As Sokoto state governor Aminu Tambuwal tries to illegally and unconstitutionally kick off a clandestine campaign for the nation's presidency as the 2023 general elections close in, he is begining to show Nigerians the type of bad leader he will, should they mistakenly consider him for the position.


This he demonstrated today, Monday when he chose to go to Zamfara to campaign just when the state is mourning the death of its citizens who were killed the same day.



The governor decided to show his face in a happy mood as if celebrating the death of the innocent citizens who were killed in cold blood by bandits and while their families, the government and good people of the state were grieving, for Tambuwal, his unconcerned followers and members of the PDP in the state led by their deputy governor, Mahadi Ali Gusau seemed to be hailing the bandits.



As a governor for almost eight years now, Nigerians should take time and take stock of what Tambuwal has disappointingly done in Sokoto in terms development, either physical or otherwise so that they can rate him on what or how he will further take the nation in deep mess.



All that this so-called Sokoto governer who is disliked even by the people of his home village of Tambuwal has been able to do is pay back his masters like Bafarawa, a former governor while the citizens are in squalor, such is the kind of this presidency seeker, may Allah save Nigerians against such persons.

A reliable information made available to this news medium revealed that General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau rtd and Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki are planning to truncat Nigeria's democracy.


A source very closed to Sen Kabiru Marafa told this news medium that a secret meeting was held at General Aliyu Gusa's residence in Abuja with Sen. Bukola Saraki, former Zamfara Gov Abdulaziz Yari and Senator Kabiru Garba Mafara in attendance.


The source said Sen Kabiru Marafa informed him of the meeting which he said deliberated on two critical issues.


According the source, "Marafa said all the personalities involved in the meeting drove themselves to the residence of the retired general with no escorts.


"He said the first issue was how to sabotage President Muhammadu Buhari and ensure hst APC did not win the 2023 general elections." Our source revealed.


The second issue according to the source , " was on how to prevent Gen Aliyu Gusau's son, Mahadi Aliyu Gusau, a Barrister and the Gov of Zamfara state from being impeached."


It was also gathered by this medium's investigative reporter Collins James that, " part of the strategy suggested by Aliyu Gusau, a top international CIA, was to engage the services of the world famous intelligence personnels who are loyal to the former Army General, to create some dramatic breach of peace which will cover the Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, by arming some group of people to stage agitations against Nigerian government.


The report further revealed that some white men suspected to be Israelites were sighted going through their Laptop computers while General Gusau was quietly presiding over the meeting in his second sitting room.


In the same development, according to our source, Bukola Saraki was heard pledging the sum of $ 200 m, while the former Zamfara State governor Yari outrightly promised to offer the sum of $300m for the project.


Our source however said Marafa gave condition before he could agree to join them in the game.


The condition for him to participant in the plan according to our source was for them to agree and accept him (Sen Marafa ) as the Gobernatorial candidate for 2023 election.


In his response to the demand by Marafa, Gen Gusau rtd said he wouldn't mind to withdraw his son Mahadi Aliyu from any contest if they could help him prevent the son from the impeachment.


The source further revealed that Sen. Kabiru Marafa did not however trust Gen Gusau, accusing him of being unreliable and not trust worthy.


He said he wasn't sure that Sen Bukola, as he knew the kind of person he was, could not convince the general on allowing him have the ticket for the governorship candidacy.


The source said Sen Marafa came out of the meeting furiously, accusing both Bukola and Gen Gusau rtd as planning to sabotage President Buhari's government.




Source: Thunder blowers

The police recently raided no fewer than 13 bandit camps and several other criminal hideouts in three local government areas of Sokoto State and arrested 57 suspects. Thirty-seven of the suspects were identified as associates of the notorious bandit kingpin, Bello Turji with one of them disclosing to newsmen how he purchased a gun truck for N28.5m in Niger Republic.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations, Ahmed Zaki Gwandu, said during the week that the raids were carried out through the instrumentality of a team set up by the Inspector General of Police tagged ‘Operation Sahara’. DIG Gwandu, who addressed newsmen while parading the suspects at the headquarters of the Sokoto State police command in Sokoto, described the raids as part of larger efforts to stamp out banditry and other crimes across the country.

He said the 37 arrested bandits linked with Bello Turji, who is believed to be responsible for most of the major attacks in the eastern part of the state and neighbouring Zamfara State, including Musa Mohammed Kamarawa, 33, were apprehended at different locations and they had all confessed to their complicity in the crime of banditry. Purchase of guntruck Kamarawa, who was said to be a childhood friend of Bello Turji, shed more light on the activities of his gang. Responding to questions from newsmen, the 33-year-old revealed how he procured a gun truck at the cost of N28.5 million from a neighbouring country.

He said he was linked with the seller by another bandit leader. Kamarawa said: “I got the contact from Katchala Halilu who is a bandit leader in Zamfara and Sokoto states.

“After I collected the money from him, I got a car and travelled with my brother to Cotonou (Benin Republic). We couldn’t find the vehicle there and someone sent us the number of another person living in Libya.


“The person is also a car dealer. When I called him, he referred me back to Gaya in Niger Republic where I delivered the money and my brother went to deliver the vehicle to Halilu.

“My brother’s name is Aminu and we were together with one Bashar, myself, Yahya Dogo and Saddam.”

He added that he had been “in the business of banditry since 2018.”



DIG speaks

Flanked by the outgoing Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 10 Command, Ali Janga and the state Commissioner of Police, Kamaldeen Okunlola, the DIG said the activities of ‘Operation Sahara’ had been yielding “tremendous successes” in the ongoing onslaught against banditry in the state. Gwandu stated that between January 20 and 29, 2022, bandit camps in, Illela, Gudugudu, Rabbah, Isa and Bungo communities in the state were identified and raided by the police. Other communities that were raised, according to the DIG, are Sangari, Dunawa Tsamaye, Tangaza, Heli, Goronyo, Mayel, Sakanau, Kuka and Zangon.

He said: “Suspects were arrested at different locations in connection with terrorism, kidnapping, cattle rustling, criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of firearms, while exhibits were recovered. “All the suspects were linked to the notorious gang leader, Bello Turji, and they all confessed to their complicity in the crime of banditry.

Gwandu listed the exhibits recovered from the suspects to include 32 AK-47 rifles, two rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), one rocket launcher, four locally made pistols, three pairs of army camouflage uniforms, 33 live cartridges, four empty shells of catrigrides, three AK-47 magazines and four operational vehicles.

Others are one Beretta pistol, 10 cartons of Pentazocine BP 30 injection, assorted charms, two bows and arrows, several cutlasses, two motorcycles, one solar panel charger, two Android phones, 16 techno phones, three MP3 solar radio, one solar charger controller, one LAR rifle, one G.3 rifle and 33 live cartridges.

He explained that in addition to the arms and charms recovered from the suspects, the police recovered three trucks, which was in possession of one Musa Kamarawa. Two of the trucks, he said, were recovered at Malunfashi in Katsina State and the remaining one at Ekpoma in Edo State.

He disclosed that no fewer than 150 cows believed to have been rustled were also recovered from the suspects. DIG Gwandu said about 23 criminal suspects disturbing the peace of the state were neutralised within the period under review.

Other suspects

Those arrested alongside Kamarawa include Abubakar Hashimu, Bammi Alhaji Kiruwa, Zayyanu Abdullahi, Mohammed Aliyu, Hardo Yunusa, Mohammed Dangi, Umar Saidu, Ibrahim Shehu, Samuel Chinedu, Usman Ibrahim, Andi Nnalowe and Fabrus Abbasi.

Others are Mohammed Adamu, Mohammadu Bello, Aminu Umar, Umar Dikko, Garba Jammare, Junaidu Mamman, Ibrahim Aliyu, Rabiu Dari, Abdullahi Aliyu, Shehu Abubakar Yusuf, Jabir Isiyaka, Abubakar Shakau, Maniru Saidu, Ibrahim Adamu and Shehu Adamu.

They also include Saidu Ibrahim, Hussaini Adamu, Alhassan Abubakar, Sule Usman, Isah Hussaini, Nvou Micheal, Abubakar Baba Manga and Halilu Idris.


Also paraded among the 57 suspects was one Samuel Chinedu who was believed to be one of the people supplying bandits with drugs and other substances. In an interview with newsmen, Chinedu disclosed that he was running a patent medicine shop before he was arrested by the police. He said one of Kamarawa’s ‘boys’ called Abubakar had walked into his shop one day to buy drugs.

The suspect said: “I have known Abubakar in the Salame area of Sokoto for some years now. He used to buy medicine from my shop. One day, after he bought medicine worth of N15,000, he told me he was working in a hospital in Illela and would need Pentazocine injection. I told him I did not have that in stock but I would try to get it for him.

