Announcing the prize, on behalf of an advisory board of Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), led by Prof. Jubril Aminu, at a zoom conference yesterday, Prof. Pat Utomi, said: “Zulum is a revolutionary governor, who has become one of Nigeria’s most accomplished leaders within a short time,” adding that the formal presentation was slated for December 6, 2020.

Utomi said Zulum was honoured for good governance, accountability and transparency.

It would be recalled that the Governor emerged the Nigerian Muslim Personality of the year 2019 as announced by the publisher, Rasheed Abubakar, earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Utomi listed the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha; Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Dambatta; Chief Executive Officer of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr.Stella Okoli; and Kennedy Nduka as winners in various categories of public service, business and professional leadership.

Source: The Guardian/ www.muslimnews.com.ng

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and some notable Nigerians have urged their compatriots in the Diaspora to key into government efforts for national development.

Some of the notable Nigerians include Mr Innocent Chukwuma, CEO of Innoson Group, and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Amb. Adeyinka Asekun.

They called on Nigerians in Diaspora to key into efforts by the Federal Government to harness their resources directly for national development

The advice came at the just concluded 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, Americas (NIDOA) with the theme, “Harnessing Diaspora Capital for Sustainable Development in Nigeria.

According to them, Nigeria’s emigrant communities are critical national assets mostly needed now to drive their country’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts.

However, they called for a conducive environment and formal structures back home to leverage the capitals, influence and connections of the Nigerian Diaspora.

In a pre-recorded video message, Adesina highlighted the strong financial power of Nigerians abroad as shown in their remittances averaging $22 billion (N8 trillion) annually.

“Think of it. What this means is that Nigeria’s value added Diaspora is a significant net gain rather than a brain drain.

“The Diaspora, however, is more than money of course. The Diaspora represents knowledge, strategic influence and networks.

“In a world of hyper change, Nigeria needs its best and brightest to tackle the most challenging issues of our time, and to ensure its rightful place in the League of Nations.

“Together, let us inspire a greater Nigeria, a developed, prosperous and dynamic country bursting with energy and hope,’’ he said.

The AfDB president lauded President Muhammadu Buhari’s foresight in setting up the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to properly harness their “brains, innovation and entrepreneurial capacities’’.

He called for the right policy and political engagement to attract Nigerians abroad and properly tap their huge capitals for national development.

In a keynote address, Innoson noted that the huge remittances of the Diaspora to Nigeria is an indication that they are interested in the wellbeing of their fatherland.

“But remittances are not enough. We need them back to the country. We need the strength from abroad to power our economy.

“We need the Diaspora human capital to come back and contribute to our GDP. This is the way forward to achieve our greatness.

“If Innoson Vehicles after 10 years is still waxing strong in spite of the challenges, I believe that you too can succeed in Nigeria, because whatever that is wrong in Nigeria can be corrected with what is right in Nigeria,’’ he said.

The automaker also stressed the need for government to create the right environment for Nigerians to return home and contribute their quota.

For his part, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada said the quantum of financial flows from the Diaspora was capable of sustaining Nigeria’s development if properly channeled.

Asekun said: “I believe it is commendable and worthwhile to send in money for day-to-day living and for consumption.

“But I also believe that the whole impact of these flows will be felt upon the development process when a structure is brought to bear in the process.

“Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa made very valuable points in terms of all the various initiatives in place such as the opportunities for mortgages,’’ he said.

Turning to Nigerians, home and abroad, he noted that the nation’s development is in their hands, adding that the creation of an enabling environment in Nigeria is also their collective responsibility.

The Chairperson of NiDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, highlighted some programmes the commission has initiated, including a Diaspora trust fund.

“Recently we put in place the Nigerians in Diaspora Trust Fund Committee to work out modalities so that we can have a proper structure for Nigerians who want to invest at home.

“The committee was inaugurated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs not long ago and will soon report back to us.

“We are also working with the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for what we call Diaspora Mortgage Programme where you can sit in the comfort of your home and be able to get a mortgage and then a home in Nigeria.

“There is no excuse any more. You now have NIDCOM to work with and we are determined that the Diaspora will never be ignored again in the annals of our country,’’ she said.

All the speakers lauded the “tremendous achievements’’ of NIDOA in the last 20 years, especially its influence on government’s policies that led to the establishment of NIDCOM.

Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of NIDOA, Mr Obed Monago, said the organisation had sustained its mission, including promoting patriotism, networking and cooperation among Nigerians in the Diaspora since its creation in 2000.

Monago said the theme of this year’s AGM was apt coming at a time Nigeria needs all the resources it could muster to recover from COVID-19.

“The impact of COVID-19 has shown that time is now for the Diaspora to think inwards and homewards and act in the most definite ways to help bring about the socio-economic development that is so much needed in our country.

