Interrogating President Muhammadu Buhari 3rd Broadcast On The Covid-19 Pandemic



Following the third broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari on Covid-19 Pandemic, Dr. Tom Ohikere, a two time commissioner of Information of Kogi and APC Stakeholder, bared his mind on the implications of the broadcast.



"Fellow Nigerians, for the past four weeks, most parts of our country have been under either Federal Government or State Government lockdown. As I mentioned earlier, these steps were necessary and overall, have contributed to slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in our country."



In these four weeks, the Federal and State Governments have jointly and collaboratively worked hard on how to balance the need to protect health while also preserving livelihoods, leveraging global best practices while keeping in mind our peculiar circumstances.



According to his speech the government have assessed how our factories, markets, traders and transporters can continue to function while at the same time adhering to NCDC guidelines on hygiene and social distancing and how our children can continue to learn without compromising their health.



We reviewed how our farmers can safely plant and harvest in this rainy season to ensure our food security is not compromised. Furthermore, we also discussed how to safely transport food items from rural production areas to industrial processing zones and ultimately, to the key consumption centers.



All these measures according to the President was to develop implementable policies that will ensure our economy continues to function while still maintaining our aggressive response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These same difficult decisions are being faced by leaders around the world.



But Ohikere said if quick intervention is not done regarding this pandemic and COVID-19 continues to devastate lives all over the world, agriculture and food systems come under critical strain. Recessions, food shortages, hunger and malnutrition are feared to be likely, with grave impact on vulnerable communities in developing countries like Nigeria .



Agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa is largely dominated by smallholder farmers, many of whom already farm under severe strain of climatic variability and resource constraints. With the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on food and nutrition security is expected to be harsh, poverty and malnourishment could become even worse. Nigeria must guard the basic operations required to produce, trade and supply food. Digital agriculture offers a glimpse of hope, he said.

The progress made with digitalising agriculture in Africa over the years can be used as a strong foundation for new initiatives to alleviate the COVID-19’s impact on food security.



While speaking alternately, Ohikere said government should explore the traditional medicine while still await the WHO to come up with a vaccine. "Traditional medicine is an important component of the health care system of most developing countries. However, indigenous knowledge about herbal medicines of many Nigerian cultures has not yet been investigated or efficiently maximised.



Many hope traditional herbal medicine research will play a critical role in this global health pandemic but it appears that relatively modest investment is been done in this regards compared to the overall pharmaceutical industry; however, it raises interesting ethical questions, some of which are not faced in more conventional drug development. Cases like these present challenging questions related to the role of traditional herbal medicines in public health inview of the potentials and the resources available around us.



The novel coronavirus 'COVID-19' is shaking up the world like a massive earthquake. As researchers and scientists work assiduously to produce a vaccine that can serve as a panacea to the pandemic, traditional herbalists have also come forward with solutions and this solutions I think they should give it a try.



In Nigeria, the Àdìmúlà Ifẹ̀, the king of the Yorùbá people, Ọọ̀ni Adéyẹyẹ̀ Ẹniìtàn Ògúnwùsì, Ọ̀jájá II, believes that natural herbs can cure COVID-19.

In partnership with YemKem International, an alternative medicine company, the Ọọ̀ni (king) is working to create an herbal therapy to be mass-produced and packaged for sale.

The concoction is based on a mix of bitter leaves, neem leaves and seeds, sulfur, black pepper and cloves that are traditionally used in Yorùbáland as powerful antioxidants to flush the system of harmful viruses.

The Ọọ̀ni, who doubles as the co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), took to Twitter in a series of tweets to announce his discovery, making claims that his unique herbal mix had been tested on himself and others with the coronavirus. In the March 30 tweets, the Ọọ̀ni calls on researchers to use natural herbs to produce a vaccine.

I think we should explore every opportunities to combat this terrible pandemic.



However as the federal government is making all implementable steps to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, some Nigerians still believe that the Federal Government committee on distribution of palliatives is not doing well. Many asked for more accountability in terms of the beneficiary households, how they were selected, what was given to them and how much had been spent so far in terms of food purchase and distribution as well as the Conditional Cash Transfer.



And talking about food bank and distribution, many are asking why the President is allowing the Nigerian Customs Service to be sharing to the public “poisonous” imported rice. Recall that the Comptroller General of Customs, Hamid Ali, had said that imported rice was not fit for human consumption as most of them were preserved with harmful chemicals while some had expired and could cause colon cancer.



And others said that while the Presidential Task Force is placing priority on food distribution and cash transfers, not much is being done about water supply. Yet, combating coronavirus is about sanitation and hygiene. We have been asked to wash our hands regularly for 20 seconds in running water, how can this be achieved in many communities without pipeborne water and other sources of clean water during this dry season?



There is also the security challenge this lockdown in many states has caused as criminal elements are now robbing many communities even in broad daylight.



Ohikere said that despite all these attendant challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought upon mankind, we should be aware that we are in a crisis that is faceless but scary, its only the living that can criticise lets do well to protect ourselves from this enemy of humanity.



As the federal government is planning to lift the lockdown as a result of socio-economic challenges the lockdown has caused lets resonate on the world most severe pandemic in the history, the Spanish Flu of 1918. It lasted for 2years, in 3 waves, with 500million people infected and 50million deaths. Most of the fatalities happened in the 2nd wave. The people felt so bad about the quarantine and Social distancing measures that when they were first lifted, the people rejoiced in the streets with abandoned precautions. In the coming weeks, the 2nd wave occurred, with tens of millions dead. Lets not repeat history in the time of Covid-19 pandemic



Conclusively he said with the alarming wake of community infections suspected to be ongoing especially in Kano, it is of utmost importance that we adhere to the precautionary measures and take responsibility of our collective and individual wellbeing by obeying social distancing instead of taking risks whose repercussions is unimaginable, the irresponsibility of the few can lead to the death of many, he added.

COVID-19: FCT Palliatives carefully packaged without stones and fairly distributed says, Monitoring group

Following the distribution of palliatives to the vulnerable residents as a result of the pandemic disease which led to total lockdown as directed by the Federal government.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Covid-19 Task Force led Honourable Minister for State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has been in front line ensuring that the residents of FCT irrespective of tribes, religion and political affiliation feels the positive impact of the government in line with the Covid-19 program such as disinfectant of the environment, sensitization on covid-19 and the ongoing distribution of palliatives targeted to hit all the Six (6) Area Councils in a bid to cushion the pressure.

It is inline with this, that the popular evaluation and monitoring group in Nigeria known as, Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) has condemned the unpatriotic statements and video about a contaminated rice in a customized bag released by some jobless people with the bad intention to discredit the good efforts of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and to damage the reputation of Alhaji Muhammad Musa Bello the Honorable Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) regards to Covid-19 palliatives program.

The group in a statement released in Abuja on Monday 27th April 2020 by its Director General, Comrade Obinna Nwaka, maintained that the food stuff were carefully packaged without sand or stones while describing the perpetuators of such act as hungry disgruntled elements who are also enemies of good governance only bent on disabusing the minds of people and tarnishing the good image of high public office holders using fake news and propagandas.

The CYMS urged the beneficiaries, general public especially the FCT residents to disregard the purported news and focus more on how to be part of the program while urging them to also pay attention to the NCDC medical advise and adhere strictly to the instructions of Federal government.

The CYMS's Director General, Mr Obinna Nwaka finally commended Mrs Ramatu Tijjani for ensuring prompt distribution of palliatives done in a unified, equity and justice manner where all leaders of interest groups such as religious, major political parties, youth, women leaders etc are inclusive.


News gathered that CYMS has an organizational structure and members cut across all the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.

The Post-Apocalyptic Narrative Of Brewing Conflict Between Governor Yaya Bello And Dr. Tom Ohikere - follows a familiar political story line of mistrust, enmity, namecalling and provocation between opposed camps.



By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja




This is a story begging the question whether to follow the regulative moral codes that govern everyday social behaviour or the friend/enemy dynamics of politics and war that will win the day. The underlying theme suggests that when the normal rules that govern everyday behaviour (Reconciliation) are deemed no longer sufficient to conduct life, politics as an exception in its various forms emerges.

These processes are often controversial; those praised by some commentators as appropriate and constructive responses to past conflict are dismissed by others as undermining the moral or political conditions for just and peaceful relations. While some see these values as compatible and mutually supporting, others argue that, especially in the immediate wake of conflict, parties must often choose between reconciliation and enmity.

Been able to reconcile yourself to the fact that you have cancer is to live better with the belief that you do. The nature and degree of improvement required to qualify as reconciliation for any particular context is a matter of disagreement among theorists or conflicting interest.

That is, on some accounts, two parties will count as reconciled only if their better future relations result from their having satisfactorily dealt with the emotional, epistemic, and/or material legacy of the past. While the outcome of reconciliation is oriented toward a future marked by peaceful and just relations, the processes of reconciliation are typically oriented towards buring the continuing bad feelings, suspicions, or harms that were created by the conflicts and injustices of the past.

In an interview with Dr. Tom Ohikere, an APC Stakeholder, a two time commissioner of Information of Kogi and a notable voice in the Kogi Central politics regarding his present stand with the leadership of Governor Yaya Bello he openly agreed of his past differences with Bello and that he had long buried their differences for the collective interest of the Kogites whom Bello represent.

"At this my age, experience and exposure, i can't be questioned on my liberty of political association and expression of my opinions. This is the hallmark of true democracy."

But be that as it may, Bello's first term has proven beyond doubt that he is ready to work to build a new Kogi that we all can be proud of as Kogites, we can see a whole lots of improvement in his leadership style evidence in the infrastructural development of the state and the total revamping of the economy of the state, all these are enough for me to drop my personal pride and support his good work for the state, personal interest shouldn't be allowed to overide our collective interest of making Kogi better, he said.

However, one shouldn't forget the infallible nature of mankind which is subject to the imperfections of the human life circle and the inevitable challenges of the world.

According to Ohikere, presently and even the 2019 General election had explored all the available internal measures provided by the state and his party to address any differences in his opinions on state matters and the activities of the government instead of his past approach of being to public and addressing the media at every stage of crisis of interest in his first term.

" I have chosen to be sincere and committed to my state, my party and my immediate constituency of Kogi Central and therefore fully with Governor Yahaya Bello. While I was against him I didn't hide it and now that our party and people brought us back in reconciliation I will not be able to do anything contrary to the realignment and victory achieved already".

He said the 2019 Gubernatorial election in Kogi state was one of the most vigorous campaigns he had ever been involved in and the victory recorded with return of Governor Yahaya Bello is a thing some of us are guiding very jealously with very keen interest, anything that will make the system work and achieve the best possible results is in his interest and he is not out to be anti-system but to be progressive politician with fervent believe in the prospect of his party, Kogi state the Ebiraland. On this factors he is ready to be a sacrificial lamb and prepared to be source of reference.