“He demanded three packets which I got for him. He did not come with a prescription

“I didn’t see him again for a long time until January 27 when he called and requested for same Pentazocine injection and I told him that I did not sell such drug but he begged me to help him get it.

“Thereafter, I called someone, Mr Lucky, who told me that he had the drug but a pack was N18,500. I told him (Abubakar) the price and informed him that I would add N500 for my transport.

“I helped him get 10 boxes of the drug but I never knew his mission because he told me he was a medical doctor.

“I was later arrested by the police at Pinnacle Hotel in Sokoto where he had asked me to come for the money for the drug.”

Abubakar, who was also paraded by the police, claimed to be a health worker. He said Kamarawa had introduced him to Bello Turji for the treatment of a wound he had sustained during an operation.

He confessed to being the linkman between Chinedu, the patent medicine shop owner, and bandits for the delivery of drugs to their various camps. He said he was once convicted and remanded in imprison for a different offence before a lawyer perfected his bail conditions after he promised not to go back into the life of crime.

Bammi Alhaji Kiruwa, also an ex-convict, was also among the paraded suspects. He said he had been sent to prison on two previous occasions on accounts of armed robbery and kidnapping respectively. He said he was arrested for being in possession of AK-47 rifles and 35 rounds of live ammunition. He stated that he got the ammunition from another bandit called Nura Buhari who, he said, was operating inside Kaduna forests.

Kiruwa denied having ever killed anyone but said he participated in kidnapping and someimes cattle rustling. He said didn’t make money from cattle rustling but Buhari once gave him the sum of N150,000 from the proceeds of a cattle rustling operation.

Another one of the suspects identified as Aminu Umar said he was arrested for highway robbery in Gusau. Umar, who claimed to be a commercial driver, said he was from Gwandu in Kebbi State and specialised in conveying robbers to scenes of operation.

He said they normally operated on Gusau and Illela expressways. “The people I used to carry had AK-47 rifles and other small guns,” he noted.

He named those he worked with as Abubakar, Abdullahi, Shamsu and Dahiru, saying, “After our first operation, I was given N10,000 and the second operation earned me N11,000.”

He said he normally picked his partners up at a place known as Masalaci, from where he took them to the spots of operation and they would call him when they were through.

He said he normally picked them early in the morning before Subhi (first Muslim prayer for the day).

Another suspected gunrunner for Turji, Mohammed Aliyu, said he was caught with 55 ammunition and three AK47 rifles.

He said he had about 2,000 ammunition. Aliyu said one of the other suspects had put about 16 cows in his care with a promise to come for them in three days which he failed to do before he was arrested.

He, however, confessed that he charged a minimum of N5,000 per ammunition got from him for operations.

Reacting to the arrests, the commander of a vigilance group which supported the police in their operations in one of the affected local government areas, commended the steadfastness of the police in fighting crime in the area.

He said his group was ready to assist security agencies in dislodging bandits and other criminals from the area.

He, however, called on government at all levels to come to the aid of vigilance groups providing them with the logistics needed to fight crime.

It is no longer news that the former senator representing Zamfara Central and doubles as the consistent Mouthpiece to the former Executive governor of Zamfara State, Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari has gone Missing from the political scene was because his paymaster Abdul Aziz discovered that Marafa was only after collecting Money from him to expand his Kaduna Food restaurant instead on rallying supporters for towards his agenda.

Our News medium learnt from a sources loyal to the former Zamfara governor that, "Yari the former governor deliberately avoid the former Senator from seeing him to discontinue the constant extortion which is diverted to expand his businesses especially his fast food restaurant in Kaduna, ".

Al'mansoor Gusau a well known loyalist to the former Zamfara governor Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari further said that, " In his lifetime, he has never come across such a selfish and greedy person like Senator Marafa who always make a case only to favour himself, most especially when it comes to the issues of money meant for the Masses.

You may recalled that the former Zamfara State governor Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari entrusted about Two Trucks of fertilizers about four Months ago to the former Senator for onward distribution to the masses during farming season, unfortunately Marafa diverted the said Fertilizer for his personal gains.

All efforts by this medium to hear from the former Senator proved Abortive.

The Zamfara State Socio-political group known as 'Clean Yari's Mess', has vowed to purchase nomination form for the incumbent Governor, Bello Muhammad Matawalle, to run for the governorship election in the state in 2023 so as to continue to clean the many mess left by the former Governor of the State Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari.

In a communiqué, the coalition who converged from the 14 Local Governments Area of the State, pointed out so many sins of the previous administration which includes; misappropriations of public funds, most especially the bailout funds, Paris Club funds, insecurity, dictatorship and many atrocities that remained sorrowful to mention that Governor Matawalle Administration inherited.

They therefore vowed and maintained that there won't be any vacancy for other contestants to want to contest next year.

It was reliably gathered by this Medium that, so far, an undisclose amount of money were realized for the gesture code named (Matawalle must Contest).

The convener of the project who introduced herself as Hajiya Balaraba Gusau said, "Governor Matawalle adminstration has empowered so many women in the State with money to encourage domestic businesses which even the so called oppositions can bear witness to, therefore we have a strong believed that his second coming will be a blessing to the entire State."

A runaway 200 level degree student of the famous Usman Danfodio university Sokoto, recalls how he was homosexually harassed by one Professor Kabiru Umar Jabaka of the Department of Linguistics in the university.



The victim who simply identified himself as Murtala Argungu, said that, he was in tears when his father entrusted him to Professor Kabiru Umar Jabaka as his guardian.



"But things later looked good when Professor Jabaka started to shop for some of my daily needs as a school father. However, my joy was short-lived as my happiness disappeared on the first day he invited me to Dankari Hotel here in sokoto, where he tried to have a canal knowledge of me," Murtala recalls.

In fact that was not the first time Professor Jabaka has been approaching me with such demands, but as a Muslim, who study the Holy Quran and equally read of how Allah destroyed the people of Prophet Lot (A. S ) I told him to his face that my father did not bring me up with such immoral attitudes," Argungu added


Source:updatenewsonline

The Ogun state Chairman of Afenifere,a vibrant and active social Political group,Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje spoke extensively with our News medium on INEC's demand for all candidates to declare their bank assets prior to the 2023 General elections and other concerned issues.

In his words on INEC and Party Candidates Bank assets,he said "My first concern is what is INEC's definition of "bank assets?" Is it just bank account balances or more than that? If its just bank account balances, I doubt what practical use such information will be to INEC.

Secondly, I wonder whether INEC has the legal authority to request candidates to declare their "bank assets". Yes the agency is authorised to monitor campaign expenditure but does that ipso facto confer on them the power to request bank balances? I'm not so sure of that. Code of Conduct Bureau and perhaps EFCC or ICPC may have such authority but its not clear that INEC does."

Responding to the commission's move to establish a finance monitoring teams,Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje says, "It is desirable and proper for INEC to establish mechanisms to monitor campaign finance and expenditure. The funds expended on political campaigns in Nigeria have become unreasonably huge and is now a critical component of Nigerian corruption and political dysfunction. I support any lawful effort to constrain and control this issue within the ambit of the law."

The Ogun State Afenifere chairman emphasized that The EFCC and Deposit Money Banks have the responsibility to report suspicious financial transactions and he support leveraging this mechanism to monitor campaign finances...

"The Constitution guarantees freedom of association to all Nigerians so I can understand as many parties as possible seeking INEC registration. As a practical matter of course I recognise the operational, logistics and political difficulties inherent in having too many political parties. Nevertheless I believe every legitimate and conscientious political tendency should have the right to express themselves through a political party."Otunba Agbaje maintained.


"I am excited at the news that youths and students top new voters registrations. I urge all youths, students, professionals, workers and indeed all Nigerians who are yet to register to do so. We can aim to register 12 million additional voters before the General Elections and take new registrations to over 20million!!! I know that's an ambitious target but we need ambitious objectives and goals if we must reform and transform Nigeria.The Youths deserves encouragement to take up challenges and prepare for the future.

Presently, Afenifere Social Political group is made up of very active, focused and visionary youths with their membership growing by the day,"he added

• Commission set to establish finance monitoring teams

• EFCC, banks to be mandated to report suspicious transactions

• 101 associations seek registration as political parties

• Youths, students top voter registration as applications hit 8m




The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is going tough with political parties and their candidates in next year’s elections on how they source and disburse their campaign funds.


The commission plans to work with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Department of State Services (DSS), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and commercial banks to carry out the task, INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, said yesterday.


Yakubu spoke in Abuja during a policy roundtable conference on political campaign finance organised by The Electoral Forum (TEF).


At a separate forum yesterday, the INEC Chairman said 8,260,076 eligible Nigerians had completed the online and physical registration with students and other young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 dominating the ongoing voter registration.


Yakubu, who was represented at the policy roundtable conference by the National Commissioner and chairman (Committee on Party Monitoring), Prof. Kunle Ajayi, said the commission was determined to track and ascertain campaign expenditure by politicians before and during the elections.


