News
FG wrong, terrorists financing themselves through ransom, says Gumi
FG wrong, terrorists financing themselves through ransom, says Gumi
An Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has reacted to a list of 15 people and bureau de change firms reportedly released by the Federal Government as financiers of terrorism in Nigeria.
Gumi who had been a negotiator for the release of abducted students in the past said terrorism was not financed by Nigerians.
He said the terrorists are the same persons kidnapping people for ransom.
Gumi said this on Wednesday, during an X conversation hosted by Daily Trust.
Recently, the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) revealed the identity of 15 entities, including nine individuals and six Bureau De Change operators and firms, allegedly involved in terrorism financing.
A report by The PUNCH indicated that the Nigeria Sanctions Committee, during a meeting on Monday, recommended punitive measures for persons alleged to be involved in terrorism financing.
Tukur Mamu, publisher of Desert Harald, on the list, is currently standing trial over alleged involvement in aiding terrorists’ attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in 2022.
“These terrorists don’t need any financing from outside, they are the ones collecting billions from people, so what are you talking about financing?” Gumi said.
“Now they are looking for N1bn for these children. What are you talking about financing? They are financing themselves by kidnapping.”
Gumi added that the government was only trying to frame up its enemies by tagging them as terrorism financiers.
He said, “To just frame your enemies or political opponents in the society as financing terrorism, I think that is rubbish to me.
“No Nigerian will put his money in terror; we are beyond that. These people are financing themselves by force; this is what they are doing, taking our children to get money.”
“Who declared somebody a financier? Is it the court of law or the security? The security has no right to declare anybody as a financier except the court of law.
“What I know of Mamu and the situation which led to his arrest is the misunderstanding between him and the committee that are supposed to deal with the release of some victims,” he added.
News
Rivers crisis delayed my administration’s take-off – Fubara
Rivers crisis delayed my administration’s take-off – Fubara
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara yesterday confessed that the political crisis in the state distracted his administration and real governance started only three months ago.
But he said that despite the initial delay, his administration’s project and service delivery record has surpassed the achievements of some of the past governments.
Fubara, who is currently locked in a protracted standoff with predecessor Nyesom Wike, spoke at Ngo town during the inauguration of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project, in Andoni Local Government Area.
He said one of the challenges requiring the immediate attention of his administration is the low ranking of the state in health service delivery, citing recent statistics.
The governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, quoted him as saying the challenge would be handled appropriately.
“I was in Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting on Wednesday, and we were given an update from the chart on medical position of all the states. It was in zones,” Fubara said.
“You won’t believe that in that chart, everything that has to do with enrollment, even the level of facilities that is on the ground in that assessment, Rivers State was classified as below benchmark. It is a pity.
“It is not something that just happened in a day. It is not something that just happened within my time in government. No, no. It is a statistics collated over a period of time.
READ ALSO:
- EFCC hands over $22,000 recovered from Nigerian fraudster to FBI
- Chaos in Abuja market as soldiers, traders clash
- Wigwe varsity becomes most expensive Nigerian university, unseats Nile, Baze
“So, it means when we tell you that our target is education, healthcare and agriculture, we didn’t make any mistake.
“We might have done other things, but those key areas have not been adequately attended to. And we promise our people this afternoon that by the special grace of God, in the next six months, there will be a total change in the health sector of Rivers State.”
He expressed satisfaction that the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project has been successfully delivered at last, having been initiated by former governor Peter Odili.
Fubara said that his driving principle remained putting the people first and vowed not to renege on the promise of internal roads that he made to Andoni people during campaigns.
The governor directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, to liaise with Monier Construction Company (MCC) to do scoping for commencement of reconstruction of Ngo internal roads and new contract for extension of the road to Oyorokoto Town.
He said: “”I know that if it is this road, we are already done with the road. The politicking of the road is already done. I don’t want to politick on this road anymore.
“I want to say here that we need to develop our own, and if we have to do it, we have to do it ourselves. So, I promise my people that we are going to do more jobs, more connecting roads for the Andonis by the special grace of God.
“I remember when we came for campaign we did promise our people that when you support us, we are going to give you the internal roads. And by the special grace of God, the Andonis gave us their support, and the election was won.
“A lot of people were thinking that this place would be empty today. Some people had other plans. But to the glory of God, we are getting natural support.
READ ALSO:
- Woman burns stepchildren’s hands for eating their father’s rice
- Usyk beats Fury by split decision to win undisputed heavyweight title
- Nigeria will stop fuel importation by June – Dangote
“People that we didn’t pay money are here to say that they are identifying with this government and appreciate what this government is doing.
“For that alone, I want to direct the Permanent Secretary to immediately liaise with the contractor to ensure first, that the internal roads in Ngo, and connecting this road to Oyorokoto is immediately awarded.”
Fubara urged the people to have good faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, and appealed for their total support to the Federal Government so that it could continue to undertake life-changing programmes that would trickle down to the state and local government areas.
He said: “I am also aware that we have issues in the other communities in Andoni. Some of them are flooding issues, which is even the more critical issue.
“I know of a place called Oronija. They are having very serious erosion and flood issues, and other places. We are going to do something about it. It is my promise to my dear people today.
“I also want to say in this gathering, please, support the government at the centre. I am happy when our leader was mentioning the activities of the oil companies here, and said that there is no interruption. I was impressed by that.