The problem with the few players murmuring over nothing in Kogi State is emanating from their futile attempts and failures in the last elections in the state. They have not forgotten or forgiven the governor for his victory, but this is not the way to go, there's need for us to have a common ground and forgive each other so that together we can move the state forward which I believe was the dream of every candidate that lost out in the election.


Ohikere said it was a difficult decision to jettison Barrister Babatunde Irukera, his initial favorite for the 2019 Gubernatorial election in Kogi state but after the reconciliation attempts by some leaders in Governor Bellos camp, he saw very concrete reasons why to reconcile with the Governor. It was a very costly decision to leave Irukera because of his immense amount of goodwill, and capacity as an organizational process facilitator of international repute, but at considering the fact that the governor has just one more tenure to do with the fact that he was already indicating strong signs of improvement in experience of the office and his undeniable achievements between 2016 and 2019 I had reasons to support him.

"We should be able to help leadership in Kogi State rather than in-house fighting among us. To me, I am done with that and now moving forward to the next level".

Since the reconciliation with GYB, he has not seen any reason to distrust or work against him. But regretably, some persons are presently condemning his decision to be a Bello supporter. They now resort to insults, name calling and blackmailing of his person. Saying that his agreeing to the reconciliation in the first case, the superior media engagement and his sustained attention to the government is a sign of weakness and acceptance of defeats.

"But in politics and leadership struggles , as post reconciliation strategy you require a commitment to your common interests of state and the political party. And this interest is what bind me with GYB, APC and PMB. And I do everything within the law to protect and promote it".

We must appreciate the modest achievements of Bello in the state even if we want to criticize him, he resorted.

Covid-19 Self Assessment Code: Tom Ohikere Lauds The Proactive Initiative Of Kogi State Government


As the fight against the deadly Covid-19 virus becomes intensified by the day, the recent launching of Covid-19 self assessment code by Kogi state government begins to rain accolades from within and outside the state, similarly a two time commissioner of Information of Kogi, Dr. Tom Ohikere lauded the initiative, a risk assessment tool initiated and launched by the Kogi state government to contain the spread of the virus.

Speaking with journalists yesterday on the fight against coronavirus by the federal and state government, he said the effort of Governor Yaya Bello on this initiative is a great idea and is worthy of emulation considering the challenges of testing for the virus. "seeing Kogi state taking this bold step to champion the solution and to be a pace Setter to this global pandemic despite the fact that the State has not recorded any case of Coronavirus is commendable ".

Describing the Technical lockdown of Kogi State, an intelligent approach by the governor. He said "if basic livelihoods cannot be secured, a comprehensive lockdown is not practical. Poor people will prefer the lottery of infection over the certainty of starvation". Adding that so far the Kogi state COVID-19 sensitization campaign has yielded good results and need to be applauded.

But what the government did was to carry out serious sensitisation about the possible symptoms of Covid-19 and how to use the app to assess your risk level. Whoever is exhibiting any symptom, if you just simply log on to that app and follow the simple instruction, you will know whether you should come for any test or make any adverse report.”

Recall earlier when Bello was asked why Kogi State is yet to order total lockdown even as neighbouring states recorded so many cases of COVID-19 recently, he said, “FCT is not the only state close to us. We have ten borders, and we have technically shut down and enlightened our people. By technically shutting down, we are not locked up.”
Kogi State has not recorded any case of Coronavirus.

As Kogites we are indeed proud to see Kogi state set the pace for Global 21st Healthcare delivery.
The state Government has received multiple accolades for the launch of Covid-19 web and mobile applications to ascertain the risk level of citizens, who then receive immediate medical attention, this app is not a diagnostic tool but a risk assessment tool to help the state squadron collate contacts for immediate medical attention.

While many have politicized this, it has received both local and international commendations as the app has been reportedly used by over a 100,000 Kogites. Many contacts have been traced via the same web platform, using the Kogi Covid-19 advanced data/Control Room. The app can be accessed by dialling *737*19#.

On test centers, the state is currently awaiting validation of her Gene Xpert and PCR machine for Covid-19 testing.

MY ABBA KYARI
By SAM NDA-ISAIAH

He was my friend in the true sense of the word, my confidante by the classical definition of the word, and the elder brother I didn’t have (for I am the first child of my parents).

Those who knew both of us knew there was something very personal between Abba Kyari and me.

Is it not really odd that I should be addressing Mallam Abba Kyari in the past tense? To say I didn’t see this coming is needless: only God sees all things and to Him we unconditionally submit.

In spite of our age difference, he encouraged me to call him by his first name Abba, but I always preferred Mallam Abba. Forget what anyone might tell you, Mallam Abba was a decent, humble and simple gentleman who delighted himself with intellectual and higher pursuits.

He was cerebral. He was a technocrat, a workhorse and an accomplisher. He was not a perfect human being. Nobody was, nobody is and nobody will ever be. But he was a totally decent human being.

The last time we met was Saturday, March 7. He called me on Friday, March 6, and said he would be travelling to Germany in the evening of the following day. If I was free, he said, I should come for breakfast and let’s have time together alone. I was in his house at 9am that Saturday.

We talkedfor more than 3 hours on everything – the good, the bad and the ugly – and that was the usual way we related. I left him about 1pm, wishing him a safe journey. I didn’t know that would be the last I would set eyes on him.

During our discussion, he told me why he was going to G e r m a n y. The President had sent him to follow up on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s earlier visit, during which she promised to secure a guarantee for Siemens, one of the best companies in the world in the electric power sector, to construct a world-class infrastructure for electricity distribution in Nigeria.

Chancellor M e r k e l ’ s proposition t o President B u h a r I would be a game changer for the country in terms of solving our electricity problems, and the President was not going to joke with the opportunity.

Besides, the high stakes deal was a Head-of-State to Head- of-State one, so it had to be handled from the President’s office. And the office of the Chief of Staff to the President runs the President’s office.

So I don’t get the nonsense some people are saying about his usurping a job that was not his by going to Germany. People who have no idea of how government operates at that level want to give an opinion on everything. That, of course, is one of the sacrifices that genuine men of integrity who occupy high office must contend with.

He spent only a couple of days in Germany and returned to Nigeria via the UK, contracting the coronavirus in between. In other words, he contracted the virus while on active service to his country. When he tested positive, he went into self-isolation but could not stop working via his telephone.

We spoke every day until his doctors decided to seize his handset because they thought he needed to stop thinking about work and start concentrating on his health. Before his phone was taken from him, he told me he didn’t even have a fever. He was not sick yet. Whatever went wrong must have happened in the last one or two weeks.

None of us saw this coming. It is very painful, sad and emotionally draining. On the

Friday that he died, my friend Abdul Gombe called me about 10pm. He sounded agitated.

He said the news of Mallam Abba’s death hadstarted appearing again. “Haba Abdul,” I told him,

“you should by now have become used to this feckless fake news.” He insisted that the news was strong. I dismissed him and the idea.

But after midnight, long after all the newspapers on the LEADERSHIP stable had gone to bed, I received a call from Jonathan Eze, the chief operating officer of our new daily, NATIONAL ECONOMY. I knew any call from such a senior person in a newspaper to his publisher at that time was usually not about a good piece of news.

It must have been about breaking news, probably requiring going back to the office. I was sitting at home with a friend at the time.

When my phone rang and I saw who was calling, I told my friend that I didn’t lik that call. It’s not likely to be a good one. Immediately I picked the call, Jonathan asked me straight without a preamble, “Sir, please confirm the news of the death of Abba Kyari.” “You are very stupid,” I retorted without even thinking.

“What kind of senior editorial manager are you to fall for the antics of fake news so easily?” He kept quiet, not knowing how to proceed. “Where did you get that useless story anyway?”

“From Femi Adesina’s Twitter handle,” he said.

“Then it must be somebody faking Femi,” I replied. “In any case, let me call Femi immediately.”

I called Femi. He picked and, without even waiting for me to ask, he started condoling with me.

It was devastating. It still didn’t sound real. The tears, the weeping came. My friend allowed me to go through the process before he started consoling me. I pulled myself together, called Jonathan, apologised to him and told him to call all the editors of our three newspapers back to the office. I also called Abdul to tell him what I found out. Abdul told me that he knew all along and was clearly preparing me for the news, in view of my relationship with Mallam Abba.

As I said at the beginning of this piece, Mallam Abba was the elder brother I didn’t have. And that meant

a lot of trouble for me. As a consequence, Abba saw me as a responsibility, and this was further complicated by the fact that he had very strong views and held strong positions.

Before he became Chief of Staff and work took awayevery fabric of his being, Mallam Abba would call me every day wherever he was and wherever I was. And I mean every day. He called sometimes only to ask, “Sam, yaya dai? Kana lafiya ko?”

That’s all. And this was every day. There were times I thought Mallam Abba was more interested in, and devoted to, me and my progress than I was in myself.

That may sound implausible or even counterintuitive but it sure felt that way at times. If I was the Chairman of LEADERSHIP, he was the one who could scold and overrule the Chairman. Everybody around me accepted that. And I enjoyed it.

He would come to LEADERSHIP, call the editor and the MD and advise them. When I started LEADERSHIP

CONFIDENTIAL, he became the chief advocate. He and Mallam Mamman Daura were the only people who subscribed for two years, not minding whether we would be able to go beyond the first issue. He fought my fights. Anytime there was bad press about me, especially in Daily Trust, he appropriated the fight.

When my son was going to start boarding school at Aiglon College, Switzerland, he called his dear friend, Geoffrey Onyeama, then the deputy director-general at the Geneva- based World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO), an agency of the United Nations, to brief him. Only God knew what he told Onyeama who is now Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, because Onyeama who was really a big shot in Switzerland at the time organised a welcome party for my wife and me where we met lots of people in Geneva. Onyeama’s wife was simply fantastic and savvy. Incidentally, their son was also at Aiglon College, so they knew virtually everything about the school.

Mallam Abba had no desire whatsoever for riches and worldly accoutrements. He had ample opportunities to feed such desires, if he had any. He was Managing Director and CEO of UBA at a time the bank was still at the top of the banking industry in Nigeria. Compare him to all those who had occupied that office in the past and you would understand what I mean.

He was also on the board of Unilever Plc and ExxonMobil for several years, and, between 2000 and 2005, he was a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on investment in Nigeria. Since I knew Mallam Abba, his interests had always been about the Nigerian state. There was not a time we sat down to talk that the dominant subject was not Nigeria. He had friends all over the country but especially in Lagos where he worked first as a lawyer, and then as Company Secretary/Legal Adviser with the African International Bank, before moving on to join the core team that took over the new privatizedUBA.

When Senator Daisy Danjuma called me to condole with me on the loss of my friend, she reminded me of how Abba and I had travelled all the way to Marbella, the resort city of Spain, to celebrate her 60th birthday some years ago. She still remembered clearly.

