represent their constituencies.

“Their actions are a total embarrassment to Rivers people and a complete show of public shame.

“The people elected them out of their goodwill, but they let those constituents down by pusuing selfish agenda that has further plunged the state into crises.

“The threats of impeachment is empty and and cannot stand. It is selfish and their pursuit of personal aggrandisement which will be resisted by Rivers people.

“If they want to know what Rivers people think about them, they should go to the streets to seek the opinion of the masses.

“As far as we are concerned they (lawmakers) are operating illegally, hence your illegal laws are inconsequential on Rivers people,” the statement read.

He also responded to allegations by the acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Chief Tony Okocha, that Fubara has not implemented the eight-point peace accord brokered by President Bola Tinubu, saying the matter is subject to litigation.

“Although we are not holding brief for the state government, but for the records, as a party, let us for the umpteenth time, tell Tony Okocha that Governor Siminialayi Fubara has in his desire to further deepen peace in the state, implemented the leace accord faithfully and in such a manner that is allowed by the Nigerian Constitution.

“As a law-abiding citizen, the governor has implemented that peace accord very religiously and any aspects that are not in tandem with the provisions of the law would not be implemented.

“So your attempt to try to stampede Governor Fubara into taking unconstitutional actions would not work,” he added.