The commercial banks will be required to report all suspicious transactions ahead of the elections.


Failure to report any such suspicious transactions, he said, would attract prosecution.


“As long as we have not notified anybody that the race to the 2023 general election has started, we are not unaware of what anybody is doing. We follow the law strictly,” Yakubu said.


He added: “We have not officially declared notice for the 2023 general elections. But when we so declare, we will put our monitoring committees to motion, like the Central Bank of Nigeria, DSS, EFCC, the ICPC (commercial) banks and other law enforcement agencies. We have that plan already.


“Every candidate must be made to declare his bank asset; that is where they draw out their money. So we will make them to present their statements of account right from the onset.


“We will make it mandatory for them to turn in their bank statement so that if they say they are doing billboard and the account remains the same, then there is a problem.”


The commission also plans to check vote buying, according to Yakubu, who said: “We are going to establish finance monitoring teams and they will be among the electorate but they (politicians and political parties) won’t know.


“We are going to do it in a way that the influence of money will be reduced, because we want to make the electoral field a level playing ground for both rich and poor candidates and the electorate.


“Everybody will go on an equal economic level so that you won’t influence the voting pattern.”


His immediate predecessor, Prof. Attahiru Jega, who contributed from abroad, described lack of accountability and transparency in political campaign financing as key factors responsible for some challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system.


His words: “If we insist on accountability, then you can begin to somehow sanitise the way political parties raise funds. I think what has happened is that we paid too much attention to the issue of electronic transmission of results, and somehow they quickly passed the Sections about raising the threshold. The civil societies did not pay much attention in their advocacy against this particular issue.


“Nevertheless, I wouldn’t advise or recommend that we delay the passage of the Bill on account of this particular issue. What we should be exploring are ways and means of ensuring that there is accountability about how these funds are raised and the spending ceiling is met as well as how the expenditure is done.”


Also speaking, the National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yabagi Sani, represented by its National Treasurer, Mr.Obidike Okolo, called for a strict enforcement of the regulations on election funding with a view to preventing the monetisation of the electoral process and improving the level of trust between the electorate and candidates.


He said the need to step up enforcement of the regulation on election funding was borne out of the imperatives of sanity and integrity in elections.


He said while the controversial Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2020), if assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, would raise the ceiling of what a presidential candidate can spend on elections from N1 billion to N5 billion, representing a 400 per cent increment amongst others, there was need for its enforcement to ensure compliance with the provisions of the law on political campaign finance.


He said: “Political actors and commentators have been complaining that the new ceilings imply the monetization of the election process beyond the low-income groups in spite of their other qualifications. In this context, it is feared that women, youths and people living with disabilities will be the most excluded from the political process and governance.


“Further, there is the observation that the big political parties would hardly want to give their tickets to their members who are deemed not to have the capacity to generate either on their own, or, from wealthy donors to enable them cope with the big electioneering campaign funds.


“The more serious reservations about the potency of regulatory laws on elections is that such laws are hardly observed because of the poor or near-absence of enforcement mechanisms.


“An example of the brazen non-compliance with the law on election funding is the breach, especially by the ruling political party or ruling political parties, of the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matter Act, 2014 which prohibits corporate organisations and public institutions from donating to political parties or candidates for the purpose canvassing for votes.


“It is an open secret that private sector corporations and public institutions and agencies mostly surreptitiously make huge donations for reasons of getting patronage from the government or as a result of coercion by government officials.


“In our view, at IPAC, much as we believe like most Nigerians that the new election funding limits by the new Act is on the high side, we are however more concerned about enforcement and compliance.


“To achieve this objective, we are recommending, among others, that the Independent National Electoral Commission should be supported by all stakeholders in the exercise of its regulatory role.”


The TEF is a multidisciplinary strategic think-tank aimed at strengthening electoral governance and accountability in Nigeria through the provision of data, critical and contextualized analysis and solutions to improve the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.


Youths, students top voter registration as applications hit 8m


Speaking also yesterday at INEC’s quarterly meeting with media executives in Abuja, Yakubu said 8,260,076 eligible Nigerians have so far applied for inclusion in the Permanent Voters Register ahead of next year’s elections.


Majority of the applicants are youths and students, according to him.


Besides, Yakubu said over 101 associations now want to be registered as political parties.


There are currently 18 political parties.

Seventy-four others were recently deregistered by the electoral umpire for falling below required performance.


The revelation is coming 392 days to the next general elections in the country.


One of the groups seeking registration as a political party, he said, applied with a sheet of paper without an address.


He said: “And I asked if we are to rely on this application, to which address are we going to send the reply?”


The INEC chairman said another individual applied to register six political parties. He however explained that while the guidelines for the registration of political parties are specified in the constitution, the commission has a procedure which it would follow to consider the applications.


On the February local council election in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja he noted that on 12th February 2022, “a major end of tenure election will hold in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to elect 6 Area Council Chairmen/Chairwomen and 62 councillors.”


The FCT council election, he said, will be followed by two governorship elections in Ekiti State on 18th June 2022 and Osun State on 16th July 2022.


He reiterated that party primaries for the Ekiti State governorship election are scheduled for 4th – 29th January 2022. For the Osun State governorship election, he noted that primaries will hold from 16th February to 12th March 2022.


“In the case of Ekiti State, all the 18 political parties have indicated their intention to participate in the election and have already served the mandatory notices for their primaries to elect their candidates as required by law,” he said.


In addition to the end of tenure elections, he said six bye-elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday 26th February 2022 in Cross River, Imo, Ondo and Plateau states. He added however that three by-elections were still pending.


He said: “You may recall that the Commission suspended Ekiti East I State Constituency bye-election in March 2020 following its violent disruption by thugs. The election will now be combined with the state governorship election holding on 18th June 2022.


“The date for the Shinkafi State Constituency bye-election in Zamfara State will be announced after a thorough review of the security situation in the area, while the Commission awaits the declaration of vacancy by the Kaduna State House of Assembly in respect of Giwa West State Constituency.”


On the distribution of voters to Polling Units in the FCT, particularly the fact that 593 out of 2,822 (or 21%) of the total do not have voters, he noted that “this is because voters failed to take advantage of the expansion of access to transfer to these new Polling Units.


“The Commission looks forward to the support of media organisations to encourage voters who wish to transfer from their present polling units to new ones created as part of the Commission’s expansion of access polling units across the country.


“After all, your support was crucial to the success of the recent expansion of voter access to polling units for the first time in 25 years since the initial delimitation in 1996,” he said.


He insisted that the critical preparations for the 2023 General Election must be concluded this year.


He said: “For instance, the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which commenced in June last year has entered the third quarter. As at Monday 17th January 2022, a total of 8,260,076 eligible Nigerians commenced the online pre-registration, completed the registration physically, applied for transfer to new voting locations, requested for replacement of their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and updated their voter information records.


“The Commission has been publishing weekly progress reports of the exercise, including analysis of the distribution of online and completed registration by age group, occupation, gender and disability.


“Since the exercise commenced in June last year, the Commission has so far published 36 weekly reports which show a consistent pattern of young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 constituting the largest majority of registrants.


“In terms of occupation, students constitute the largest majority of registrants, which is consistent with the dominance of young Nigerians as voters.


“We are aware that Nigerians want to know when their PVCs will be available for collection.


“For those who have completed the registration, the Commission is right now undertaking the most comprehensive cleaning up of the data to ensure that only eligible citizens are added to the voters’ register for the 2023 general election.


“We will share our findings with Nigerians very soon. The actual dates for the collection of the PVCs nationwide will also be announced very soon.”


For emphasis, he noted that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in the FCT elections, which is the second major election after the Anambra governorship election held in November last year.


The 68 constituencies cover extensive urban and rural locations sharing border with five states in the North Central and North West parts of the country.


“This is yet another opportunity to pilot the efficacy of the BVAS in a different geographical, geo-political and electoral context.


“The same technology will be deployed in all forthcoming elections across the country.


“Similarly, for all elections going forward, Polling Unit results will be uploaded in real-time on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal,” he said.

The threats by socio-cultural groups, Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, that any political party that presents a northerner as its presidential candidate will be rejected at the polls is unsettling the opposition Peoples Democratic Party ‘PDP’ Thecitypulsenews gathers.



The 13 PDP governors including the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, are currently in Port Harcourt where several issues pertaining to the 2023 Presidential election are being discussed.

Having held its national convention and put its house in order since last November, the party is now looking at how its Presidential candidate will emerge.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had revealed in October that Governor Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi) and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had all indicated their desire to contest the Presidential election.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had also visited Bauchi recently where he drummed support for the Presidential ambition of Governor Mohammed.

But sources within the PDP revealed on Monday that the threats by southern socio-political groups were unsettling the party.