He had a great sense of humour and I used to tease him a lot. I would pull his legs about being Kanuri. He always retorted by saying he was Shuwa and not Kanuri, to which I always replied, “Same difference.” I often told him that he belonged to the most dangerous professions of the world.
He was a banker, a lawyer and a journalist. He rose to become the CEO of one of the biggest banks in Nigeria, he was editor of a national newspaper, The Democrat, and he had worked in the very reputable law firm of Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo Chambers in Lagos.

One trait of Mallam Abba that many people, including some of our mutual friends, didn’t know about was that he was consummately a practical man of peace. Mallam Abba would go the whole hog to reconcile feuding friends even when he had nothing to gain from that. And he had done that many many times: bridging differences. He was also a well-known man of integrity. When General TY Danjuma pledged a donation of N2billion to Ahmadu Bello University, he called Abba Kyari to chair the committee to monitor it.

In turn Mallam Abba brought the late Engr. Usman Abubakar and Dr. Haruna Samaila, the popular medical director of the famous Rimi Clinic, Kaduna, into the committee.

Mallam Abba was a consequential man, if the cause was right. I remember, about three years ago, I was attending a top ICT conference in Shenzen, China, organized by the world headquarters of Huawei. A very senior official met me and told me something very serious was about to happen in Nigeria that would totally sink Nigeria’s relationship with China. A top Nigerian minister was on his way to Taiwan on the invitation of the Taiwanese government in spite of Nigeria’s avowed position on the “One China policy”.

This has always been a very serious thing for the Chinese government. If that happened, the Chinese government would almost certainly recall its ambassador and cancel all the big bilateral agreements between the two countries. The optics would be too strenuous for the relationship between the two countries to survive its present state.

When I assessed the situation, I knew the minister was acting without authority and motivated only by greed. I got the minister’s numbers, called him several times, but he didn’t pick. He also didn’t reply the text messages I sent him. I called a few other ministers to tell the minister to call me because there was something super-urgent. He agreed to call but didn’t.

That was when I got to Mallam Abba. In less than 10 minutes, Mallam Abba had called me back to say he had stopped the “stupid man”. If Abba had not intervened, that singular act of the minister would have set the nation back several decades. Even the United States treads softly on the One-China policy, and the European Union even more so.

In 1999 after General Olusegun Obasanjo won the PDP nomination, Abba Kyari was one of those penciled in to be his running mate. Of course, Obasanjo had his own agenda then, unknown to many. He eventually picked Atiku Abubakar. The story of how Mallam Abba became a front runner for Obasanjo’s VP pick at the time he was the Managing Director of UBA is a very interesting one. The time tell that story will come.

I have also told the story of how Mallam Abba and I met General Danjuma, when it was obvious that President Yar’Adua would not survive his health ordeal, to chair a meeting of select northern leaders to start shortlisting competent northerners for the office of Vice President to hand over to Jonathan. By the time Mallam Abba got to Kaduna to inform General Buhari, Mallam Mamman Daura, Mallam Ahmed Joda, Dr. Mahmud Tukur and Mallam Musa Bello of the committee of which they were members, the tables turned.

They all said that even though TY might feel insulted to be called upon to be Jonathan’s VP, he would have to be convinced to do it. I was the only Christian in that group. Every other person was a Muslim and they all endorsed a Christian-Christian presidency for Nigeria. Even though that eventually didn’t happen, it was nonetheless a big deal.

This is the Abba Kyari I know, not the phantom one that I hear from people who know nothing about him. Mallam Abba was an all-round family man. I shudder to imagine what’s going through his wife Kulu’s mind at this particular moment. And his children. I cannot count how many times I have heard him utter the words, “You must never compromise your family.” He was a competent parent and a proud father who raised his kids and educated them to the highest possible standard. The very last thing we discussed on March 7 was my wife Zainab.

There are many, many things I would like to say about Mallam Abba, but I feel too broken at the moment. There are many things I would have loved to tell him if I knew I was about to lose him to death. The most important one would have been to thank him for being there for me.

To thank him for having my back to the very end. I didn’t have the opportunity to say that. That was probably why I wept the way I did when Femi Adesina confirmed to me that my Abba Kyari had left us. All I have left of him are fond memories which I will cherish all the days of my life. Sleep in peace, my dear brother. History will be very kind to you."

Senator Smart Adeyemi Is an Epitome Of Loyalty - Ohikere


The aftermath of the General Election, which saw to the victory of APC in all the major contest brings to the fore the question of integrity, ethics and loyalty in political relationships.

Tom Ohikere, a two time commissioner of Information of Kogi said Adeyemi who recently won the senatorial seat is a patient and loyal party statesman who for a long time had waited and worked hard to demonstrate his loyalty both to the party and the governor. He noticed that Bello was being painted black and scandalized, but there was not much he could do. He acknowledged that in a democracy, “you can say anything you want to say as long as you are not defamed,” but he discarded much of what was said about Bello as lies.

It is commonly perceived that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, only expediency to serve personal or partisan interests. It would thus seem that politics is bereft of ethical principles that govern political relationships and engagements. Recent developments in the Kogi political landscape lend credence to this assumption.

Over the years, greed and avarice has seeped into Kogi state politics resulting in traumatic experiences in its intra-political relations.

The PDP candidate in the Kogi governorship contest, Dr. Musa Wada is a blood brother of a former governor of the state. He is also married to the daughter of another former governor of the state. Adeyemi saw this as a huge strategic error on the part of the PDP, in an environment where the different ethnic groups and senatorial districts that constitute Kogi State have a burning aspiration to have one of their own occupy Luggard House, the official residence of the governor.

This is partly the reason for Adeyemi’s insistence that Bello, who hails from the Kogi Central senatorial district should return as governor. Previous civilian governors of the state have been from the Kogi East senatorial district. His calculation is that if Wada becomes governor he may likely remain in office for eight years, whereas his people in Kogi West, who have never had the privilege of having representation at that level are willing to support Bello’s quest for a second term in the hope that he will pave way for a candidate from Kogi West senatorial district to succeed him in 2023.

Adeyemi has once again proven that his loyalty to the party and the governor is still intact when he made another statement in recent times that he will continue to supports Yaya Bello all the way even if he brings his worse political enermy to succeed him, he will give him 100 percent support. This may not be surprising to many who recall how Adeyemi has laid his political life on the line to redeem Bello. In the days leading to selection process of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Kogi State, Adeyemi had openly stated his preference for Bello, saying that he will work against the party if Bello was not given the governorship ticket. It was a threat that was not taken lightly, knowing the kind of influence he commands in his senatorial district.

But cynics snickered at him, mainly because he was previously in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The prevailing sentiment at that time was that he could not be trusted.

It indicated that political parties and their leadership are beholden to political allegiance. Adeyemi has no qualms about deserting any public opinions and hold sway to his political entity and his benefactor, the governor as against the view of the public.

As the party that forms the backbone of the government, Adeyemi’s relations with the party have been consistent, amicable, and, understandably, he have given reciprocal support. Maybe because Yaya Bello is able, accountable, trustworthy and ethical to lead his people to the next level of economic prosperity.

Smart Adeyemi is at liberty to chose his political associates and his expressions or statements during his timely distribution of paliatives over Covid-19 as indications of his political beliefs.

Covid-19: Nigerian Youths Hail Adron Homes & Properties Ltd for its humanitarian gestures

A pro- government youth organization, Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) has yesterday hailed the Adron Homes and Properties Ltd, an indigenous company that has distinguished itself in the real estate development in Nigeria for their uncommon demonstration of love and care through humanitarian gestures to cushion the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the lives of Nigerians.

Speaking during a radio program on Covid -19 palliative support challenge in Nigeria, the CYMS's Director General, Mr Obinna Nwaka said Adron Homes & Properties Ltd is the only indigenous company that has touched the lives of the vulnerables through their kind donation of 20million naira each to five (5) States that seriously affected by the pandemic Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Nassarawa State including FCT and deserve to be commended.

That the total sum of 100million naira was donated through presentation of cheque by its Senior staff to the respective five (5) States Government as part of the company's CSR in a bid to assist them cushion the effect.

He thanked the Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes & Properties Ltd, Oba Adetola Emmanuel King for this humanitarian gesture and prayed God to bless him while asking other indigenous organisations to emulate him and also promised the assurances of the Nigerian youths in promoting the Adron Homes & Properties Ltd as a frontline real estate in Nigeria.

Abba Kyari Was A Man Of Unquestionable Character - Ohikere

Following the passing away of a nationalist and a professional per excellent, the former Chief Of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, a two time commissioner of Information, Kogi state, Dr. Tom Ohikere described the death of Kyari as a big lost to the nation and commiserated with the family of the deceased and the nation at large.

He said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that Abba Kyari was a man with unquestionable character and a dependable ally to the present administration and those who rejoice over the death of others are inhuman.

"Life and death are inseparable twins that is no secret to man. As humans, we go through a life circle that is faced with birth and death. That is, we are born to fulfil our destinies and to join our ancestors at a particular time and date.
In the process of life, we are faced with our weaknesses, strengths, threats and opportunities that are subject to successes and failures with the inevitable question of the imperfections of man."

The late chief of staff to the president, Abba Kyari has lived a fulfilled life that must be celebrated for others to emulate. He was celebral leader of global repute and unquestionably one of the few signatures to the modest achievements of President Mohammadu Buhari administration.

Abba Kyari deserves every respect of an elder statesman who has contributed his quota to the building and growth of nation building. It's therefore ungodly and condemnable for some of us to rejoice over his death. He will be remembered for his outstanding role in the defining moment of this nation.
Adieu Abba Kyari.. The nation will miss you.

Covid-19: Free Electricity As Palliative To Nigerians Maybe Unrealistic - CAACASVI



The Executive Director, Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative (CAACASVI), Comrade Olumuyiwa Onlede has yesterday voiced out his doubt on the possible implementation of the purported free electricity as palliative promised by the federal government to Nigerians to cushion the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja following the recent complaints of some citizens for two months free power supply during in this trying time of global pandemic to ease the citizenry.

Onlede said, in as much as we feel the pain of Nigerians due to the negative impact of the lockdown which is necessary, we make bold to say that to alleviate the suffering of the people there are other ways to give palliative to the citizens. Those of the view that power should be free for two months should have put their statement right by saying that federal government should pay for two months power for Nigerians so as not to put a burden on the regulators in the power sector.

We should recall how the former government led by President Goodluck Jonathan handed over the nation critical power asset to friends and associates for political gain and knowing full well that those acclaimed investors has no experience, capacity and financial weight to run the power sector efficiently thereby putting Nigerians who are the electricity consumers not to enjoy the dividend of privatisation of the sector. But the acclaimed investors who are the former president’s party men continue to rip off the masses by refusing to invest in the sector thereby putting the whole bulk of load on the Federal government to shoulder.

It is however possible to have free electricity but government has to buy it from the DISCOS and give it to Nigerians because it belongs to them and not federal government and you cannot give what you don’t have. But these investors especially the Distribution company of Nigeria (DISCO) continue to show irresponsible attitude towards the federal government agenda of improving electricity supply to Nigerians, after several bailout from federal government to DISCOS and after federal government huge investment in increasing power generation from over 3000 MW to over 7000MW DISCOS continue to reject this load of power that ordinarily will be distributed to Nigerians so as to improve our SME and life of the people.

