News
I have no reason to underperform, says Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday said growing and diversifying Nigeria’s economy would require the steadfast support of the organised private sector.
Tinubu affirmed that he has “no reason to underperform” given the trust Nigerians have bestowed upon him.
“I have no reason to underperform as the elected President of the country because I campaigned for the job. Cut the costs. Fix the bends. Summon courage. Save the money, but push the economy,” Tinubu said during Iftar (breaking of fast) with members of the Nigerian business community at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed details of the discussions in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘President Tinubu to Corporate Nigeria: hand in hand with you, i cannot underperform on a job i campaigned for.’
“I would have summoned you before now, not during Ramadan, because you are a very valuable part of my constituency.
“There is no driver of the economy that is bigger than the private sector. If the private sector is not flourishing, there is no growth, no prosperity, no employment, or development. No matter how flowery the speeches are, not even a mushroom will grow.
”Thank you for persevering. We are at a turning point in our economy. I do not have to do a quadratic equation to illustrate all of that to you. I just want to appreciate you for your endurance and perseverance,’’ the President said.
Tinubu shared insights from his visit to the New York Stock Exchange in 2023, noting Nigeria’s self-belief and determination to drive economic transformation from within.
He narrated, “At the New York Stock Exchange, I appealed to foreign investors to consider Nigeria as a prime investment destination.
“At the end of my remarks, I told them we only want them to show their face and diversify Nigeria’s economy not as if we cannot do it ourselves.
“Tony Elumelu walked up to me and thanked me for making that statement. We can do it. Nigeria is a self-believer and can always deliver on its own. We know our first name and our last name. Our first name is: Spirit, and our last name is: Can do.”
Tinubu reiterated his commitment to fulfilling his mandate, emphasizing that, “I cannot complain about the job. I appreciate the gesture, and what you have told me this evening is very inspiring.”
To the business people, he said, “Cut the costs. Fix the bends. Summon courage. Save the money, but push the economy.
“We will be there. There are some countries that have failed. There are some countries that have succeeded.
“In our time, in my time, all of us must work together to succeed. Thank you very much.”
In separate remarks at the Ramadan dinner, industrialists, bank executives, and entrepreneurs pledged their support towards the success of the administration’s economic programmes.
Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu, assured the President that the Organized Private Sector in the country is solidly behind him.
‘‘Your transformation journey to turn around the economy and businesses are very appropriate for the country. We appreciate what you are doing. We know the journey will not be smooth, but given the will, we will get to the Promised Land.
‘‘We admire your decisiveness, and we appreciate what you are doing. You are extremely passionate about taking Nigeria to the Promised Land. On behalf of the OPS, we want to assure you that we are 100 percent with you.
“We have engaged with your ministers and associates; we share ideas, and we support them. We know that under your leadership, you have the ability to heal Nigeria permanently,’’ said Mr. Elumelu.
On his part, Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, charged business owners and manufacturers to work towards bringing down the cost of products and services.
Citing the example of Air Peace in reducing the cost of air tickets to London, Mr. Onyema thanked President Tinubu for improving the ease of doing business in the country.
”President Tinubu is thinking of the Nigeria of the future. The ease of doing business is coming back gradually.
“I can attest to that in the aviation sector because of the people you appointed to head that sector.
”I can also attest to what our High Commission in the United Kingdom did in making Air Peace flights into Gatwick Airport a possibility,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, pharmacist and founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Company, Dr. Stella Okoli, urged the President to look into providing more support for the pharmaceutical industry in the country to make it self-sufficient and self-financing.
Source: PUNCH NEWS
The General Officer Commanding, GOC, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. J H Abdusallam has vowed that the Nigerian Army will continue to conduct operations in Okuama community, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, until its equipments and arms which were allegedly carted away by hoodlums are recovered.
“We will continue to conduct operations until our equipments and our arms that were carted away are recovered,” the GOC declared while addressing journalists on Tuesday.
He remembered with sadness how troops were brutally murdered in Okuama community in March 2024.
Abdusallam denied reports that the Army invaded the community on Monday.
“This is nigeria. I don’t understand when you say Nigerian Army invaded a place. When Nigeria Army go to operations in a place it is called operations. Why do you say it’s invasion?
“If we are conducting normal military operations in other places, it’s normal military operation not invasion. So it’s normal military operation that the military went to conduct in Okuama not invasion.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate assistance to victims of the devastating flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The flood, described as the worst in recent decades, has displaced thousands of residents and affected critical facilities such as the Post Office and Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep concern over the disaster, triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam, and extended his condolences to the government and people of Borno State, particularly families who have lost their livelihoods.
He called for the immediate evacuation of people from affected areas and assured Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of federal support to address the humanitarian needs of the affected population.
As relevant authorities assess the damage, President Tinubu pledged to mobilize federal resources to support the state during this challenging time.
“President Bola Tinubu expresses deep concern about the flooding in parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
“The worst flood in recent decades has displaced thousands of residents and affected facilities such as the Post office and the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
“President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state, especially to the families that have lost their means of livelihood due to the disaster triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam.
“While relevant authorities are still assessing the damage wrought by the flood, the President calls for the immediate evacuation of people from affected areas.
“President Tinubu assures Governor Babagana Umara Zulum that the Federal Government is ready to collaborate to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the affected people.
“He orders the National Emergency Management Agency to assist the flood victims.
“The President remains committed to mobilising federal resources to support the state during this difficult time”, the statement said.
