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General News

Group Asks Buhari to Sack Fashola, Others for Non-Performance

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Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power Works and Housing
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Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), a community-based and civil society organisation has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently rejig his cabinet and as a matter of urgency sack Babatunde Raji Fashola, minister of Power, Works and Housing for making more noise than he worked since he came on board.

It also recommended the immediate removal of Kemi Adeosun, minister of Finance; Ibe Kachikwu, petroleum; and Abubakar Malami, AGF.

CACOL in a statement issued by Debo Adeniran, executive chairman,  noted that it was glaring that “after about two and a half years since the inauguration of this government, certain patterns have unfolded that have exposed mediocrity and incompetence within the ranks of the cabinet members with regards to their performances in lines of the duties assigned to them.”

He said, “The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing: The Ministry superintended over by Mr. Raji Fashola, (SAN), have over the past years made more noise than any practical achievement on the ground to justify the funds that has been ploughed into the three sectors under it. All the actions and policies of the Ministry have compounded the sufferings of Nigerians in multi-folds; from lack of power supply to the illogical hike in electricity tariffs, from continually decaying infrastructure to death traps as roads with a Housing sector that is ‘non-existent’ or in absolute comatose.

“The Minister is constantly at loggerheads with institutions, contractors and even the citizenry he is supposed to serve. The Minister keeps standing logic on its heads by asking the already impoverished Nigerians to bear the brunt of his failure by asking them to pay for services not rendered even up to the effrontery of hiking the tariff of electricity against a background of a country in perpetual darkness. He made history by achieving the lowest, ZERO, mega watts for more than 18 hours in history of power generation in Nigeria last year; with nothing to offer than damage, we call on Mr. President to ask him to honourably resign or he should be sacked!

“We recommend the immediate replacement of Mr. Malami Abubakar as the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice of this country to save this government and the country from further embarrassment and criticisms within the comity of nations. The mantra of this government and one of the campaign cardinal points of its party is ‘fight against corruption’. For any government to succeed in its policies, programmes and agenda, the commitment, professionalism, soundness and integrity of the Chief Law Officer of that government must be impeccable and consistent. We are afraid, based on recent happenings, the current Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has fallen short of these critical requirements and incapable of delivering any fundamental departure from the corruption ridden past of governance in the country.

“We noted the AGF’s unnecessary interventions particularly in cases high profile publicly exposed persons and the needless ‘rivalry’ with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, an agency under his Ministry and which ordinarily reports to him officially. The Attorney-General was publicly accused of meeting, negotiating, agreeing terms and collecting N50 billion on behalf of the government without recourse to both the regulatory agency and supervisory ministry last year. Local and international criticisms greeted the unprofessional conduct of the Minister and secrecy associated with his negotiation with MTN. These reasons, amongst others necessitate our call for the removal of the AGF and Minister of Justice.

“The Minister in charge of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has been everything but impressive and constantly appears to be confused on policies and in-depth economic management. The economic terrain under her watch is riddled by contradictions, policy somersaults and uncertainties. It is our conviction that it is the concerted efforts of the Central Bank and other MDAs trying to diversify, particularly the Agriculture Ministry and with the increase in the price of oil that helped pulled Nigeria out of recession recently and not via the acumen of the Finance Minister. We recommended that she should be replaced with better competence and prowess.

“The Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources under the superintending Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has no concrete achievement to showcase 2 years after the inauguration of this government. All the lofty promises of performance including making the refineries functional within 6 months and building of new ones given by the Minister at the assumption of duty has fallen flat on their faces, just as Nigeria sadly still import refined petroleum products. At this rate, this situation will persist till this tenure lapses, which will be totally unfortunate and unacceptable, thus it is time to replace the Minister for someone with greater acumen, necessary will and skills.

“Quintessentially, we call on you, Your Excellency to relieve yourself of the position of the Minister of Petroleum Resources immediately. This is allow you to concentrate fully on the wholesome administration of the government which clearly can only be done conscientiously by your esteemed self and against the background of a National Assembly that apparently lacks diligence in its oversight functions preferring the mundane for the significant, it becomes expedient. We urge that you concentrate your energy on supervisory roles over all Ministries and the Presidential leadership of the country while a substantive Minister is appointed for the Petroleum Resources Ministry.

“Your Excellency, as a matter of fact we recommend changes in almost all other Ministries; they are either prostrate or in comatose, some are even approaching non-existence in status. Nigerians can hardly tell what the Ministries of Education, Health, Aviation, Commerce and Industry, Solid Minerals Development etc. are doing in these very challenging times for the country. They all appear to have gone to slumber following the lack of clue on what to do.”


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General News

EFCC Uncovers Use of Cryptocurrency in Illegal Arms Importation into Nigeria

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that cryptocurrency is being utilized as a means of payment for the importation of illegal arms into Nigeria.

Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC,  made the disclosure recently while receiving participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 18 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), led by Director of Studies Hyginus Ngele, at the Commission’s headquarters.

Olukoyede said this development is one that everybody must take seriously.

“We are beginning to see the likelihood and propensity that many people are into the illegal importation of arms into the country using cryptocurrency as a means of payment. This is an area that must interest all of us.”

He expressed surprise at how bandits and insurgents have managed to sustain their activities over the years, stressing that the flow of small arms and light weapons across borders, along with the involvement of non-state actors in the illegal exploitation of minerals, compound the security threats.

He decried the fact that Nigeria has been besieged by various security challenges for nearly two decades, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and farmer/herder clashes, which he partly attributed to the activities of non-state actors.

Specifically, Olukoyede noted that the role of non-state actors in exacerbating security and corruption challenges has not been fully examined.

“At the level of the EFCC, we have always been suspicious of the activities of non-state actors in areas where we face security challenges. In the Northeast, for instance, the activities of local and international NGOs have been under focus.

“This was a major impetus for the decision to mandate their registration with SCUML (Special Control Unit against Money Laundering), a department in EFCC, and a clear directive to notify the Commission on cash movements within the region,” he said.


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NAFDAC Introduces Traceability Technology to Combat Fake Drugs

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Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general, NAFDAC,
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National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a significant step in its fight against substandard and falsified drugs by introducing advanced traceability technology in Northwest Nigeria.

NAFDAC Introduces Traceability Technology to Combat Fake Drugs

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general, NAFDAC,

 

This initiative aims to ensure the safety and efficacy of medical products available to the public.

The agency has deployed a traceability system designed to monitor the movement of pharmaceutical products from manufacturers to end-users.

This system enhances transparency in the drug supply chain, making it easier to identify and eliminate substandard and falsified medicines.

One of the key tools introduced is the GreenBook, a digital verification platform that enables consumers and regulatory authorities to authenticate pharmaceutical products in real time.

In addition to the traceability system, NAFDAC has launched the Paediatric Regulation 2024, which focuses on addressing the unique medical needs of children and ensuring that paediatric medicines meet stringent quality and safety standards.

Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general, NAFDAC, emphasised that the introduction of these technologies aligns with the agency’s broader mandate to protect public health. She stated that the five-year traceability implementation plan, in line with the Nigeria Pharmaceutical Traceability Strategy, will enhance supply chain visibility and further strengthen measures against substandard and falsified medical products.

By leveraging these digital solutions, NAFDAC aims to restore public confidence in the pharmaceutical sector, ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe and high-quality medicines.

The initiative also supports the agency’s ongoing commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance and tackling the challenges of counterfeit drugs in the country.

 


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New Horizons Partners Four More Varsities on ICT Empowerment

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New Horizons, a technology training institute has partnered with additional four universities to train their students in 21st-century-oriented, lucrative international certification-based ICT and project skills.

The universities include Lagos University Teaching Hospital Schools, Hillside University of Science and Technology, Aletheia University, and Ahman Pategi University.

The initiative was a response to the increasing demand for highly qualified graduates who possess both academic excellence and internationally recognized professional IT, e-business, and project management certifications, aimed at addressing the pervasive graduate unemployment syndrome.

The management team of New Horizons, led by the MD/CEO, Mr. Tim Akano, was present at the events. Akano asserted that the four universities had taken a bold step toward making their institutions relevant in the 21st century by embracing the rapid advancements in emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, and machine learning.

He further stated that New Horizons would leverage its 43 years of international experience as a U.S-based organization with 370 centers in 71 countries and 20 years of operations in Nigeria.

With existing partnerships with 25 Nigerian universities, New Horizons aims to ensure that undergraduates are equipped with internationally recognized IT, e-business, and project development skills.

The stakeholders emphasised that the initiative was designed to enhance post-graduation employability and entrepreneurial opportunities for graduates, positioning them to compete on an international level with their counterparts from the U.S., Europe, Asia, and other parts of the world.

Vice-Chancellor of Hillside University of Science and Technology, Oke-Imesi, Ekiti State, Professor Iheayinchukwu Okoro, led other principal officers of the institution to sign the commencement of the training programme with New Horizons on September 23, 2024.

Similarly, at an event hosted by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, Professor Wasiu Lanre Adeyemo, on December 17, 2024, a strategic partnership was established with the school. The principal officers led by the CMD, expressed excitement over this landmark achievement, stating that the collaboration would enhance the institution’s training programmes with ICT, aligning them with global medical developments.

Also, the partnership was launched at Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, on October 20, 2024. The principal officers, led by Professor Amos Adeyinka, stated that the collaboration would increase the value of students both before and after graduation by providing entrepreneurial empowerment and preparing the institution for global competition.


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