So while talking about the news of free electricity that is trending all over media for some days now, it is also good to clear the air about the workings of the power sector as it stands today. And we will like to align with the submission of the MD/CEO of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and make it clear that power does not belong to the federal government GENCOS and DISCOS belong to private investors and not government and what government does is to regulate the sector just as we have it with the telecommunication sector.

We must however commend the present administration for the role they have played since its inception in 2015, while appealing to Nigerians to look towards another means of palliative and let us hope the effort of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will be complimented by DISCOS who distributes the electricity to consumers and give optimal service to the masses during this lockdown and even beyond. According to our investigation and finding about the power sector from 1999 till date, we discovered that what is lacking is sincerity of purpose considering the huge amount of money that has been expended on the sector. But lately we found out that there is no shortage of effort on the part of those at the helm of affair in the sector right now to bring sanity to the sector by increasing generation from over 3000MW to over 7000MW as we earlier mentioned, but that is not going to be easy due to the decay of yester years in the sector and the fact that some still believe in business as usual thereby frustrating government effort to improve power in Nigeria.

He also said that the attitude of power sector investors begs the question that resonate in the mind of Nigerians that are knowledgeable about the sector, where is their corporate social responsibilities especially at this time of pandemic that has dwindled the economy of the nation, it is incumbent on the DISCOS to see how they can alleviate the suffering of the masses at this COVID 19 period just like we see other corporate entities in other sectors giving palliative to citizens, these are our concern about the stakeholders that the federal government must deal with if anything called free electricity must come to reality.

And urged those promoting the agenda of free electricity not to be carried away with the current situation that we find ourselves in the country but to also look at the pros and cons of that kind of policy or ventures so as not to fall victim of DISCOS whose agenda from beginning of their relationship with the power sector in 2013 has been the kind of relationship that exist between the horse and the rider with Nigeria electricity consumers being the horse and the DISCOS being the rider.

CAACASVI Faults NSCDC 's Leadership

A civil society organisation, Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative (CAACASVI) has yesterday faulted the leadership of the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammadu for his nonchalant attitude over the emerging security challenges facing the nation.

The Executive Director, CAACASVI, Comrade Olumuyiwa Onlede said this in a statement issued to newsmen yesterday in Abuja that the Commandant General has not been seen to talk, act or sensitise Nigerians about effort, plans and contribution of the corp in tackling the worrisome security situation that we find our selves in Nigeria especially in this trying time of global pandemic keeping Nigerians in a hopeless situation if not the intervention of other security agencies.

He frowned at the leadership of the agency while expressing his dissatisfaction saying that "despite having arms squad in the security outfit, measuring her contribution, it is obvious that the resources expended on training and procurement of arms cannot in anyways be justified by the Commandant General due to low productivity by his men. In other words NSCDC as we speak is not coordinated in such a way that her men will perform optimally".

He however said that the Commandant General should be eased out of office after the expiration of his present tenure owing to his poor performances and his ineptitude to synergise with other service chiefs and agencies in other to work in tandem with the strategies laid down by the president of the federal republic of Nigeria and the national security adviser.

This lack of synergy he said is evident in the current Covid-19 pandemic where all hands are on desk to ensure that the pandemic is contained. "If we look at the activities of NSCDC during this critical period of severe security challenge in the life of Nigerians we can see that the head who is the commandant general is missing in action, unlike the Inspector General of police who has being up and doing and even the Controller general of Immigration has contributed far better than the commandant general of NSCDC if you look critically at his effort in curbing trans border illegal movement of arms".


Also the NSCDC under the present leadership has done little in the protection of critical infrastructures, like the oil pipelines, failed in efficient coordination of dedicated men in his service to stand up to the challenge of oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism which has cost the nation innocent lives and properties worth billions even within the last one year. For example the fire disaster in abule ado lagos was caused by the activities of these vandals. "As we speak the activity of pipeline vandalism continue unabated in ogere village (obafemi owode LGA) ogun state. Our major concern is that the same officers of NSCDC that are suppose to protect these pipelines are in the habit of conniving with these bunkerers and vandals to perpetuate the act."


Onlede therefore advised the President not to reappoint him "in as much as we know that the President as the commander in chief of the federal republic of Nigeria hold the constitutional right to hire and fire any security chief, it is our duty also to torchlight events and happenings around the country in such a way that our observation will help him and his team of advisers to be able to make the right selections. And this is because security failure will be blamed solely on the president due to the fact that he is the Commander in chief of the armed forces thereby the chief security officer of Nigeria".

Easter Broadcast by Comrade Obinna Nwaka, the Director General of CYMS on 12th April, 2020



Easter represents a unique event in the Christiandom, also a period when our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ offered his life for the remission of our sins. It also represents victory over death, the resurrection and the immortality of those who live a Christ-Centric life of love, good neighbourliness, peace and malice towards none.

I want to use this opportunity to enjoin our people to show love to one another, to eschew tendencies that seek to divide us, to celebrate the goodness that is in us all, and to disavow and ignore the antics of those who may wish to create a wedge between brothers and sisters. We should reject the activities of those who may wish to exploit our vulnerabilities for their group’s narrow or personal interests.

Let us be united in the desire to move our organization forward and to start a new conversation where the narrative would be that government alone cannot be the only source of growth and sustenance but the with the enabling environment that the present administration is determined to create, we can all rise in a critical mass and move ourselves to that tipping point of self-fulfilment, Let us collectively tap the talents which God Almighty has so generously embedded in us.

However, CYMS is dedicated and won't relent in its efforts in pursuing programs and activities that will directly impact the people and improve their material circumstance.

Our empowerment push remains on course and it won’t be long before our youths will be able to gain employment through some of the articulated scheme that is already on the pipeline which will soon spring up.

As we celebrate Easter, let the spirit of the season continue to shape and define our engagements with one another; let us continue to be hopeful, to be optimistic and to know that the challenges of today will become opportunities tomorrow. Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) is alive and strong and God is on our side and he will continue to guide and direct our steps as we work hard to lift our people and take them to the next level of economic prosperity.

At this successful stage of of our organization, i wont fail to acknowledge and commend the effort of my noble colleagues at the National headquarter, the State Executives, LGAs, Wards and Partners, in fact you have deposited more commitments than expectation and together we shall all WIN.

God bless CYMS,
God bless Federal Republic of Nigeria and God bless us all!

CYMS! Uniting the youths
CYMS!! Empowering the youths
CYMS!!! Shun ethnic and religious sentiments.

Easter celebration: Hon Mathew Omegara encourages constituents to be hopeful.

The front runner of the Imo North Senatorial district of Imo State for the indefinite postponed bye election, Chief Mathew Omegara has implored the Christians to continue keeping their faith in God despite the pandemic challenge confronting all the Nations.

The former law maker, expressed worry while addressing few clergy men who paid him unscheduled visit in his country home at Okigwe LGA today around 2pm.

The visitors were concerned saying the pandemic has really deprived them from worshipping and celebrating the 2020 Easter in a befitting Church built by the Senatorial aspirant, describing him as a man who believes in Gods work and a genuine humanitarian services without any political undertone.

In swift response, Sir Mathew Omegara, thanked his 3rd Easter set of visitors for finding him worthy to pay such colorful unscheduled visit to, while acknowledging the presence he also reiterated his continued support to the vine yard of God and also commended them for obeying the directives of the Federal government as regard to method of worship, maintaining social distances and sensitization.

He encouraged them to be stronger and prayerful that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which symbolizes cleansing and Gods power over any pandemic we faces.

The visitors thanked and prayed for Imo State and Imo North Senatorial district, using Hon Sir Mathew Omegara as point of contact.

No Government Can Survive Without Taxation

Taxation is fundamental to sustainable development: it supports the basic functions of an effective state and sets the context for economic growth. However, there is another role for taxation that is often overlooked – as a catalyst for more responsive and accountable governments, and for expanding state capacity.

In view of this Dr. Tom Ohikere, a two time Commissioner Of Information, Kogi State writes, Tax evasion is unquestionably demoralizing government's capacity, it kills government morale, deprives her of the money needed to carry out laws and initiatives, reduces the effectiveness of government and increases budget deficits and must not be treated with levity if we truly love our state we must pay our tax.

It is quite unfortunate that upon the veritable opportunities in Kogi state, its domestic resource mobilisation or internal revenue generation is still less than 15% of the total money that comes to the state as compared to other states.

This is because citizens and residents, and the business owners are evading from paying their taxes which is a major source of government revenue and this has kept Kogi state in redundancy depite all its potentials.

I wholly commends the efforts of the present Kogi state administration of Governor Yahaya Bello and his arsenals for reviving the economy of the state in such a way that it has never happen before in the history of the state.

There is need for citizens and residents to support this efforts by paying their taxes so that together we can to raise the resources needed to deliver essential services. And this will give impetus for accountability between citizens and the state, thereby helping to build effective states.

At present, there are huge gaps in tax compliance – particularly by national elites and the informal business sector, and in the areas of personal income taxes and natural resources – severely undermine the legitimacy of tax systems. Patchy compliance undermines the belief that others are paying their own, that taxpayers share a common set of interests and that government can be trusted, all of which make collective tax bargaining much less likely. While it will thus be important to tax the informal sector, the consistent taxation of elites is a more pressing, albeit more politically challenging and objective in some states.


The importance of Taxpayers Compliance can never be overemphasized even though most tax reform agenda has so far mainly focused on increasing domestic resources, little attention has been paid to the wider role of taxation in building effective citizen-state relations. Establishing an effective tax bargain involving civil society and business associations is critical for increasing tax compliance and clarifying the links between tax and expenditure.

I will however advise the Kogi state government while advancing the cause of tax enhancement in the state to do so by:

Improving public awareness, transparency and taxpayer services: Awareness and transparency are basic requirements for building public engagement and trust; without some degree of both, taxation is likely to be characterised by conflict rather than co-operation. Citizens must be aware of the taxes they are paying and be educated about the system of taxation and budgeting, while government must be transparent about tax collection and public spending. At the local level transparency can be achieved by publicising revenue collection and its links to public spending, and by engaging citizens directly in budgeting, revenue raising and assessment processes. At the national level governments can do much more to share revenue information, transparently estimate compliance and revenue performance and more closely monitor tax incentives and their costs. Both levels should consider the use of well-designed tax earmarking to strengthen the links between taxes and what they are spent on.

Broadening and improving direct taxation: Improving direct taxation would increase equity in taxation and increase the visibility of taxes. This is likely to increase awareness, enhance trust amongst taxpayers and enhance trust between taxpayers and the government, all of which are likely to make public engagement and tax bargaining more likely. Property taxes are a particularly politically and administratively difficult issue but deserve renewed attention as part of a governance enhancing agenda.