The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has empowered 95 Ebonyians drawn from the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
The beneficiaries spent over two months outside Ebonyi State at their training centre in Agbani, Enugu State, where they were trained in fishery, poultry, piggery farming and business management skills.
Governor Nwifuru while receiving the trainees at the State Executive Chamber yesterday, September 9, 2024, registered his utter delight at the fact that the trainees were persistent and focused – staying away from home for over two months to acquire vocational skills.
In a statement released by the Special Assistant to the Governor New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, the governor expressed satisfaction that the empowerment is channelled at beneficiaries who have been trained. As such, the funds will be judiciously and purposefully utilized.
Through an open application to the State Executive Council by the Honourable Commissioner for Human Capital Development – Hon. Mrs. Ann Aligwe, which was approved, the Governor pronounced the empowerment of 95 of the trainees with Three Million Naira (3,000,000.00) each, for them to set up farms and practice what they learnt.
According to the Commissioner, 100 persons were nominated, but some left the camp because of their unwillingness to spend over two months outside home. Others cited different reasons. The Governor reminded the 95 beneficiaries that they will be monitored to ensure proper use of the funds. The training is under the aegis of Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerment Programme (FONEP) – the pilot batch.
The Department of State Services (DSS) says its operatives did not unlawfully invade the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office in Abuja.
On Monday, SERAP said the DSS agents were “unlawfully occupying” its office in Abuja, adding that they had demanded to see its directors.
The group had asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the DSS to end the harassment, intimidation, and attack on the rights of Nigerians.
In a statement on Tuesday, the DSS said its operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to the SERAP office in Abuja.
The secret police said they have been inundated with multiple enquiries on what transpired.
“This narrative is inaccurate and misleading in its intent,” the statement reads.
“For the records, a team of two (2) unarmed Service operatives were lawfully detailed on routine investigation to SERAP office in Abuja, which has sadly been skewed and misinterpreted as unlawful, harassment and intimidation of SERAP officials.
“The Service further wishes to state that such official enquiries and liaison are traditional and does not in any way amount to illegality or raid.
“While it assures of in-depth investigation of these malicious contents, it sues for citizens’ participation in national security management.”
The DSS asked the public to disregard “false narratives”, restating its commitment to professionalism in discharging its core mandate with utmost dedication and integrity.
The Inspector General of Police, through legal officer S.O. Ayodele from the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, has filed a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretenses and theft against Nigerian businessman Ebi Otisaye Ogionwo.
In the charges presented before the Federal High Court in Lagos, Ayodele alleges that in 2022, Ogionwo fraudulently obtained $300,000 from Mr. Oluwatosin Adefila of Beltzemo Nigeria Limited. The funds were purportedly meant to finance an oil trading business, but this representation was false.
The charges against Ogionwo are in violation of Section 1 (1) (c) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
The two count charge as filed before the court.
Count one:
That you, Ebi Otsaye Ogionwo “M” sometimes in 2022,in Lagos, within the Judicial Division of this Honorable Court, did by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars (S300,000:00) from one Mr. Oluwatosin Adefila of Boltzemo Nigeria Limited under the guise of using the said funds for financing Oil Trading Business, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offer contrary to Section 1(1)(c) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fec,raud and other Related Offences Act 2006, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
Count two:
That you Ebi Otsaye Ogionwo “M” on the same date, time and place, and in the aforementioned Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, did steal the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) from one Mr.Oluwatosin Adefila of Belztzemo Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Act,Cap C 38,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004.
Meanwhile, 14th of October, 2024 has been fixed for the arraignment of the defendant.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered that Taofeeq Osunmakinde, a traditional ruler in Osun, and four others be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged illegal gold mining.
Justice Emeka Nwite, who gave the order after the defendants were prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), directed them to be remanded pending the perfection of their bail conditions
Oba Osunmakinde were arraigned alongside Sheu Mustapha, Sabiru Hashim, Danbaba Ibrahim and Ade Olap Global Resources Limited.
The defendants, who were alleged to have committed the offence in Lege Community, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, were preferred with two counts.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Oba Osunmakinde is the Obawore of Ifetuntun in Ife Central Local Government Area of Osun.
The AGF accused the five defendants of conspiring with others at large on Aug. 25 to engage in the illegal mining of gold at the Ogunlepo mining site in Lege community, Odigbo local government area of Ondo State.
The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under Section 1(8) of the same Act.
The monarch and co-defendants were also alleged to have undertaken gold mining on Aug. 25 without lawful authority contrary to Section 1(8) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act and punishable under the same Act.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Counsel to the AGF, Toluwalope Ojo, then asked for a trial date.
Although lawyer Ojo did not object to the bail of the accused persons, he, however, requested the court to compel them to deposit their international passports with the court.
Lawyer to the defendants, Vincent Ododo, who moved consolidated bail applications for his clients, prayed the judge to admit them to bail on various grounds.
Part of the grounds he cited was that the 1st defendant was a well-known traditional ruler and that the charges against them did not carry capital punishment while also assuring that the defendants would not fail to appear in court for trial.
Justice Nwite, in a short ruling, admitted them to bail in the sum of N20 million each with one surety in the like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties must be resident in Abuja with ownership of landed property and must produce a three-year tax clearance certificate.
He also ordered that the defendants must deposit their international passports along with three copies of each of their recent passport photographs with the deputy chief registrar of the court.
The Judge ordered that they be taken to the correctional facility pending their bail perfection.
The matter was adjourned until Sept. 26 for trial.
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