“The truth is that the PDP believes that giving the ticket to a northerner will boost its chances of victory. They think they already have the support of the South-East and South-South. So, all they will need is to get a strong northerner as the Presidential candidate that can deliver northern votes at a time when Buhari will not be on the ballot.

“However, these new threats by Afenifere and Ohanaeze are now causing trouble for the party,” a PDP chieftain said.

In a chat with Arise TV on Monday, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim, said the failure of political parties to zone the Presidency to the South-East in 2023 will be a burden on the conscience of the nation.


He said, “There is also an agreement about the zoning principle regarding rotation between the north and the south” in the PDP constitution.”

The former Senate President said the South-East ought to produce the next President.


He added, “In the PDP constitution, there is also an agreement about the zoning principle regarding rotation between the North and the South with the region micro zoning amongst themselves

“The reason is because every section of the country must have a sense of belonging; not following it will be a burden on the conscience of the nation.”

Speaking with The PUNCH on Monday, a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, said indeed the issue of zoning was a sensitive matter.

George, however, said he was confident that the party would be able to resolve its challenges. He, therefore, asked socio-cultural groups to be patient with the party.

He said, “I know that when we get to that bridge we will cross it. I believe in the sanctity and the wisdom of our elders in the PDP. We will put all the parameters in the equation and we will sit down and discuss it.


“We conceptualised zoning and we started it for the sake of fairness. But as I said, we will meet, discuss and X-ray it and see the impact. We will hold very robust debates. That is the culture of our party. There is no kingmaker in the PDP who will be the oracle. We will discuss and debate in the interest of the sanctity of Nigeria.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, could not be reached for comment on Monday as he did not respond to calls.

In an earlier statement, however, the PDP spokesman said no decision had been taken on the issue of zoning and the party leadership would meet and consult before such a decision is taken.

_*VP receives UN Emergency Response Coordinator_

_*Also meets Igbobi old boys ahead of school’s 90th anniversary_

No matter the challenge or resource constraint, people need to know that their government will always be in a position to support and make provisions for them.

This was the assertion made by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, when he received a delegation from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, led by the Undersecretary/Emergency Response Coordinator, Mr. Martin Griffiths at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday.

“We have challenges; post-pandemic challenges, resource constraints, but we still have to make provisions for the millions of people who expect that government must be in a position to support them in a terrible and challenging period,” Prof. Osinbajo declared.

He acknowledged that “we are extremely pleased with OCHA,” noting “its contribution to all humanitarian efforts. The experience OCHA brings to the table is one of dealing with conflicts and problems, not just humanitarian concerns, but the political concerns in delivering humanitarian assistance.”

Regarding the reintegration of refugees and IDPs affected by humanitarian crises, particularly in the Northeast, the VP said, “we are looking at mobilizing resources for when we bring back refugees; someone must make provisions for them, provide the right living conditions for them.

“I hope these are areas where we might be able to get some support from OCHA, even if what we are able to get asides from physical and material support,” would be “the kinds of technical assistance that will help us in just thinking the problems through and coming up with plans and ideas and delivering on the mandate.”

On the need to effectively end the insurgency, the Vice President observed that the “international community mobilized and dealt with ISIS. Africa and especially the Sahel really need to have that kind of decisive action.

“I hope at some point, this will be discussed at the UN,” the VP stated, calling for “some deliberate or decisive effort to bring this to an end.”

In his own remarks, Martin Griffiths reassured that “OCHA is here to stay for as long as you need us.

“This year 2022, we have increased the budget for the overall plan for about $1.2billion, and we are here to support government institutions of Nigeria to help people affected by humanitarian crisis.”

In attendance at the meeting was the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq and other officials from OCHA.

In another development on Thursday, the Vice President received on a courtesy call, a delegation of the Old Boys Association of Igbobi College, (ICOBA) to which he belongs.

The delegation led by Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya, (who represented the President of ICOBA), intimated Prof. Osinbajo about plans for the 90th Anniversary of the school.

In his response, VP Osinbajo stated that the anniversary was an opportunity to achieve many things including “drawing attention not just to the achievements of the school which are incredible, but also the potential in improving public education, and education generally in our country.”

“There is a resurgence, there are alumni everywhere and they are saying more or less the same thing, what can we do to get our schools back to what they used to be?”

He went on to say that the activities around the 90th anniversary of the school would “spark a great deal of interest and start a revolution of sorts around improving the quality of schools.”

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*

The African Youth Parliament (AYP) has honored the Chief Executive Officer of Unique Hanukkah Enterprises, AMB. ABDULAZEEZ OLAWALE ABASS JNR an award of excellence.



The special award tagged ''Nelson Mandela Global was presented to him towards his great philanthropic gesture, fervent and outstanding productive contributions towards youth developmental projects



The speaker of the parliament, RT. Hon MENSAH D. ASAMOU while presenting the award described the awardee as a man with large heart, adding that he has taken a lot of Youths out of poverty.


Meanwhile, the awardee appreciated the group for the honor, saying that he will continue in his good deeds.



In his words, "It gives me great honour to be privilegedly to be conferred with this prestigious international award in a country of over 200million population. This award is such that can never be bought cheaply or expensively at any commodities market or traded on any economic floors (Stock Exchange or Capital Markets) but can only be deservedly earned and to be considered as an awardee did not only confirmed to me that Truth Breeds Trust but established the maxim that *Man Shall be rewarded according to his intentions*. I was only doing what the Organizers considered to have merited me this award with sincere intentions and unconditional services to Humanity. And I never expect an iota of rewards from mortal being. I was just been truthful in my services to Humanity but today the Organizers have showered me with their trust in return and I will unwaveringly strive not to betray the trust nor undermine the confidence reposed in me.

"From the unblemished details of the award, incorruptible nominations processes, the composition of the impeccable Selection Committee and uncompromising eligibility criteria according to the UNITED NATIONS; recognizes the achievements of those who dedicated their lives to the services of humanity as guided by the purposes and principles of UNITED NATIONS; it thus reinforces my father's life philosophy that *freedom doesn't come automatically but it is deliberately achieved*. And like the man in whose name this award is being conferred on me, I am an unapologetic, unrelenting and unrepentant freedom fighter and will not rest until the entire human race is liberated in all ramifications for a better and habitable world to live in.

And in reference to the Nelson Mandela's quotable words above, I am not a blind pursuer of cheap popularity but honestly leading the vanguard for people-oriented and societal developments REVOLUTION.

''Finally, this award's acceptance speech is incomplete without acknowledging some wonderful people and standing on respect is a reciprocal mantra; I hereby express my profound gratitude to every members of African Youth Parliament and all those who facilitated my meritorious nomination, selection and eventual decoration. This is a further Call to Duty and I will continue to dutifully discharge my responsibilities towards the attainment of egalitarian society; *for all can be delegated except responsibility.

"Thanks for your audience and have a memorable stay in Ogun State in particular and Nigeria in general" he concluded

Say No To Killings,abuse Of Women And Girls As Queen Josephine Alfred Diete-spiff



In her relentless efforts advocating for the safety of women and girls,Her Majesty,Queen (Barr) Josephine Alfred Diete-Spiff embarks on a road Walk with the Response Initiative Team of Bayelsa State,an initiative of the First Lady ,Her Excellency Dr Gloria Diri and Convener Barr (Mrs) Dise Ogbise to say NO to Killings,Abuse of Women and Girls in the society.


Highlighting the main purpose for the walk,which she termed,Timely,Her Majesty,Queen Josephine Alfred Diete-Spiff said," the awareness on the ugly and increasing cases of violence against women, the callous abuses and dehumanization of women, particularly the gruesome attempted murder of the female undergraduate in the Bayelsa owned Niger Delta University, Miss Deborah Emafidon.

The dastardly attempted killing of this promising young lady underscores the danger facing girls and women in our present-day society and glaringly reveals the potent and consistent threat to the right to life of girls and women as guaranteed by the Universal Human Rights Declaration and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

As Queens and mothers of kingdoms in this our dear state, we stand collectively to say No to killings, disrespect for life, and abuse of women and girls."

Her Majesty commends the first Lady of Bayelsa State,Her Excellency Dr Gloria Diri for such a life touching initiative, the Gender Response initiative team Bayelsa State, the Committee for Democracy and Environmental Dividends (CODED) Bayelsa Office, members of concerned non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other Civil Society stakeholder groups working on human rights protection, more specifically, gender-based violence (GBV) across the eight Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State for their commitment to stop killings of this nature.

The event which was well attended calls for genuine and proactive measures from Government and Security Agencies in the country and Bayelsa in Particular to permanently put an end to such heinous and inhuman crime or reduced drastically to 1%.