Strengthening civil society engagement with tax issues: Tax bargaining requires a process of “constructive contestation”: taxpayers must be organised to make demands on government, while both sides must be in a position to reach an inclusive tax bargain, rather than dispensing narrow privileges or engaging in endless conflict. Governments and development partners can help to promote such “constructive contestation” by working to strengthen the involvement of business associations and, more ambitiously, by working with civil society to build the awareness and organisation of taxpayers. Civil society can contribute to political engagement and advance the broader goals of improving transparency, taxpayer awareness and education.

No Government Can Survive Without Taxation

Taxation is fundamental to sustainable development: it supports the basic functions of an effective state and sets the context for economic growth. However, there is another role for taxation that is often overlooked – as a catalyst for more responsive and accountable governments, and for expanding state capacity.

In view of this Dr. Tom Ohikere, a two time Commissioner Of Information, Kogi State writes, Tax evasion is unquestionably demoralizing government's capacity, it kills government morale, deprives her of the money needed to carry out laws and initiatives, reduces the effectiveness of government and increases budget deficits and must not be treated with levity if we truly love our state we must pay our tax.

It is quite unfortunate that upon the veritable opportunities in Kogi state, its domestic resource mobilisation or internal revenue generation is still less than 15% of the total money that comes to the state as compared to other states.

This is because citizens and residents, and the business owners are evading from paying their taxes which is a major source of government revenue and this has kept Kogi state in redundancy depite all its potentials.

I wholly commends the efforts of the present Kogi state administration of Governor Yahaya Bello and his arsenals for reviving the economy of the state in such a way that it has never happen before in the history of the state.

There is need for citizens and residents to support this efforts by paying their taxes so that together we can to raise the resources needed to deliver essential services. And this will give impetus for accountability between citizens and the state, thereby helping to build effective states.

At present, there are huge gaps in tax compliance – particularly by national elites and the informal business sector, and in the areas of personal income taxes and natural resources – severely undermine the legitimacy of tax systems. Patchy compliance undermines the belief that others are paying their own, that taxpayers share a common set of interests and that government can be trusted, all of which make collective tax bargaining much less likely. While it will thus be important to tax the informal sector, the consistent taxation of elites is a more pressing, albeit more politically challenging and objective in some states.


The importance of Taxpayers Compliance can never be overemphasized even though most tax reform agenda has so far mainly focused on increasing domestic resources, little attention has been paid to the wider role of taxation in building effective citizen-state relations. Establishing an effective tax bargain involving civil society and business associations is critical for increasing tax compliance and clarifying the links between tax and expenditure.

I will however advise the Kogi state government while advancing the cause of tax enhancement in the state to do so by:

Improving public awareness, transparency and taxpayer services: Awareness and transparency are basic requirements for building public engagement and trust; without some degree of both, taxation is likely to be characterised by conflict rather than co-operation. Citizens must be aware of the taxes they are paying and be educated about the system of taxation and budgeting, while government must be transparent about tax collection and public spending. At the local level transparency can be achieved by publicising revenue collection and its links to public spending, and by engaging citizens directly in budgeting, revenue raising and assessment processes. At the national level governments can do much more to share revenue information, transparently estimate compliance and revenue performance and more closely monitor tax incentives and their costs. Both levels should consider the use of well-designed tax earmarking to strengthen the links between taxes and what they are spent on.

Broadening and improving direct taxation: Improving direct taxation would increase equity in taxation and increase the visibility of taxes. This is likely to increase awareness, enhance trust amongst taxpayers and enhance trust between taxpayers and the government, all of which are likely to make public engagement and tax bargaining more likely. Property taxes are a particularly politically and administratively difficult issue but deserve renewed attention as part of a governance enhancing agenda.

Strengthening civil society engagement with tax issues: Tax bargaining requires a process of “constructive contestation”: taxpayers must be organised to make demands on government, while both sides must be in a position to reach an inclusive tax bargain, rather than dispensing narrow privileges or engaging in endless conflict. Governments and development partners can help to promote such “constructive contestation” by working to strengthen the involvement of business associations and, more ambitiously, by working with civil society to build the awareness and organisation of taxpayers. Civil society can contribute to political engagement and advance the broader goals of improving transparency, taxpayer awareness and education.

Covid-19: CYMS Task Gov't On Inclusive Palliatives

As residents of states like Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory reel in pain over the effects of the total lock down ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari in order to curb the exponential spread of the COVID-19, a pro government organisation, Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) has urged Government to be fair in the distribution of Palliatives to the affected populations.

The CYMS's Intelligent Officer Manuchimso Sam Amadi while addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja said for the lockdown to be effective Government must brace up to the occasion and provide more and better palliatives to cushion the impacts of the lockdown.

"We call on the federal and state governments to engage better. They must design better palliatives that take into cognisance the structure of our society. The private sectors should also be fully involved".
He however advised the security agencies to be Professional in the enforcement of the lockdown order while condemning any form of harassment that might have been meted on the media personnel, health and social workers working to defeat the Covid-19 in the country.

Amadi said that the fight against Covid-19 virus is a corporate responsibility of everyone and hence must be carried out with high level of civility, and commended the efforts of the Federal, State Governments, private firms and Non- governmental organisations for their prompt intervention and humanitarian services in line with the COVID-19 programme.

“CYMS is appealing to the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19 to ensure that Nigerians, especially the masses at rural areas, have the feeling of the Federal government`s intervention with regards to the N500 billion,“ he said.
It would be recalled that the money was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to be shared to Nigerians as intervention fund to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on Nigerians.

According to him, over 80 per cent of Nigerians are yet to feel the impact, following the CYMS intelligent gathering report conducted by the Security Department of the organisation.

Amadi, therefore, urged all Nigerians to join hands together, and cooperate with the government to win the fight against this deadly virus.

CoronaVirus, The Conspiracy And Manipulation Of facts In Katsina State - Ohikere


A former Commissioner of Information, Kogi State, Dr. Tom Ohikere has said yesterday that the death of the private medical practitioner of Kogi State origin, based in Daura, Katsina State, Dr Aliyu Yakubu, purported to have died of the coronavirus disease has rained shear reactions across the country as it is perceived to be surrounded with conspiracy and manipulation of facts.

According to Dr. Tom Ohikere who happens to be a friend of the family said that the late Dr Aliyu Yakubu and his wife left for Lagos to attend the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) annual conference in the early weeks of March. He went by air and returned to Daura through Kano-Lagos Airport after about 6 days in Lagos. A week after his arrival he suddenly developed illness which subsequently led them to move him from his personal hospital to the Airforce hospital in Daura when it was clear that his situation was degenerating. He died about some hours later while making attempts to move him to Kano for a more befitting treatment.

From the information gathered from one of the sons of the diseased, Abdumalek Aliyu said until his death Dr. Yakubu did not develop any symptoms of Covid-19, though surprisingly later in the night of that faithful day, the NCDC came and took some sample of the death body and the result was yet to be release to the family only for a friend to call him and told him that it was announced in the Friday Mosque that his father died of Covid-19.

Subsequently Governor Aminu Bello Masari who is neither a doctor or a lab scientist briefed newsmen announcing to the world that the late Dr. Yakubu died of Covid-19 said "We have to brief you on this bad news that one Dr Aliyu Yakubu has died from coronavirus disease" and ordered for the confinement of the family to a house without due consideration for our feeding and upkeep seeing that we cannot go out to get food stuff and knowing that in the mist of trying to save our father we did not have time to stock food and prepare for the confinement.

Meanwhile non of the people that had contact with him tested positive, this is purely a conspiracy and manipulation of facts and only God knows the intent of the wicked.

Ohikere said, it is shear wickedness to treat such respectful family in such manner. We cannot deal with this Corona war through victimisation of victims, adding that the security operatives detailed to ensure compliance with the confinement order has been very rude and lacks civil manners which is a portrayal of wrong briefing and an unprofessional conduct. They should please be called to order and be given proper briefings."

ENUGU COUNCIL POLL: CYMS Calls For Cancellation Of Election


Following the just concluded Local government area election held in Enugu State on 29th February 2020 conducted by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), one of the accredited Election observer group, Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) led by Obinna Nwaka has called for the cancellation of the election on the ground of unpreparedness, poor voter education and Sensitization leading to low turnout, Voter apathy, poor mobilization of electorates by political parties.

He said this in a press statement issued to newsmen yesterday in Enugu, adding that the accreditation of political parties support groups bearing names of notable politicians in the State as observers which is unethical has also discredited the entire process.

He also noted slotting in of already printed ballot papers into box and usage of old printed ballot papers with 87 party logos not screened or cleared for the scheduled election.

In the same vein, Izuchukwu Yusuf Eze the Enugu State Coordinator of the group who was on ground 3 days to the election expressed his dissatisfaction over the electoral process and attributed the outcome of the election to the State government failure to provide necessary financial and technical support to ensure a successful election.

While condemning the political attacks and violence recorded at Ezeagu and Uzo- uwani LGA, he encouraged the youths to be patriotic in exercising their franchise and shun unruly behaviour that has the tendency of damaging our democracy.

He however commended the security apparatus in the state for ensuring a secured environment, while noting that only two political parties keenly contested the election; APC and PDP with impressive performance, adding that late arrival of electoral materials was observed in many LGAs especially at Enugu North where voting started at 11:46am which led to demoralization of eligible voters as a result of late commencement.

The result sheet was missing in some polling units as some party agents could not ascertain where result were entered after counting, he noted and asked the ENSIEC to cancel the elections also advised them to ensure adequate training of their staff and ADHOC as many took instructions from the PDP agents which is unprofessional and unethical to electoral rules.



Newsmen gathered that, CYMS is a registered evaluation, monitoring, mobilization and sensitization platform assisting the Government.

Enugu Council poll: Ezeugo Set For Aggressive Campaign

Ahead of the Council election slated for 29th February 2020 in Enugu State as announced by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), Mr Franklin Ezeugo Chukwu set to hit the ground from monday 24th February 2020.

The Mmaku born politician disclosed this while addressing his supporters who visited him at his country home on Sunday afternoon.

He assured them of redoubling his efforts in ensuring all nooks and crannies in Awgu Local government have a feel of his manifesto and understand its party ideology through his strategic grassroots campaign he is about to embark on in a view to consolidate its consultation.

While stressing while it's necessary for his party APC to emerge, he implored his visitors to join him in his campaign and also intimate the electorates the danger of voting against his mandate as his mission is to liberate his local government from the incessant condition and deplorable situation.

Re call that, Mr Franklin Ezeugo Chukwu before his emerge as the Chairmanship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Awgu local government also aspired as the House of Assembly member, Awgu South State Constituency, Enugu State in previous election where he was unjustly denied the party's ticket as a result of his political weight.

Ezeugo's determination to salvage his people from hardship, underdevelopment and poor representation is his core mandate according to him, as he is one of the sons of a popular business mogul and a successful retired public servant, Chief Dr Frank Chukwu who is a former Permanent Secretary and Director General of lands in Enugu State under the Military regime.