“It shows that we are contributing positively, and we understand the meaning and importance of peace. So, let me enjoin you: continue to show this good faith, and be a good host.
“In the governance of this country, the success of the centre is the success of the sub-national. And when the sub-national succeeds, which is the state, the local governments will succeed. And when the local governments succeed, it means more projects, more life-changing activities will be seen in your domain.”
In his welcome address, the member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, said the road is less than 30km long but regrettably took three different contractors to deliver it after 24 years.
Abiante explained that this was the first time since the dawn of the current democratic dispensation that the Andoni people would gather for an inauguration of a development project within Ogbolo land.
Rivers crisis delayed my administration’s take-off – Fubara
The Nation
News
Nigeria will stop fuel importation by June – Dangote
Nigeria will stop fuel importation by June – Dangote
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, has announced that Nigeria will cease importing petrol by June.
Speaking at the Africa CEO Forum Annual Summit in Kigali, Dangote revealed that his refinery will commence production next month, meeting Nigeria’s petrol needs and eliminating the need for imports.
“Right now, Nigeria has no cause to import anything apart from gasoline and by sometime in June, within the next four or five weeks, Nigeria shouldn’t import anything like gasoline; not one drop of litre,” he said.
The refinery will also produce diesel, aviation fuel, and other essential products, making Africa self-sufficient in these commodities.
READ ALSO:
- Rainstorms kill seven, many others injured
- Olanipekun, Yayale, Elechi, Yusuf Ali, others named higher institutions’ governing council chairmen
- Nearly 10,000 evacuated in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region after Russia attack
With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery will meet the demands of West Africa and beyond.
Dangote emphasized that the refinery will not only focus on petroleum products but also produce polypropylene, polyethylene, base oil, and linear benzyl, raw materials essential for producing detergents and other products.
This will reduce Africa’s reliance on imports and make the continent self-sufficient in these critical products.
Dangote expressed his optimism that within three to four years, Africa will no longer need to import fertilizers, as his refinery will produce urea, potash, and phosphate, meeting the continent’s needs.
The refinery’s second phase is set to begin early next year, further expanding its operations and impact on Africa’s energy landscape.
Nigeria will stop fuel importation by June – Dangote
News
Olanipekun, Yayale, Elechi, Yusuf Ali, others named higher institutions’ governing council chairmen
Olanipekun, Yayale, Elechi, Yusuf Ali, others named higher institutions’ governing council chairmen
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has unveiled a list of appointees to the governing councils of 111 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Notable figures among the appointees include former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Attahiru Jega; Senior Advocates of Nigeria Wole Olanipekun, former Bauchi governor, Isa Yuguda, and Yusuf Alli.
Others are former National Universities Commission Executive Secretary, Peter Okebukola; and labour activist, Issa Aremu. The individuals have been selected to lead the councils of various academic institutions across the country.
The announcement follows a recent ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which demanded the Nigerian government address issues such as the alleged illegal dissolution of university governing councils and the continued use of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) for salary payments.
The Federal Ministry of Education responded by assuring that these concerns were being handled and that the list of council members would be released soon.
The appointments, signed by Permanent Secretary Didi Walson-Jack of the Federal Ministry of Education, include five representatives each for 50 universities, 37 polytechnics, and 24 colleges of education.
READ ALSO:
- Nearly 10,000 evacuated in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region after Russia attack
- Police inspector dismissed over ‘N29.8m theft’, three other officers demoted
- Russia could increase Ukraine attacks, says Zelensky
Specifically, Attahiru Jega has been appointed Chairman of the Governing Council of Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto. Wole Olanipekun will chair the University of Lagos, while Yusuf Alli takes on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Peter Okebukola will lead the University of Port Harcourt, and Issa Aremu will head the Federal College of Education (Technical) in Keana, Nasarawa State while Yuguda will chair the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
Furthermore, former Senator Joy Emordi will lead Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Owerri; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, will head the council of Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.
Adamu Rasheed, the immediate past Executive Secretary of the NUC, has been appointed to the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo in Benue State.
The new governing council members are scheduled for inauguration and a retreat on May 30 and 31 at the National Universities Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
In June 2023, President Tinubu dissolved the governing councils of several key government agencies and higher education institutions, a move that sparked criticism from various stakeholders. They argued that the University Miscellaneous Act grants universities and their councils autonomy to self-regulate.
Olanipekun, Yayale, Elechi, Yusuf Ali, others named higher institutions’ governing council chairmen
Truck crushes many vehicles on Imo varsity junction, five killed
Rivers crisis delayed my administration’s take-off – Fubara
EFCC hands over $22,000 recovered from Nigerian fraudster to FBI
-
News2 days agoUsing pre-registered SIM card may land you in jail, NCC warns
-
News3 days agoWike, Fubara are ego-driven, crude – Reno Omokri
-
metro2 days agoFire guts new NNPCL tank farm in Lagos
-
International3 days agoUK says it’s developing radio frequency to blast out drones
-
News2 days agoPolice grill Osun monarch, Ataoja of Osogbo, over petition
-
News3 days agoUpdated: Reps condemn assault on Nasarawa female doctor by patient family
-
Aviation3 days agoUpdated: We’ll resume Lagos-Dubai flights on October 1, says Emirates
-
metro23 hours agoUpdated: Many injured, shops destroyed in truck, BRT bus crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (PHOTOS)