While reiterating on the importance of Women and girls in the society, Her Majesty,Queen Evangelist Josephine Diete-Spiff who is also The Chairperson,Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers' Wives Association and President,Queens of Niger Delta Initiative,said

"Women and girls are essential partners to men and boys, and this is properly understood to halt the long-held belief that they are properties for the comfort of the opposite sex. They help make society more manageable and more comfortable and, in return, deserve appreciation, respect, protection, and support rather than the ugly attacks in the form of kidnap, rape, assault, ritual killings that now characterize happenings in the state, region, and country. Only feeble-minded societies destroy their women and girls."

She emphasized that, the solidarity walk is a clarion call from concerned Bayelsians strongly supported by the Royal Queens and their husbands, (the Traditional Rulers of the State) to the government, to urgently do the needful to end the violent crimes against women and the rampant criminal trend of targeting women for money rituals.

According to the Queen, "It is appalling that the mad quest for quick wealth has stripped our youths of their conscience and the value for lives. It is time to stamp out taking lives to fulfil personal goals. Our children should be called to face the reality of life-that education and hard work are the only actual routes to lasting and peaceful riches.

The police and other law enforcement organs must take up this challenge of going after the killers of Miss Emafidon and related victims, freeing Leah Sharibu, and others still in captivity from terrorist. The force should bring them to book and create innovative and technology compliant strategies and tools for tracking perpetrators of all forms of violence against women and girls in Bayelsa State and the country.

There should be enacted laws to promote easy tracking of ritualists, drug peddlers, harmful activities in hotels and other leisure centres, and proper monitoring of underage boys parading the state with questionable wealth."

Parents and community members should join in this campaign for a safer Bayelsa State by meeting their obligations of setting the proper steps for their children. To direct their school-age children back to school, encourage hard work, equality, and gender respect in their homes, with a total stoppage of promoting wealth acquisition among the youths."she added

An Award to honour Her Majesty,Queen (Dr) Dame Josephine Alfred Diete-Spiff of Twon Brass Kingdom,Bayelsa State as Patroness of the Character Moulding Club was presented to her on Thursday 20th January,2022 by the club.

The Award which also compliments "Woman of Character Award" received last year from the President,Character Colony Kokoriko for Her Majesty's selfless efforts towards good character developments in Youths for better future.

According to the Awardee,Queen Diete-Spiff "Character in this sense relates to inward beauty,which is expected of our teeming youths.Therefore, donation of a Cup is made to facilitate the advocacy in Schools using Sports as a tool support and encourage our Youths become Children of Character that shuns Violence and Drug Abuse".

Her Majesty appreciates the club for finding her worthy of the Award and Madam Beauty Alagoa,the Secretariat Admin for facilitating the presentation.

The Ogun State Chairman of Afenifere,a social political group,Otunba Opeyemi Agbaje has Enjoined Nigerians and Ogun State residents in particular to ensure they arm themselves with their voters card as the electioneering year gets closer to choose their desired leaders discretely and wisely.

The leader made this assertion during Ogun state chapter of the Socio- Political group's first general meeting held on Tuesday 18th, January 2022 in Ogun State.

According to him," Nigerians can achieve their desired nation through the ballot box and not by means of carrying weapons.The challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians were not caused by invisible persons or Spirits but by some greedy and corrupt Nigerians which are not necessarily tied to religion,ethnicity or political affiliation."

Otunba Agbaje also admonished Nigerians and Ogun State residents to be security conscious while traveling through the Lagos / Ibadan expressway because of recent incidents of Kidnappings and Robbery operations by Criminals in Security uniforms.He called on the Federal and Ogun State government to employ security measures for a lasting solution towards a genuine safety of its citizenry.

Afenifere a Social Political whose major aim and objective is a better Nigerian federation devoid of Nepotism,Tribalism,Dictatorship,Corruption,Lopsided Judiciary,unfavorable constitution and attempts at ethnic domination is calling on well meaning and patriotic Nigerians and Ogun state residents in particular to join millions of others and the moving train of Afenifere for a positive change through any of its social media handles online or call 0802 223 5804.

Also speaking at the meeting,a leader of Afenifere, Sen.(Dr) Femi Okurounmu reiterated that 2023 general elections is very crucial to the transformation and betterment of Nigeria as a nation,therefore all hands must be on deck to choose the right candidates from a committed and people centered political party.Nigerians can not afford to make a wrong choice again,he added.

_*Blue economy offers a new vista, says Osinbajo_

Bringing together top officials from Federal and State governments, international agencies alongside other stakeholders, the Buhari Administration is set to further explore the economic opportunities available through oceanic and marine resources around the country.

This is as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, inaugurated an Expanded Partnership Committee on Sustainable Blue Economy today at the Presidential Villa. The committee that is chaired by the Vice President is composed of State Governors, several ministers, representatives of military and security agencies and other members from the private sector.

The Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It entails emerging renewable energy, seabed extractive activities and marine biotechnology and bio-prospecting.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Osinbajo stated that “the blue economy offers a whole new vista of opportunity for economic activity especially in areas close to oceans, rivers and coasts, but more importantly, perhaps the entire country, because practically everywhere has some body of water that can be exploited.”

On the composition of the committee, the Vice President mentioned that it has “representatives from the States and the geo-political zones, we have agency representation, Chief of Naval Staff, Comptroller-General of Customs, NIMASA and several other agencies. There are also ministries such as Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Environment.”

According to him, “there will be several agencies and several interactions between institutions because we are dealing with ports and terminals, oil and gas, the environment, tourism, hospitality – a whole range of economic activities that are connected to what is described as the Blue Economy.”

The inauguration was attended by the Governor of Borno State, Prof. (Engr.) Babagana Umara Zulum; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikpeazu; Minister of State for Power, Godwin Agba; and the representative of the Transportation Minister, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation. Others include the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo; Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd); Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, amongst others, and private sector representatives.

The Committee’s Terms of Reference include providing an assessment of the current realities, opportunities and challenges for economic diversification and the growth of a sustainable blue economy in Nigeria, as well as identifying and reviewing relevant policies and institutional/capacity building mechanisms for blue economy development in Nigeria, and others.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*

---Those Instigating, Elongating Crime Against Humanity In Zamfara State Will Soon Be Exposed, Prosecuted ~Gov. Matawalle


Zamfara state Governor, Bello Matawalle has said those collaborating with bandits to elongate crime against humanity in Zamfara State will soon be exposed and prosecuted.

Governor Matawalle disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja after he briefed President Buhari on the security situation in the State.

The Governor said investigation had begun to ascertain the involvement or the otherwise of people in the list of collaborators of the criminals and their degrees of collaborations.

Governor Matawalle gave the assurance that no one found to be collaborating with the criminals would be spared, no matter their status in the society.

He refuted the outrageous figures of those killed by bandits, which are being published in the social and conventional media, and accused profiteers of the crime for the exaggeration.

The Governor, who noted that the initial peace agreement he signed with the bandits worked for 9 months, said the agreement got grounded by some people, who instigated the bandits to renege on their commitments of the agreement to gain cheap political clout.

He however said the new strategy to be adopted, which he has informed President Buhari about, would soon usher in peace and stability in the region.

Governor Matawalle thanked the Republic of Niger for assisting Nigeria in her fight against terrorism and banditry.

--there’s nothing Jesus Christ cannot change or control… Dr Chris Okafor
All is sets for a 21 days prayer and fasting session for the Nation and all it citizens Holding at the Grace Nation international worldwide aka Liberation city, the children of God will come together to pray for a better year ahead.

According to the senior pastor of the church and the Generational Prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor, the prayer and fasting session is aimed at praying for the Nation as a whole and to seek a divine fruitful year 2022.
The prayer and fasting session will begin on January 16th- Feb 5th 20022 at all the Grace Nation outlets across the Globe, the clergy remarked.

In his sermon at the Midweek Prophecy, Healing and Deliverance {PHD} service on Thursday 13th January 2022 at the International Headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide , 9-12 liberation close, Oshofisan street, off Edozie street by Ereke bus stop ojodu Berger Lagos Nigeria, the Man of God who Teach on the Topic BREAKING THE YORK OF LABAN {Part 2} said Laban works in different ways in the life of Men, he emphasized that Poverty, sickness or weak health, Barrier of Promises and fails are all variance of Laban in human life’s, the oracle of God as he is fondly called by faithful said one of the surest way to break out from the barrier of Laban as a Christians is through the intervention of the Holy spirit and you can only seek for the mercy of the Holy Spirit through Prayers.

These and more are the reason we will be waiting on the lord for 21 days through prayers and fasting in order to break out from the spirit of Laban ravaging the Nation, Prayer is the Key to total transformation we all envisage in the Country, there is nothing Jesus Christ cannot change nor control, we as a Christians are mindful of this year 2022 and 2023, particularly 2023 when the next national Election and transition to another government we come up, we believe God alone can perfect the process without rancor, this is why we are beginning 2022 with this 21 days prayer and fasting session for the Nation , I use this opportunity to invites Nigerians to join me on this journey of faith, I also invites all Christians across the world to join us to pray for a better 2022 because with God all things are Possible Dr Chris Okafor concluded.