News men gathered that Ezeugo is popular and loved by his people due to his commitment and passion for humanitarian services to his people, community development, educational services, health care facilitation and many others endeared him so closed to the hearts of his people.

CYMS Adjudge Okigwe North House Of Representatives Bye- election Free And Fair


The Committee Of Youth On Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) has yesterday adjudged the Okigwe North Federal Constituency bye -election in Imo state as free, fair and credible.

This was contained in a post election statement issued by the Director General of the organization and the team leader of CYMS Election Observers team, Comrade Obinna Nwaka, adding that the election was conclusive and creditably with the international best practices.

Nwaka, the Okigwe North team leader of the domestic observers said they carefully observed the three electoral process inline with the INEC guideline, trained and deployed election observers in the three (3) LGAs that made up the Federal constituency which are Onuimo, Okigwe and Isiala Mbano LGA.

The CYMS observers team from Abuja arrived Imo on Tuesday, 21st January, 2020 which enabled the organization successful carried out its pre election activities where Electoral Stakeholders like INEC, Security agencies etc where engaged in a bid to ascertain the level of preparedness and to work in synergy in ensuring the electoral umpire, INEC discharge their duties as expected by the electorates.

The CYMS during the election observed low turnout in Okigwe and Onuimo but a very high turnout at Isiala Mbano LGA due to the fact that the two leading political parties candidate are from Isiala Mbano and other factors such as mobilization of voters.

The CYMS observed the security agents were civil and worked in a professional way in their discharged of their duty and prompt response in ensuring they protect both sensitive materials, the INEC officials at Isiala Mbano and the ADHOC Staff against political thugs, ballot box snatchers and desperate politicians.

The distribution of election materials, voting and other electoral assignments started earlier than even expected which led to the success of the process which the synergy of the various political party agents who ensured mobilization of supporters to the poll, however, the youth turn out was quite impressive which their conduct was also highly commendable as they supported in ensuring the election was free, fair and conclusive.

The CYMS did not record any situation of ballot box snatching, mutilation of result, electoral malpractice by INEC Staff nor ADHOC, vandalization, vote buying and inducement as the electorates were fully prepared for the election, though they agreed on one direction especially in Isiala Mbano LGA which led to ballot demonstration.

However, the CYMS as one of the organizations accredited by the INEC to observe the bye election observed that the election was only keenly contested and campaigned between PDP and APC as others were not noticed till after the conclusion where Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha of APC defeated her closest rival, Hon Obinna Ownubuariri of PDP with the total votes of 13,980 where the score polled by the political parties at the three (3) LGAs were Okigwe APC 6776 while PDP 3321, Onuimo APC 5756 while PDP 3026, in Isiala Mbano APC polled 11,156 while PDP got 3,363 making a total votes of 23, 690 against 9,710.

The CYMS in it's conclusion by Obinna Nwaka the team leader, commended his colleagues Comrade Kelechi Ugwumba Director, Contacts and Mobilization and David Owhegbe Director Security for coming down to participate, and applauded INEC for conducting the most peaceful election, the Media for unbiased reportage, the Security agents for securing the lives of electorates and ensuring a conducive environment.

He however commended Mr Slyvanus Chidinma Onyenagubo (Onwa) the Director General of Princess Onuoha Campaign Organsization (POCO) for his effective coordination of electorates which has in no less measure contributed to the victory of the APC in the re- run federal house of representatives election, while charging Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha the House of Representatives elect of Okigwe North not to see the victory as hers or party but the overall victory of the good people of Okigwe North as no person is a winner or loser.

CYMS Congratulates Sen. Hope Uzodinma Over Victory At The Supreme Court

The Director General, Committee Of Youth On Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) Comrade Obinna Nwaka has congratulated Sen. Hope Uzodinma over his declaration by the Supreme Court as the rightful winner of the 2019 Imo state Governorship election and described the apex court’s verdict as a just one.

In a statement issued by the CYMS's Director Media and publicity, Comrade Otobong Gabriel yesterday in Abuja, Nwaka said that the outcome is yet a renewed hope that the judiciary remained a great arm of government that right all wrongs, " Nwaka who has been following up with the proceedings from day 1 of the aftermath of the blood day electoral rubbery to the last meeting of the judgment hailed the Supreme Court for been resolute to correct all the wrongs in the electoral process.


Nwaka however said that Sen. Hope Uzodinma is a party man who has worked tirelessly for the success of the APC at all levels across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria” he is a detribalised, just and passionate Nigerian committed to the unity and progress of the country and called on all the supporters especially the youths, APC faithful, and the entire Imolites to see the victory as a ladder to the next level of economic prosperity and continue to Support Hope Uzodinma in the discharge of his democratic governance to enable him to provide them with the needed dividends of democracy and development in the state and ensure that APC is entrenched in Imo state and the entire South East.

While seeking God’s assistance for the new Imo state Governor to pilot the affairs of the State, he urged Sen. Uzodinma to be the ‘Governor’ of all irrespective of political affiliations. “With this Supreme Court Verdict, you are the governor of all the Imolites irrespective of political affiliations, “ he said.

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NISCOPS Inaugurates Advisory Board

By Blessing Bature, Abuja

In a bid to effectively implement the National Initiative for Sustainable Climate-Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS) in Nigeria, an advisory body known as NISCOPS Nigeria Forum (NNF) has been inaugurated.

According to the statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday through the programme officer, communications, outreach and networking, Solidaridad, Pita Ochai the body will serve as an advisory platform that will support the implementation of NISCOPS programme in Nigeria, adding that the advice and inputs by the NNF will enable both implementing partners (Solidaridad and IDH) to achieve the set goals for the Programme in Nigeria.

The members of NNF are: representatives from the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Agriculture, Environment, Industry, Trade and Investment and their State level counterparts in agriculture (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, Enugu, Kogi and Ondo); agriculture and environment- focused Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); Farmer Organizations; Private Sector Partners; Finance and insurance institutions, the Media; Universities and Research Institutions.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Solidaridad’s Senior Climate Specialist for Africa, Dr. Samson Samuel Ogallah, said the focus of NNF shall be to advise on the implementation of NISCOPS’ Key Performance Indicators in the areas of adaptation, mitigation, and productivity; to advise Solidaridad and IDH on evidence-based policy dialogues and advocacy steps; also advise both implementing organizations on key national policy issues, alignment of NISCOPS’ objectives with relevant policies and development priorities, and any other related issues deemed necessary for the implementation of the programme.

In the same vein, the IDH’s Senior Programme Manager in Nigeria, Dr. Chris Okafor, in his message stated that the multi-stakeholder partnership approach adopted in the NNF is due to the cross -cutting nature of the Programme. He emphasized that certain activities by actors across the oil palm value chain tended to negatively impact on the environment, hence the need to involve stakeholders in the implementation process. He posited that “The interaction of the different federal and state-level MDAs, farmer groups, and CSOs will bring out the best in the implementation of NISCOPS in Nigeria”.

Kenechukwu Onukwube, Solidaridad’s Program Manager, Oil Palm Nigeria, said that the NNF is necessary to ensure effective implementation of the NISCOPS programme in the country. In his view, the forum would reinforce NISCOPS’ implementation pathway in the country. “We want to see that NISCOPS is contributing to national and state priorities and not running parallel to them. We also want to ensure that there are regular feedbacks from the stakeholders in government, farmer groups, CSOs and other members of the forum,” he said.

Solidaridad Celebrates Its 50years Anniversary

By Blessing Bature, Abuja

Solidaridad in Nigeria yesterday celebrated it 50 years of impacts transforming lives in different communities and countries around the world.

Speaking during the occasion yesterday in Abuja, the Senior Climate Specialist – Africa, Dr. Sam Ogallah said that Nigeria office, cannot be left out of celebrating an organization which has transformed millions of smallholders across the globe in the last 50 years " we are delighted to join the rest of the world to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the Solidaridad "

According to the information available to Leadership newspaper, Solidaridad is an international civil society organization founded in 1969 with the network of 8 regional expertise centres, strategically located around the world, collaborates with local partners to maximize their impact to create prosperity throughout agricultural, mining and textile supply chains.

"We envision a world in which everything we produce and consume can sustain us while respecting the planet, each other, and future generations. We bring together supply chain actors and engage them in innovative, practical, effective and scalable solutions to improve production and ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes the benefits for all".

Ogallah said that Solidaridad focus on the production/value chains where its interventions have the greatest impact: coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits and vegetables, textiles, cotton, soy, maize, palm oil, sugar cane, gold, dairy, aquaculture and livestock. "We support smallholders and enterprising farmers in developing countries and encourage effective land use and increased production sustainably and with respect to people and the environment. "

Adding that the premise for the structure is to promotes capacity building: strengthening Solidaridad teams in the region, enabling them to take control of supervisory tasks and to manage programming themselves. The regional Solidaridad teams cooperate with their own partners on the planning, implementation, communication and evaluation of programmes, and on reporting their results.

He however said that Solidaridad is resolved to promote wealth creation through agro-value chain as a way of diversifying the economy from over dependency on oil and gas and called on all to take advantage of the opportunities presented by Solidaridad to better their lots and contribute to economic development.

Corruption Is A Threat To Democracy In Nigeria - ICPC

By Blessing Bature, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said that corruption has eaten deep into the Nigerian system affecting both the private and public institutions, threatening our democracy and weakened public trust in governance.

Speaking at the 4th Annual Conference organized by the Forensic Insight International on the theme financial crime, cross-border crime, and illicit substance abuse, the Chairman ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye ably represented by Mr. Elijah Akaakahol said its high time we realise that we are all victims of corruption in Nigeria and that when our tribal men or women, church members or members of our mosque steal and give out penance or donations, they are not doing any favour but incubating insecurity, kidnapping, preventing our children from access to quality education and making it difficult for government to provide health facilities and infrastructure.

He however said that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility of everyone that mean well for Nigeria and should not be left to the government and anti-Corruption agencies alone, adding that corruption thrives where there's acceptability and weak enforcement of the laws, hence the traction of anti-Corruption efforts Will only gain momentum and lead to visible result where enforcement is matched by public intolerance and realization of the cost of corruption.

Earlier the Chief Executive Officer of Forensic Insight International Mr. Tunji Aworinde said that corruption is virtually in all fora of the Nigerian economy especially the petroleum sector where fuel subsidy has become a veritable opportunity for some individuals to loot the system , adding that one of the reasons corruption thrives in Nigeria is that Nigerians refuse to see it the way it is but instead corruption is defined based on ethnicity, religion and position of influence. You sometimes hear that the person accused of corruption is not guilty, even when the person has admitted to the offence himself. You have instances of people protesting with placards if their kinsman is arrested and being prosecuted. Therefore, if Mr A sees that Mr B indulged in corruption and nothing happened to him, Mr C will replicate it, because society accepts it."