“However, we will passionately ask the federal government to provide that enabling environment for us to build our country.

“This includes corruption eradication, rule of law, transparency, checks and balances, infrastructure, constant power supply, accountability, favourable monetary policies, ease of doing business, among others,’’ he said.

President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed the appointment of Dr Bello Aliyu Gusau as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and Ahmed Bobboi as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF).

Mr Femi Adesina, who confirmed the appointments in a statement in Abuja on Friday, said Simbi Wabote was also reappointed as Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).

He said the renewal of the appointments followed recommendations to the President by the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipre Syla.

Adesina revealed that Aliyu was credited to have ran the PTDF successfully in the past four years, keeping faith with the Seven Strategic Priorities he had introduced in January 2017.

”These are: Domestication, Cost cutting, Sustainable funding, Efficient internal processes, Linkages with the industry, Utilization of centers of excellence, and Pursuit of home-grown research.”

According to him, Bobboi gets his reappointment for having run PEF in a way that made it a key and strategic player in the administration’s oil and gas reforms, especially in stabilizing the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, among others.

He said the NCDMB boss, Wabote, won his pips for managing the NCDMB and completing its headquarters building.

The presidential aide said that Wabote also initiated many landmark projects that were widely commended by industry players.

”All the appointments take immediate effect,” he said.

(NAN)

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has received three ”Smart Walk-Through Booths” for COVID -19 sample collection, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of the centre has said.

Ihekweazu said the booths were donated by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

”Sample collections will done safely and easily in the country.

“This donation reflects the understanding that the fight against COVID-19, really requires joint effort.

“The booths are  designed in a way that when people need samples collected, you don’t have to dress in your full Personal protective equipment (PPE), this is a model that will make simple collection more easier and health workers protected,’’ he said.

Ihekweazu said that the booth would enhance the fights of COVID-19 in the country and promised to ensure it was properly used as required.

He said the booths would be put into effective use at the National Reference Laboratory in Abuja, the Central Public Health Laboratory and Nigerian Institute of Medical Research in Lagos.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for Health, Sen.  Olorunimbe Mamora said that Nigeria needs collaboration in this period of  COVID-19 pandemic.

Mamora appreciated the government of Korea and advised the NCDC to ensure proper use of the booth.

Also speaking, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Maj.-Gen. Lee In-tae who was represented by Mr Woochan Chang, KOICA Country Director said that the donation marked another milestone in the bilateral relations that established since 1980.

Lee said that the booths are expected to provide medical staff with effective protection during test sample collection, support mass screening for COVID-19 in a timely and efficient manner and reduce the usage of PPE.

He said some key features of the booths include: Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, high efficiency bi-directional fan module conductive for medical staff to collect test sample.

He advised the NCDC to ensure efficiency and good maintenance of the booths.

(NAN)

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has flagged off construction of 250 roads and power projects across 377 wards in the state, said to be in fulfilment of one of the key promises of his electioneering campaign.

As stated, the projects tagged “Operation 377”, will saw the construction of over 250 roads will and 23 power projects and that the execution would be led by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

Sanwo-Olu said that the intervention was initiated in response to the series of requests by the various communities across the state to address their specific challenges, and that the execution of the projects would change the grassroots development narratives.

Speaking on Friday during the ceremony held at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Government Secretariat, Alausa, Sanwo-Olu said that plans had been concluded to mobilize contractors to site and ensure commencement of the projects across the 377 wards.

“The state-wide 377 ward projects being launched today are state intervention projects in grassroots development. The projects are conceived in response to requests by the various communities across the State to address specific challenges. These projects are not universal; they are diverse, reflecting the needs of each ward across the state.

“The implementation of the projects will commence immediately after this official flag-off, as contractors have been fully mobilized to move to the sites. I urge residents who are the ultimate beneficiaries of these projects to take ownership of them by monitoring the implementation process and ensure that the jobs conform to the quality and standards specified in the project designs,” the Governor was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesperson, Gboyega Akosile.

Sanwo-Olu said that identifying the needs and the design of the projects was in line with the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and participatory governance in which the people are considered as key stakeholders.

The Governor described the grassroots as “the bedrock of development”, stressing that the projects were strategic in promoting the wellbeing of the people across communities, adding that his administration would continue to give residents a voice on issues that affect them.

“This administration’s development agenda is driven by the spirit to build a Greater Lagos that is livable and conducive for the growth and development of enterprise. The dream of a Greater Lagos is not exclusive; it is predicated on the principle of inclusiveness by which development is not considered as satisfactory until it has addressed the yearnings of the greatest number of the people who contribute to the commonwealth.”

Sanwo-Olu urged all public officers to be responsible in dealing with the people, noting that governance would be meaningless without the input of the people from whose mandate public officers derived their powers.