Zamfara State former Governor His Excellency Hon. Dr. Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari has earmarked humongous amount of Money to host the leader of the Islamic Movement, otherwise known as Shiites, Sheikh Ibrahim ZAZZAKY to Cellebrate his freedom after five years of an illegal detention by the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari in conjunction with Kaduna State Government under the Leadership of Governor Nasir Ahmad El Rufa'i.

One of the former Governor's strong loyalist, a Federal Commissioner in the National Population Commission Muttakah Rini Said, " the event is not political but to raise funds to our spiritual leader Sheikh Zazzaky to rebuild his shrine ( HUSSAINIYYA) in Zaria which was wickedly destroyed last five years by the Nigerian government, adding that His Excellency the former Governor Yari being him a strong supporter of the Movement, Chooses Zamfara State as the most prepared Venue, " the report revealed.

Muttakah Rini further said, " During the funds raising ceremony we are expecting to receive thousands of our Movement members from all over Nigeria and beyond, including Ghana, Niger Republic, and Senegal.

Another Ex-Governor Yari's loyalist Alh. Salihu Mai Buhu from Gumi Local Government area of the State has vowed to offer his large farm to the Nigerian Shiites leader Zazzaky to build another Shrine in Zamfara state and provide him with all the necessary infrastructures to start a new life, Saying "Zazzaky is a Nigerian like President Muhammadu, therefore, the Sheikh has the right to practice his Faith anywhere in the Country." Mai Buhu boasted.

Another Source who decline to mention his name due to the sensitivity of this report said, " Some years back, the former Governor Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari built a befitting Shrine for the Shiites Movement in his home town Talata Mafara and is now planning to assist the movement to establish another shrine in Gusau, the State Capital, adding that everybody knew the former Governor as being a strong supporter of Shiites Movement in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Should the authorities allow this religiouns gathering in a state like Zamfara where security agencies are working 24 hours to restore permanent peace, the security situation in the state could be worsened.
This medium further learnt that after the walimat in Gusau, another event is scheduled to hold in Talata Mafara, where the former Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar will receive Elzakkaky who will pray for the former Governor's ambition to contest for the National Chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress APC in the upcoming APC convention.

According to the plans, a large convoy of prominent supporters and loyalists of Yari would accompany him and Elzakkaky for the foundation laying of the intended HUSAYMIYYAH at Zaria.

Among those to accompany the former Governor and the Shiites leader include Dauda Lawal, Muttaka Rini, Abu Dantabawa, Abdulmik Zubairu, Sani Garba Gusau, Mai buhu Gumi, Yari's former chief of Staff Abdulkarim Tsafe, Lawali Gabdon Kaura, Ibrahim Dan Malikin Gidangoga, Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, Dr. Mikailu Mafara, Magajin Garin Sokoto among others.

*NSIA to fund Solar Power Naija with N10B as part of 5m households' connections target_

_*250,000 new business names registered, certificates issued all free of charge_

_*All States on course to get N1.7B minimum from Survival Fund, Lagos, Kano & Abia ahead._

_*Thousands of farmer-exporters trained in food safety, many received international certifications_

In the first meeting of the Economic Sustainability Committee in 2022, federal ministers and heads of agencies have reported further progress in the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan of the Buhari Administration as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, presided over a virtual meeting of the Committee today at the Presidential Villa.

It would be recalled that in response to the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Muhammadu Buhari had in June 2020, mandated the Vice President - as chair of the Economic Sustainability Committee, to coordinate the implementation of the ESP aimed at cushioning the economic effects of the global pandemic.

Highlights of the presentations by MDAs today include the report that about 2.1 million jobs have been retained or created through the implementation of the ESP programmes; and the approval of N10bn by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) to fund the deployment and local assembly of 200,000 (off-grid) Solar Homes Systems under the “Solar Power Naija” partnership between both the NSIA and Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

In the presentation on the Survival Fund made by the Industry, Trade and Investment Minister of State, Ambassador Mariam Katagum, she disclosed that while all States of the Federation have received varying levels of the N75B Survival Fund with its different schemes, eventually each State would soon receive a minimum of N1.7B cumulative from all the schemes.

Lagos, Abia and Kano States have already crossed the bar, with Lagos reaching over N2.5B and Kano over N2B. No State so far has received anything less than N1B.

In his presentation, the Minister of State, Budget & National Planning, Clem Agba, disclosed that while about 1.3 million jobs were retained through the MSME and Payroll support, 774,000 jobs were created from the Public Works Programme and 26,021 jobs from roads construction /rehabilitation.

In the same vein, the Committee was briefed that over 1.1 million Nigerians have benefitted from the different schemes under the ESP MSME Survival Fund, thereby saving millions of jobs. A breakdown showed there are 459,334 beneficiaries under the Payroll Support Scheme; 307,687 beneficiaries from the Artisan & Transport Scheme.

Similarly, 82,491 Nigerians are so far beneficiaries of the General MSME Grants Scheme, and another 17,468 of the Guaranteed Offtake Scheme. Also, 250,000 business names were registered free under the Survival Fund’s CAC Formalization Support Scheme.

Also, under the Solar Power Naija programme, the Managing Director/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo, briefed the Committee that another 60,000 SHS are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2022 under the NDPHC-A-solar partnership, with at least 10,000 units to be assembled locally. This is besides the 200,000 solar connections to be funded by NSIA.

The ESP Solar Naija programme is designed to provide electricity access to 5 million households, and will serve about 25 million Nigerians in rural areas and under-served urban communities nationwide.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, noted that the Rapid Response Register (RRR) component under the ESP has since commenced, with 374,759 beneficiaries paid so far, and another 391,185 Nigerians earmarked for payment soon.

The RRR is designed as an intervention to cushion the economic shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban poor Nigerians currently not benefitting from the federal government’s cash transfer programme.

Regarding the progress of the Export Expansion Facility Programme (EEFP) component of the ESP, 281 companies have benefitted from the COVID-grant relief, while 1,105 companies are beneficiaries under the Export Development Fund (EDF), among other milestones.

While the EEFP aims to protect export businesses from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and also safeguard jobs, the EDF is a statutory provision of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and is being activated for the first time in the history of the Council under the ESP.

Also as part of the ESP, 100 MSMEs exporters have been listed on Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce platform. The NEPC under the ESP also trained 4500 farmers & exporters on food safety and international standards, while 700 of them have now received international certification which only less than 50 had in Nigeria before now.

Besides, 8 new Domestic Export Warehouses are currently being built, including in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Abuja to ease supply chain constraints for exporters in the country.

*Laolu Akande,*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity,*
*Office of the Vice President.*

The attention of the Zamfara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress APC has been drawn to a press conference by the PDP Chairman, Col Bala Mande rtd where he made some accusations which are the reserves of either the police or the judiciary like issuance of warrant and or arrest which the governor nor the APC lack powers to execute.

The attitude of people perceived as elders in the opposition PDP in Zamfara through lies and mischief against the APC and the state's Chief Executive, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle MON is certainly getting out of hand and deliberately targeted at heating the polity via their desperation to clinch to power by hook or crook.

It is disheartening to see a former security officer, former governor and a retired army colonel coming to public glare to say many things that are untrue.

This is an abuse of the level playing ground provided by the focused leadership of governor Matawalle and the established harmony, respect and understanding enjoyed by APC leadership and our youths who have continued to be law abiding.

There has been no time that the PDP mischievously raised any issue that we did not appropriately respond even when they do not have evidence over such claims including the issue of security, how government fund are used and most importantly, the trips undertaken by the governor in search of ways to address insecurity and bringing investment to boost the state's economy and generate employment opportunities to our youths and women.

The PDP however, never sees anything good in the government. For instance and lately when the governor while in company of his colleagues from Kebbi and Jigawa states went to Niger Republic to discuss security issues, the opposition PDP only saw Matawalle there minus the other governors and they have been using the entertainment aspect of the visit, which is local wrestling organized by the host country and government rather than the main issue even as the media aides to the governor issued releases on why the trip took place.

They try as always to draw public sympathy by leaving the main issues for trivialities. When the state government set up investigation on Professor Kabiru Jabaka over allegations of corruption he perpetrated while as Chairman of the state's Zakkat and Endowment Board, in order to cover his tracks and guilt, he ran for cover in the PDP accusing the government of spending unverified monies while his issue has been confirmed.

The former dictator chairman of the party who even though a retired colonel never contributed anything to address insecurity situation in the state is now calling Matawalle a dictator and since he cannot differentiate between government and the security, he now said the government is after the arrest of the noisy Jabaka.

It is high time the so-called elders stop the hide and seek self destructive agenda setting and conduct themselves with maturity or time will go against them.