Aworinde said until corruption is defined by it generic term we will never arrest this menace from our Nigerian society, enforcement of laws against corruption is one of the problems militating against the fight against corruption, he added

"We have laws established to fight corruption, but enforcement is weak. Agencies are doing their best, but it appears they lack the capacity. Some of our laws actually encourage courage corruption. For instance, the immunity clause in our constitution is a licence for looting without getting accountable," he said.

Speaking also Mr. Christ Nwogu , the coordinator of the Forensic Insight International Conference said that the conference was apt and focused on addressing corruption through sensitization campaign, aimed at encouraging voluntary asset and income declaration to prevent, check and deter tax fraud and outright tax evasion of public office holders, and private entities which has become endemic paralyzing government's abilities to provide the dividend of democracy to the citizens. No nation can grow under a corrupt system, hence the need to sanitize the system through anti-Corruption campaigns and enforcement of laws becomes imperative, he added.

Tonto Dikeh Partners With CYMS To Empower Youths

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja

The renown Nollywood actor and Chief Executive, Tonto Dikeh Foundation, Tonto Dikeh has yesterday expressed her interest to partner with Committee of Youth on Mobilisation and Sensitisation (CYMS), to facilitate youths empowerments in an attempt to support the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari agenda of taking off 10million Nigerians out of poverty.

Dikeh made the pledge during her official meeting with the CYMS at the President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign office on Thursday in Abuja while commending the efforts of the CYMS in fostering peace among youths of diverse ethnic groups in the country.

She however said that CYMS's efforts in ensuring the re-election of Buhari is a commendable one describing the President as a gentleman, who deserves the support and prayer of every Nigerians irrespective of tribes and political parties.

In his response, Mr Audu Odanmeho, an official of CYMS, commended the Rivers born actress for her kind gesture, humanitarian services that gave birth to her establishing a foundation as a way of giving back to the society, adding that the partnership with CYMS is laudable and as a dedicated platform that has been assisting the Federal Government to ensure good governance will continue to bring succour to the less privileged and the disabled through this collaboration, however, reassured the team of his total supports and encouraged Dikeh to continue her good work.

Similarly, Mr Obinna Nwaka, Founder/Director-General, CYMS, reiterated his commitment to hold on to the core mandate of the organization CYMS which is to empower young people and encourage them to support and key into the Federal Government policies and programmes and that such partnership with Tonto Dikeh foundation will help the organization to do more in supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration to take Nigerians to the next level of economic prosperity.

Nwaka also expressed the readiness of the group to work with Dikeh in every aspects of empowerment in a bid to assist the government to reduce youth restiveness, crimes and unemployment in the society. He, however, urged Nigerian youths to go back to farming to ensure food availability and sustainability while appreciating the relentless commitments of the Federal Government toward youth development. In attendance were CYMS’s Director Media, Mr Otobong Gabriel, Ikedi Didigu, member and members of Tonto Dikeh Foundation.

CYMS hails Amb Ugwumba Over Victory In The Amaigbo Town Union Election

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja

The Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) constituted to assist the Federal government in areas of sensitization of its policies, and achievements has commended the good people of Amaigbo Town Union in Nwangele LGA of Imo State for electing one of them, Amb. Kelechi Micheal Ugwumba the Director, Contacts and Mobilization CYMS as their Public Relation Officer (PRO) in the recent town elective congress held on 26th October, 2019 at the Obi Igbo Complex.

The CYMS while congratulating him in a statement issued by its Director General, Amb. Obinna Nwaka yesterday in Abuja described Ugwumba as a dependable ally, true son of the soil, lover of his tradition and indeed a good image maker, adding that the Youth leader, has over the years proved himself as a unifying factor who has been recognized on several occasions for his leadership ingenuity especially in uniting youths for peaceful coexistence.

Nwaka however expressed his optimism saying that Ugwumba who has been participating in every activities of the town despite his tight schedules, official assignments in Abuja will discharge his role as the public relation officer with due diligence and package the union for national recognition owing to his exposure in the national politic, while encouraging members of the union to give him maximum supports he needs to actualize his vission for the union.

Nwaka, the CYMS Director General also thanked the good people of Amaigbo Town Union for also electing Sir Jonathan Fyne Madumere as it new President in same elective congress, describing the duo as genuine agents of empowerment, development and peaceful coexistence and that their leadership shall bring forth good fortune and bountiful harvest which all sons and daughters of Amaigbo both in diaspora shall live to remember, however the organization calls for prayers and support for the new set of Executives elected in the just concluded Congress and assured them of their readiness to partner with the leadership in ensuring youth development and other empowerment in line with the Next level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

CYMS hails Amb Ugwumba Over Victory In The Amaigbo Town Union Election

By Otobong Gabriel, Abuja

The Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) constituted to assist the Federal government in areas of sensitization of its policies, and achievements has commended the good people of Amaigbo Town Union in Nwangele LGA of Imo State for electing one of them, Amb. Kelechi Micheal Ugwumba the Director, Contacts and Mobilization CYMS as their Public Relation Officer (PRO) in the recent town elective congress held on 26th October, 2019 at the Obi Igbo Complex.

The CYMS while congratulating him in a statement issued by its Director General, Amb. Obinna Nwaka yesterday in Abuja described Ugwumba as a dependable ally, true son of the soil, lover of his tradition and indeed a good image maker, adding that the Youth leader, has over the years proved himself as a unifying factor who has been recognized on several occasions for his leadership ingenuity especially in uniting youths for peaceful coexistence.

Nwaka however expressed his optimism saying that Ugwumba who has been participating in every activities of the town despite his tight schedules, official assignments in Abuja will discharge his role as the public relation officer with due diligence and package the union for national recognition owing to his exposure in the national politic, while encouraging members of the union to give him maximum supports he needs to actualize his vission for the union.

Nwaka, the CYMS Director General also thanked the good people of Amaigbo Town Union for also electing Sir Jonathan Fyne Madumere as it new President in same elective congress, describing the duo as genuine agents of empowerment, development and peaceful coexistence and that their leadership shall bring forth good fortune and bountiful harvest which all sons and daughters of Amaigbo both in diaspora shall live to remember, however the organization calls for prayers and support for the new set of Executives elected in the just concluded Congress and assured them of their readiness to partner with the leadership in ensuring youth development and other empowerment in line with the Next level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Human Trafficking And Its Perverse Nature In Today's Modern World







The rates at which human trafficking thrives in today's world is becoming more worrisome and disheartening, Blessing Bature seeks to investigate government's efforts in combating this ungodly trade .

Humans are born free and equal with rights common to all and exclusive to none. in spite of the clear and express prohibition of slavery, trafficking in humans stands at an astoundingly and eerily high level, eclipsing all other ereas. In other words, with 30 million people, mostly women and girls, currently being exploited and violated in the sex/human-trafficking trade at this precise moment, there have never been more people enslaved in global history.

The conversation surrounding human trafficking has remains necessary and particularly popular one, but Human trafficking thrives on the secrecy and shadow of unawareness, which currently pervades. This increasingly disturbing human rights violation is linked to forced prostitution, street crimes, domestic servitude, child labour and many other forms of exploitation. Human trafficking is not only about individuals: it has a mass effect on our social fabric, economic stability and more abstractly reflects on our common humanity.

A huge part of addressing this immense problem starts with finding individual efforts, organising in communities and organisations to brainstorm and implement, working with and through governments and intergovernmental organisations and international organisations to stop this problem! The question is, what are the way to champion human trafficking whether you’re working alone, in community, or at the national or international level. Let’s make a difference!

In Nigeria, human trafficking has been a source, transit, and destination country for women and children including forced labor and forced prostitution. Trafficked Nigerian women and children are recruited from rural areas within the country's borders which involves involuntary domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, and boys for forced labor in street vending, domestic servitude, mining, and begging.

Nigerian women and children are taken from Nigeria to other West and Central African countries, primarily Gabon, Cameroon, Ghana, Chad, Benin, Togo, Niger, Burkina Faso, and the Gambia, for the same purposes. Children from West African states like Benin, Togo, and Ghana – where Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rules allow for easy entry – are also forced to work in Nigeria, and some are subjected to hazardous jobs in Nigeria's granite mines. Nigerian women and girls are taken to Europe, especially to Italy and Russia, and to the Middle East and North Africa, for forced prostitution.

The work of ending human trafficking requires incredible amounts of infrastructure and work that ultimately carries a huge financial burden, While young people, particularly girls, are extremely vulnerable to human trafficking, they can also be key agents in this fight. The Not for Sale Campaign has created a free school curriculum for both high schools and colleges which, when paired with its Student Abolition Movement, can be very effective in transitioning students from learners to activists!

In an era of corporate irresponsibility where companies may be part of supply networks that lend to human trafficking, partnerships with companies to break this cycle are essential, Governments and businesses organisations should combine their resources to address human trafficking. A huge part of ending the modern-day injustice of human trafficking involves demanding more of our governments and holding accountable companies that directly/indirectly support human trafficking.

These efforts are challenging, however, as there is no one way to address the variations in trafficking across the world. Differing cultures, economics, and religions all make laws complicated to implement, and corruption, cultural interpretations, and different systems of justice make them even more difficult to enforce. Another thing that should be noted is that many of the laws worldwide focus on sex trafficking as opposed to labor trafficking (which is more widespread), partially because sex trafficking is talked about in the media more.


Between the year 2017 and 2019 NAPTIP had made tremendous efforts in curtailing the menace, Under the year in review, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Ninety (1890) victims were rescued, Out of the total number, Four Hundred and Twenty Nine (429) victims, representing 22.7% of the number, were rescued under the Procurement for sexual exploitation or Prostitution externally case, making it the highest. Following it is the Procurement for Foreign Travel which Promotes Prostitution and Child domestic labour, with Three Hundred and Seventy-Four (374) and Two Hundred and Ninety-Nine (299) cases, respectively. The least number of victims rescued were gotten under Wandering and Missing Child cases, with a victim each.

Nigerians were mostly trafficked to Libya, which had a total number of Seventy (70) victims, representing 47.0% of the One Hundred and Forty Nine (149) victims trafficked out of the country for various reasons.
The least country where Nigerians were trafficked to was Mali, with a total of four (4) victims, representing 2.7%, of the total number.


Under the period, the total cases received by the Agency was Eight hundred and Seventy-Six (876), Out of the 876 cases received, a total of One Hundred and Forty-Eight (148) cases, which represents 16.9%, were investigated fully.
The most reported cases, from the investigation came from Foreign Travel which Promotes Prostitution, Employment of Child as domestic worker and inflicting grievous harm and Procurement of Persons for Sexual Exploitation with 217, 161 and 120 cases respectively, while the least number of cases came from Procurement or Recruitment of Persons for Use in Armed Conflicts, Procurement or Recruitment of Persons for Organ Harvesting and Trafficking in Slaves with one (1) case each

A total of fifteen cases were referred to other Agencies by NAPTIP, as they were not within their jurisdiction. The Nigeria Police Force had the highest amount of cases referred to them, with a total of 10 cases, Nigeria Immigration Service had just one case referred to it, making it the least Agency cases referred to while a total of Six hundred and Forty One (641) traffickers were apprehended in the year 2017, with 363 being males and 278, females. The highest number of suspected traffickers came under the case of Foreign travel which promotes prostitution or sexual exploitation, with a total number of 139, representing 21.7% of the number, 75 of whom were males and 64 females. Following the Employment of a child as domestic worker and inflicting grievous harms, with 100 suspected traffickers, 36 of whom were males and 64 are females.