Dr Hamzat, who is the Chairman of the Projects’ Implementation Committee, said that all contractors would move to their sites next Monday, noting that the intervention was in demonstration of the governor’s campaign promise to run an inclusive administration.

He said that the projects’ selection followed a meeting between the Governor and all 377 councillors across the state during which Sanwo-Olu asked them to name specific projects they wanted executed in their wards.

After identifying the projects, Hamzat said, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget and professionals in public service evaluated the cost of the projects. This effort, the Deputy Governor said, was followed by a re-evaluation by an independent consultant.

Giving the breakdown of the projects, Hamzat said the Government would be building 257 community roads and drainage, adding that 86 public buildings would be rehabilitated, two jetties, nine water projects and 23 power projects would be installed across the wards.

All the projects, the Deputy Governor said, are distributed across the three senatorial districts, and that wards across Lagos Central would have 94 projects, Lagos East would have 99 and Lagos West would get 184 projects.

“The projects will be implemented by contractors in collaboration with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Directorate of Technical Service, Lagos State Electricity Board and Public Works Corporation. Supervision and monitoring of the projects will be done in collaboration with the ward councillors and party executives.,” he said.

No fewer than 10 Egyptians and seven Sri-Lankans deportation have been approved by the Federal Government after violating their entry condition into the country, a situation said to have been against the nation’s Immigration Act.

Their actions, the government said, contravened section 45, subsection 2, section 46, subsection 1 and Section 47, subsection 1 of the Nigeria Immigration Act 2015.

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said that the deportation of 10 Egyptians and seven Sri-Lankans were with immediate effect after violating conditions for their entry into the country.

Through a statement released to newsmen on Friday by the Nigeira Immigration Service (NIS), Public Relations Officer, Sunday James, Aregbesola said that their deportation was signed in line with the government’s measures to curb illegal entry into the country.

“Seven Sri-Lankans that were jailed for petroleum product related offences after serving their jail terms were ordered by the court to be deported to their country as well.

“The minister also signed the deportation order of one Ali Mahamat Taher to France and one Kasinathan Ramasamy to India who were found to be involved in activities violating the conditions of their entry into Nigeria.

“Taher was found to be engaged in activities capable of undermining the security of a friendly neighbouring country to Nigeria in Maiduguri, Borno state. While Ramasamy was found working as a shop attendant in Kano,” the said statement said.

Barely 24 hours after alleged supremacy battle among Ekiti State All Progressives Congress  (APC) leaders came to fore, the party leadership has nullified all members suspension, including that of the state Govenor, Kayode Fayemi, said to have influenced suspension of 11 members recently.

Equity News had reported that the state chapter of suspended Oyetunde Ojo, son-in-law to the party’s national leader, Bola Tinubu, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu, and nine others over alleged anti-party activities.

Others suspended by the party were: former governorship aspirant, Dr Wole Oluyede; Ayo Ajibade, Femi Adeleye, Akin Akomolafe; Bamigboye Adegoroye; Olusoga Owoeye; Dele Afolabi; Toyin Oluwasola and Bunmi Ogunleye.

Meanwhile, the party’s state Executive Committee, had earlier on Friday, announced the suspension of Fayemi on allegations of anti-party activities and funding the campaign of People’s Democratic Party’s candidate in the last governorship election in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde.

“Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State is hereby suspended from the Party in view of his numerous anti-Party activities especially his role in the recent concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution.

“For five days prior to the Edo elections, Gov Fayemi hosted PDP big wig Mr. Femi Fani- Kayode in the government house in Ado Ekiti in the run-up to the Edo elections. It was here they perfected the coup against our party in Edo State,” the state’s APC SEC said in a statement.

But, the party leadership, through a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, said that all purported suspensions, including that Fayemi, stands nullified.

The party claimed that the National Secretariat was yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported suspensions and that Fayemi remains the party leader in the state.

“The attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a purported and widely-reported suspension of the Governor of Ekiti State, H.E. Kayode Fayemi as well as an earlier reported “indefinite suspension of some other party members in the state.

“The actions are a nullity as the Party’s National Secretariat is yet to receive communication from the state chapter on the purported suspensions. We strongly advise all members to adhere to our Party constitution. Governor Kayode Fayemi remains the leader of the party in Ekiti State.

“In line with the mandate of the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary National Convention Planning Committee and the President’s admonition to party members to ensure and support ongoing amicable and rancour-free settlement of internal party disputes, we call on our esteemed party members and leaders in Ekiti State to be duly guided.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Architect Paul Omotosho-chaired APC Ekiti State Working Committee is the authentic, valid and duly recognised Executive as no factions or divisions exist in the state chapter,” the statement said.