For the PDP to be crying woefully for the evils they committed which is now witch-hunting them, they are making unnecessary accusations against APC and Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

I believe if Governor Matawalle is muscling opposition in Zamfara state, he would not have allowed the PDP to open its office opposite the state Ministry of Finance freely.

The press conference addressed by the PDP Chairman where he gave outrageous figure of of the casualties recorded in the recent attacks at Anka and Bukkuyum local government even as the two emirs gave the exact figures of 58 before the governor and the state security agencies was a direct security breach unless if he is trying to raise our suspicions.

But I will not be surprised of his claims because they were not happy with the number because what the PDP and its state leadership want to hear is the news of large scale killings, kidnappings and rustling so as to start jubilation and sharing the news on different flatforms in their animalistic thoughts.

So for the issue of Jabaka, I advised them to allow him go face his woes squarely according to laws of the land rather than shifting blames against others.

Let them know that APC in Zamfara state under governor Matawalle is prospering very fast and no amount of blackmail will change its fortunes in the state.

Yusuf Idris Gusau
APC Publicity Secretary
Zamfara State
11th January, 2022

The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has declared that it has no Youth Congress or Youth Wing of any type.
The rebuttal was contained in a Press Release signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, in the wake of an event that was held last Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Following is the text of the Release:

AFENIFERE HAS NO YOUTH WING or CONGRESS

Our attention has just been drawn to a group with the nomenclature of Afenifere Youth Congress. The said entity even organized a programme at Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State, on Wedneday, January 5 , 2022 in which it conferred an award on some people.
This is to state categorically that AFENIFERE, the renowned pan-Yoruba socio-political organization has no youth wing of any type, be it congress, wing, arm etc.
Earlier in its young life, some young people attempted to form Afenifere Youth Wing, but some activities that took place made our fathers at that time to cancel anything of that nature. Since then, there has not been anything close to a youth arm, congress or wing for Afenifere.
It needs to be stated that Afenifere, even as presently constituted, is non-discriminatory to all Yoruba adults irrespective of biological age as it is open to any Yoruba person who subscribes to its ethos. In other words, since the body accommodates both old and young who are qualified, it does not have a need for a Youth Wing or Congress. Being a Yoruba person of integrity and being ready to subscribe to the ethos of the organization are among the major qualifications to be an Afenifere member.
Thus, apart from not having a Youth Congress, Afenifere does not go about conferring awards on people.

Who says there are no more accurate seer in this world, whoever have such believe is canal in his thinking, the power of prophesy is still much alive like this days of Elisha and the rest, we still have many men of God that hear directly from Elohim.

One of such man of God and Accurate Prophet with many prophesy that has come to pass is the Generational Prophet of God and a famous radical prophetic televangelist man of God, The senior Pastor of Grace Nation International aka Liberation city,Dr chris Okafor, he just done it again today, about 7 hours into the 3rd round of the Emirates FA Cup between Chelsea and chesterfield, this accurate seer said he saw Chelsea winning with 5 goals at the end of the 90minute of play
Without mincing words and confirmation to his words, the match ended 5-1 in favor of Chelsea football Cup as prophesied.

With this prophesy come true, Dr Chris Okafor remain a Senior Major Prophet of God with accurate prophesy across the globe who hear directly from God
Watch out for a comprehensive 2022 prophesy from the man of God at our subsequent bulletins.

The generational Prophet of God and Senior pastor of Grace Nation international aka Liberation City Dr Chris okafor has demonstrated true spirit of Practical Christianity as he come to the rescue of a member who lost his mother for over two year and could not buried her due to lack of money

According to the member who will not want his name mention said he lost his mother two years ago and since then, him and his other siblings çould not raise money to give there mother a benefitting burial, even money to pay for the mortuary we could not raise it now he remarked

While at the mid week PHD Service at the international Headquarters of the church in lagos, Dr Chris Okafor located him, dymisified the misery behind the Inability of him and sibling to give there mummy befitting burial

Meanwhile the generational prophet of God, Dr Chris Okafor has come to there rescue by giving them 1m to buried their mother and settle all outstanding bills, this is truelly a demonstration of Practical Christianity

The man of God also use the occasion to address various family alters affecting members in there field of endeavours

It will be recalled that Dr Chris OKafor remain one of few men of God around the world that gives priority to Giving back to the Society that makes them.

Oshola likeminds under the leadership of its President, Mr Tunde Oyelola has congratulated the Executive Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo olu for ensuring that the dividend of democracy is felt throughout the state, He also welcome him to the year 2022

While sending his new year message to
Mr Governor , Oshola likemind President Tunde Oyelola thank Governor
Babajide Sanwo olu for all his efforts and meaningful development project Scattered all over lagos state, he said he has done well in the area of infrastructure, housing, health and security in the last two year as he charge him to do more in the year 2022.

Mr Oyelola said without mIncing words the Governor has done his best and the best is good enough to guarantee him a second term ticket, he said oshola likemind is ever ready to give him all the necessary support anytime anyday towards his second term in office

The OSHOLA Likemind President also commend the Grassroot devoelopment program and agenda's of ifako ijaiye Local govt under the chairman of Hon Usman Hamzat,

Mr Oyelola said since the inception of the current administration in the council area, it Has been project here and there, the oshola likemind president said, Hon Hamzat has demonstrated that he is a true grassroot democrat,

Oshola likemind! Is ever ready to give him our support anytime he needs us, but we also challenge him to do more for the good people of ifako ijaiye in 2022, we pray for him to be successful in all the council projects this year, he concluded

OShola likemind is am association of Men and women residing in oshola street, with the basic aims to bring development to oshola street in Ifako ijaiye local government of Lagos state

Oshola likeminds is non Partisan, a non profit organisation with the slogan TOGETHERNESS.

- 2022 will favor anyone who serve God in truth and in Spirit.

The year 2022 has begun with many expectations and different resolution by individuals for a better year ahead despite various challenges ravaging the country
To this background, a clarion call has been made by a Nigeria popular televangelist clergyman. The Senior Pastor of Grace Nation International aka Liberation city Dr Chris Okafor at the first service of the year 2022 in Lagos Nigeria.
Speaking from the International headquarters Grace Nation situated at 9-12 Liberation close, oshofisan street by Edozie street off Ereke Bus stop ojodu Berger lagos, the Generational prophet of God Dr Chris Okafor said year 2022 will be fruitful and certain for Christians who serve God in truth and in Spirit, the clergy said God faithfulness sustain many Christians throughout the year 2021 despite many calamities that befell the country, Despite this uncertainty we are still alive to testify to the goodness of the Lord he remarked
In his sermon with theme “THE BENEFIT OF WORKING WITH GOD”, the Holy Ghost fire brand man of God explained that God needed a committed servant who will carry out many of his instruction and work on earth, he stated further that God want men who ready to work and win souls into his kingdom
The Generational Prophet of God stated further that, the different between the Glory of God and the Glory on Earth have a very big margins, he said the Glory of God make you stand out for everlasting while the Glory of the Earth is temporary and will fade not too long
The first Sunday service of the year 2022 at Grace Nation International headquarters witnessed Prophetic declaration, deliverance and diverse miracles
The weekly activities of the church remains as normal,
The Sunday service is between 7am-12pm
Every Thursday, Prophetic, Healing and deliverance service 7am-10am
Last Friday of every month, night of Prophesy and deliverance 9pm-till u break out.

The wife of the first military governor of old Rivers State and President Royal Queens of the Niger Delta Initiative, HRM Dr. (Barr) Evang. Josephine Diete-Spiff has called on media practitioners in Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large to change the narrative of classifying native doctors and criminals causing mayhem in the country as Pastors.

Dame Josephine stated this in an interview on Sunday during the third edition of the Bayelsa Media Network Awards held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat complex in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The queen and wife of the Amayanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom disclosed that native doctors and criminals have moved into the church, stressing that Pastors who are ordained by God will never be found in such acts.

She further emphasized that native doctors and criminals should be given the right nomenclature as criminals and not pastors.

The Royal Queen said, "I realise these days that when there is crime, a pastor is always mentioned. It is becoming the norm when crime is committed , the person is referred to as 'Pastor'. I am a Pastor and I like to say that since the native doctors have moved to churches, we should actually clarify them properly and stop calling them Pastor somebody.

"We should say either native doctor or a criminal has committed an offense because a child of God will not be found in such acts. I like the Press to put out there that we Christians are not criminals especially when we are titled ‘Pastor’. Pastors are ordained by God and will not be found wanting. So if criminals or native doctors have moved into the church and begin to cause mayhem, pastors should not be classified with them. They should give them the right nomenclature as criminals."

Commending the Bayelsa Media Network for conferring on her an award of excellence as the "Symbol of Hope for the Girl Child, Women and the Elderly, Queen Josephine said it is her passion to care for the girl child and women especially the widows and the elderly through her foundation.