The Legal Department of the Agency received a total number of Two hundred and Fifty Six (256) cases for legal opinion. Procurement of persons for sexual exploitation had Forty (40) cases for legal opinion, making it the highest number of cases received by the department. The least number of cases came from Recruitment of persons under 18yrs for pornography or brothel and Recruitment of persons for organ harvesting, with just a case each.

The Agency had Seventy (70) cases charged to court, under the year in review. The Seventy cases had a total of 113 persons charged to court, out of whom Fifty-Seven (57) were males and Fifty-Six (56), females.
Procurement of persons for sexual exploitation had the highest number of cases charged to court, with Twenty-Two (22) cases and Twenty-Seven (27) persons charged to court were forced labour/slavery outside Nigeria, Escape or aiding and abetting escape, Attempt to commit an offence under this Act and Child Kidnap had just a case, making them the least cases charged to court, with 1, 5,2 and 1 persons charged respectively, secured convictions in a total of Twenty-one (21) cases, with Twenty-Six (26) convicted persons, eighteen (18) of the persons being males and Eight (, females.

The highest number of convictions came from the Recruitment of persons under 18yrs for prostitution/sexual exploitation, with Twelve (12) cases won, and Fourteen (14) people convicted, Twelve (12) being males and Two (2) being females.

However in the year 2018, a total of One Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy Three (1,173) victims were rescued. There were One Hundred and Ninety (190) males and Nine Hundred and Eighty Three (983) females, highest numbers of victims were received from the following cases; Procurement for Foreign Travel which Promotes Prostitution, with Two Hundred and Twenty Two (222) victims and Procurement for sexual exploitation or Prostitution externally, with One Hundred and Seventy Two (172) victims, the Agency received a total of One Thousand and Seventy Six (1076) human trafficking and other related cases, out of which Two Hundred and Six (206) of the cases were fully investigated, representing 19.1%of the total cases reported.
The total number of suspects apprehended from the various cases reported is Eight Hundred and Twenty Three (823), out of which Four Hundred and Fifty (450) are males and Three Hundred and Seventy Three (373) are females.
Table I: No. of cases received, investigated and no. of suspect apprehended

The Legal and Prosecution Department received Two Hundred and Twenty Seven (227) cases from the Investigation and Monitoring Department during the year out of which Seventy Five (75) of the cases were charged to court including some outstanding from 2017. Cases Received by the Agency won Thirty One (31) cases in the year 2018, and lost just one case. Fifty (50) persons were convicted from the various cases, of which Twenty nine (29) are males, and Twenty One (21) are females. The highest number of convictions came from Procurement of Persons for Sexual Exploitation, which had Eight ( cases won.

Recently the Director General of NAPTIP , Dame Julie Okah-Donli said that since inception in 2003, NAPTIP has secured 403 convictions with over 14,000 victims rescued and rehabilitated and reintegrated back into their various communities. Adding that the agency has further strengthened the existing collaborations with various partners as well as formed new alliances on all fronts to boost the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria and beyond .
And that NAPTIP has successfully inaugurated state task force recently to fight against human trafficking in Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states in addition to the existing taskforce in Edo state and promised to replicate this in all the 36 states of the federation, as it aims at getting the states and local government to take proactive steps towards the combat of human trafficking in their domains.

The Government of Nigeria has not fully met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated significant efforts during the reporting period by disbursing significantly more funding to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP); supporting the signing and implementation of a UN action plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children by the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF); with an international organization, beginning a screening and sensitization campaign to identify and prevent sexual exploitation and abuse of IDPs; and prosecuting three suspected traffickers for child forced begging, although judges ultimately acquitted them. However, the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period.

All these attendant challenges gives reasons to findout the root causes of human trafficking in Nigeria which are; poverty and high unemployment rates particularly in rural areas, low levels of education and literacy, corruption, and lack of information on humantrafficking. For example, the majority of the Nigerian population lives below the income poverty line on lessthan one (1) dollar per day. Poverty levels are higher in rural areas, making people from these areas morevulnerable to human trafficking. Traffickers may be more successful in “recruiting” such victims, inciting themwith false promises of jobs or money in exchange. The lack of education and low levels of literacy alsocontribute to the poverty problem, since they limit women’s and children’s opportunities to get better rewardedjobs in the future. ILO report showed that the desire of Nigerian potential victims to migrate is exploited by offenders to recruit and gain initial control or cooperation, only to be replaced by more coercive measures oncethe victims have been moved to another State or region of the country, which may not always be the one towhich they had intended to migrate (Adepelumi, 2015). Traffickers entice their victims with promises of receiving education and acquisition of skills.

However with all these attendant challenges, its crystal clear that combating this inhuman crime demands a corporate efforts, all hands must be on desk to curtail this, individually, government, NGOs Civil society organisations and religious groups must take deliberate efforts to fight against the scourge.

CYMS Condemns Targeted Attacks On Nigerians In S. Africa

The Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization ( CYMS) has yesterday condemned in strong terms the recurrent killings and maiming of Nigerians and its businesses in South Africa describing it as a targeted harassment that must not only be seriously frowned at but must be tackled with utmost urgency.

The CYMS in a statement issued to NAN yesterday through it Director Media and publicity, Comrade Otobong Gabriel after a high level engagement with the South African High Commission in Abuja said it was quite necessary that Nigerian youths had to take their destiny in their hands by coming out to chat a way forward to ensure a peaceful coexistence between the two countries and put a stop to this inhuman attacks on Nigerians

Ambassador Obinna Nwaka, the Director General of CYMS who was part of the delegation of notable Nigerian youth leaders on a round table discussion with Mr Bobby Moroe, the acting High Commissioner of the South Africa High Commission said that the South African Commission has swung into action by setting up an eight ( Man Committee that will ensure quick implementation of CYMS "National and International Youth led Dialogue" working documents adopted by the South Africa government.

The working document which was received by the High Commission on 30th July, 2019 through the CYMS shall guide the 8 Man Committee on proper engagement of youths from the two countries, and to come up with a comprehensive report from an independent point of view that will assist in putting to an end to the Xenophobic attack on Nigerian, adding that it is quite disturbing that for century, Nigerians who live in the Republic of South Africa have consistently been victims of xenophobic violent attacks.

Unfortunately, both countries have not done enough to reduce the spate of those attacks due to failure of both government to work with interest groups.

However, the CYMS has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his quick intervention by deploying special envoy and pulling out of the upcoming Conference in Cape Town, meanwhile we call on Federal government to appoint proactive persons with political will to protect their citizens especially on diplomatic mission.

Nwaka stated that Nigeria and South Africa share a history of brotherhood and at different times in our difficult times and it is very important that we do not allow this ugly development cause a blot in our shared history, and therefore plead with Nigerian to contend their anger and think of a more diplomatic ways of handling this ugly occurrences like brothers and sisters while challenging the leadership of both countries to press all available diplomatic buttons as quick as possible to put in action all the suggestions of Nigerian youths on this matter.

CYMS Hails Amaechi, Mahmood over Appointments as Honourable Ministers

By Blessing Bature, Abuja

The Committee of Youth On Mobilization and Sensitization ( CYMS) headed by Comrade Obinna Nwaka, the Director General has congratulated Rt Hon. Rotimi Amaechi and Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar over their well earned appointments as Honourable Minister of Transport and Minister of Environment respectively.

In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abuja by its Director Media and publicity, Comrade Otobong Gabriel said the re-appointment of Hon. Rotimi Amaechi by Mr. President is a genuine recognition of his hardwork and dedication towards quality service delivery and encouraged him to see this as an opportunity to work harder to evolve a world class transportation system in Nigeria and to position it as a hub in West and Central Africa that will be safe, efficient, affordable and seamless intermodal transport system in line with global best practices while creating an enabling environment for Public Private Partnership.

Nwaka while also commending President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar as the Honourable Minister of Environment described the appointment as not only credible but a productive one owing to his track records, commitment of Mr President reelection, experience, sacrifice and charged the appointee not to betray the confidence reposed on him by the President but to defile every obstacle to secure a quality environment conducive for good health and well being of fauna and flora, restore and maintain the ecosystem, ecological process and preserve biodiversity and build cooperation with relevant MDAs, private sectors, NGOs and International organizations on environmental matters.

CYMS while felicitating with the duo enjoined them to remain dogged, relentless administrators in the affairs of the Nigerian state and utilize their positions to empower members of APC Presidential Campaign Council.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitisation (CYMS) is registered and recognized by the Presidency, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to promote and supports the policies and programmes of the federal government with structures all across the federation

CYMS Congratulates Godswill Akpabio, Festus Keyamo Over Appointments

By Blessing Bature, Abuja



The Committee of Youth on Mobilization and Sensitization (CYMS) under the leadership of Comrade Obinna Nwaka, the Director General has congratulated Sen. Godswill Akpabio and Hon. Festus Keyamo SAN over appointments as Honourable Minister, and state minister of Ministry Of Niger Delta Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria respectively describing it as a confirmation of the President's confidence on them over their sterling qualities and abilities to drive the development agenda of the region.

In a statement issued by its Director Media and publicity, Otobong Gabriel yesterday describe Niger Delta as the economic-based of the nation, hence require leaders with high level of political maturity with the heart to serve in order to stabilize the oil polity in the region and term down the insecurity challenges faced in the region as a result of marginalization, saying that the duo are perfect match for the job owing to the uncommon track records of Akpabio when he was a governor.

The Committee Of Youth On Mobilization and Sensitization is a registered body constituted by youth leaders to promote and supports the policies and programmes of the federal government with structures all across the federation. The CYMS while felicitated with the duo said their appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari is a reward for hard work and diligence to duty and testamentary of the President’s approval for their work in his first term and his believe in their ability to contribute meaningfully toward the “Next Level” agenda he promised Nigerians."

Gabriel expressed his confidence on Senator Akpabio that he can turn round low performance in any ministry assigned to him been a dedicated and reliable administrator and " Uncommon Transformer he is known for " will be a productive ally to Mr. President in discharging his duties and urged him to deploy his wealth of experience to effectively steer the affairs of the Ministry toward productive governance that will bring hope to the common Nigerians.

He however enjoined him to remain a dogged and relentless administrator in the affairs of the Nigerian state which he creditably demonstrated during his time as a governor of Akwa Ibom State and wished them good health and the wisdom to fulfill their duties and to take Nigeria to the Next Level of economic prosperity.