"I am really happy about the award because it is my passion. I have received so many awards; this is my fifth this year. I really thank God that I am been acknowledged and I think it is a call to do more and I hope God keeping me strong, I will do my best always."

Also, the Twon-Brass Queen through her foundation identified and distributed bags of rice and cash gifts to about ten elderly widows during the award ceremony.

She regretted that some men who have huge amount of money in the bank as well as properties, unexpectedly die intestate without disclosing to their wife and children about their wealth, saying that it is one of the reasons why widows who are not supposed to suffer are suffering today.

Queen Josephine called on men to write their Will now that they still can, so that their wife and children who are their future will not suffer.

"I was in the banking sector for 20year. I learnt there that men who died too early or untimely, never tell their spouse about their money in their bank account and the banks won't tell them either so the money gets lost.

"So write a Will, it will help your spouse. Anyone can go first; it might be the wife or the husband. At the age of forty, I wrote my Will. I really urge you to write your Will.

"By January, I will be 55years and I have written my will and am still alive. So write your Will so that your wife and children will not suffer because they are indeed your future", she advised.

The Chairman, Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Amayanabo of Twon-Brass Kingdom, HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff who was full of admiration, appreciated his beloved wife and queen for the award of recognition given to her by the media practitioners.

King Alfred said, "She is a trailblazer, that has never stopped impressing and surprising me daily. So this has come again as a very pleasant surprise and that's why am here in person. I wish her more grease to her elbow.

"I think the media award has come in at the right time. Congratulations to the organizers and to the press. So keep the flag flying."

The former military governor expressed his displeasure over the deprivation and neglect by the multinational oil companies to clean up the crude oil spill and compensate impacted communities caused by the Santa Barbara OML 29 oil field in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

He called on the media to do their best to give the level of environmental degradation and suffering of the Nembe people the needed publicity it deserved in order to attract global attention.

He said, "It is not easy these days where there is an oil spill and somebody turns around and say this is a sabotage. No! Nembe field definitely is one of those older fields which have been exposed and something should be done positively to compensate the people for the loss and deprivation.

"But that is only one of a series. Oil prospective in this country, should know the rules and regulations should be obeyed by the oil companies. When there was a spill in the Bay of Mexico, the world reacted to it and I think the world should react to the one at Nembe creek in the same manner."

--WORSHIP CENTER FOR EACH OF THE SENATORIAL ZONE. " SAYS MEDIA AID.


Zamfara State born politician and Ex Banker Dauda Lawal Dare has airmarked the sum of N120 Million to build 500 sitting capacity Church in each of the senatorial District in the State to motivate religious balance in memory to Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.



A media consultant to Dauda Lawal, Malam Anas Sani Anka who as well doubled as the founder and chief executive director ( Thunder blower) Zamfara State based online media out let made the development known through one of his close friend Namewitheld a lecturer with the Federal University Gusau.



It was also gathered by this medium that the Ex_ Banker is in the process to award the contract of the said worship centers to the reputable construction company with the agreement of his name to remained aninomous, " the report revealed.



A very senior official of the Zamfara State Christian Association of Nigeria CAN who begged for aninomity said," Mr. Dare gesture is indeed commendable because according to him the Holy Bible Stated it Clearly to the believers in the Book of Mathew 5:: NIV. where it says," Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

--Gifts over 3000 bags of Rice, other food items

The responsibility of a church is beyond prayer and deliverance, but after inviting them, you deliver them and also empower them to function on their own, these and more are the mandate giving to Grace Nation worldwide aka Liberation city through the callings of his servant, the Generational prophet of God and Senior Pastor of the church, Dr Chris Okafor and that order stands till today.

To this background, While giving out Christmas gifts to the widows numbered about 2500 and other set of the Less privilege around the church community in Ojodu Berger lagos Nigeria. The Christmas gifts which include food items like Rice, Gari and Cash, the oracle of God as he is fondly called by faithful’s, said this is our ways in Grace Nation to show love, put smile into the faces of the less privilege around us, and because the bible stated it categorically that there will always be the poor among us and in restoring their hope in Jesus Christ we are giving them food stuffs to celebrate Christmas with their families.

The Generational prophet of God said the gesture is a monthly activities of the church where over 3000 widows get food stuffs and cash, Jesus Christ is the reason for this season so we look at some of the activities of Jesus Christ on earth and we emulate them. It was noted that Jesus Christ fed over 5000 people, so Grace Nation aka Liberation City is feeding over 5000 People for this Christmas season he remarked
Some of the widows who receives the Christmas gifts remarked that Dr Chris Okafor is sent by God to give the widows hope again, one of them who will not want her name mentioned said with the good gesture by Dr Chris Okafor every month is Christmas to them because Dr Chris Okafor give them those food items on a monthly bases, we are happy for this Christmas gift and Almighty God will continue to raise his hand up and also bless all the members of Grace Nation worldwide as they called on other men of God to emulate the good spirit of giving demonstrated by Dr Chris Okafor

On the Political instability in the country, the man of God remains that if the body of Christ pray together and seek God intervention things can still come back to better, though leadership is another factor but with God all things are Possible

It will be recalled that Dr Chris Okafor of Grace Nation worldwide remains one of the major men of God around the world that will not compromised or play with the empowerment of the Less Privileged in the society.

Plans to disrupt the current efforts in tackling banditry in Zamfara and Kebbi states have been uncovered.

A source from within the leadership of the outlawed Yan sakai accused of fuelling the crisis of armed banditry in the Northwest region of Nigeria, told this medium that at a secret meeting with some leaders of the outlawed Yan sakai (vigilante groups), former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari said he has increased the salaries he was paying the Yan sakai to destabilise any efforts in dealing with banditry.

In the secret meeting which he held with the leadership of the outlawed vigilante groups in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi state capital, Abdulaziz Yari told the leaders of the outlawed Yan Sakai ( vigilante groups) from both Zamfara and Kebbi states that he would be paying them Twenty Thousand Naira( #20,000) instead of the Fifteen Thousand Naira(15,000) he was paying them when he was Gov.

In addition to the increase in salary, Yari also promised giving them motorbikes to facilitate their activities in the two states.

The souce further revealed that the former Governor also sent a delegation to the Chairman of Kebbi state vigilante groups retired Major General Ishaya Bamaiyi.

According to our source "the former Governor also sent the sum of Three Million Naira (3,000,000) to one Alh Auta, one of those assisting the two states in dealing with the crisis, pleading for him to stop any assistance to Zamfara government in its efforts to tackle banditry in the state."

However, according to our sources, the money was rejected by Alh Auta.

The highlight of the meeting according to our sources, is to ensure total disruption of the efforts being made in curtailing banditry in Zamfara state, as well as sabotaging the current measures by Zamfara government to tackle the crisis.

Others include massive attacks on innocent fulani settlements to cause backlash from bandits in attacking innocent communities in the two states.

The project also includes the use of the Yan sakai as thugs during the 2023 elections in the two states.

The Generational Prophet of God and the senior Pastor Grace Nation international Dr Chris okafor has done it again through his prophetic deliverance gift from God, He prayed for the lifeless school boy while at the Prophetic,healing and Deliverance service was going on thursday at the international headquarter of the church in ojodu berger lagos

The mother of the Boy child interupted the service with her cry, shouting that his son was dead, he cannot breath again,

Immediately the oracle of God as he is fondly called by his faithful excuses the deliverance he was conducting, Prayed and call back the spirit of the young boy, he directed the mother to take the boy to the hospital but Alas before the mother would carry the boy, he jump up and walk With his legs again,

The entire church was agog with the deliverance and healing

One of the church member who will not want his name mentioned said, everyday is a plus, Our Daddy Dr Chris Okafor is always performing deliverance añd miracles on every service, he is God true servant with special annoiting to break any yoke, he remarked

It will be recalled that the Generational Prophet of God Dr chris okafor remain one of the consistent àccurate seer with àccurate Prophesy that has come to pass across the world

His Excellency the president of Niger Republic Mohamed Bazoum has assured the Executive Governor of Zamfara State Rt. Hon. Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle (M.O.N) of his commitments to block any border leakage between Nigeria and Niger Republic to end banditry in the Northwestern Nigeria. Adding that Niger and Nigeria has suffered both civilian and military casualties from the heartless criminals.

Bazoum further said that, His word, "My country has come up with the security tackling road map which has since commenced border operation, because base on the intelligence received, I can assured Nigerians that no more hiding place for any criminal activities that could cause mayhem in our respective countries.

In his response, Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle thanked the president of the Republic of Niger Mohamed Bazoum for his visionary thinking and the steps taken by his administration for intensifying boarder patrol to finally win the battle against bandits, promising to provide all the necessary administrative support to boarder patrol team to get rids of any form of crimes.

Recall Governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle of Zamfara State inherited a very bad security challenges and economic crisis from the previous administration but has bow now to reshape the State better than he met it.