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AFRICA MUST INDUSTRIALISE, CEASE BEING DUMPING GROUND FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS – SANWO-OLU

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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu
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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed the need for Africa to industrialise and cease being a dumping site for industrial, commercial and consumer products from other countries.

Speaking at the Y2021 Africa Industrialisation Day, held in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said that industrialisation of Africa will serve a dual purpose of socio-economic empowerment, through job creation, and wealth generation opportunities for the people, while enhancing government revenue for government for provision of infrastructure and social services.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, declared that the State was not unmindful of the potentials available for socio-economic growth and regeneration, especially with its status as the hub of socio-economic and industrial activities in Nigeria and the ECOWAS sub-region.

His words: “We are committed to enhancing our potential through partnerships and collaboration with the private sector and other stakeholders, provision of incentives and implementation of policies that will encourage more entrepreneurs to jump on the industrialisation train.

“I urge you all, young and upcoming entrepreneurs in particular, to take advantage of the opportunities we have provided through relevant government agencies. Industrialisation is about adding value to the abundant primary products we are blessed with for greater and more rewarding returns, through local consumption and exports”, he said.

He further noted that the creation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) has the potential of being a veritable platform for the opening up of the industrial space with available opportunities to promote free trade among component States.

In her opening remarks, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Dr. Lola Akande, affirmed that the theme for this year; “Industrialising Africa: Renewed Commitment Towards an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrialisation and Economic Diversification”, is apt and timely.

She noted that the theme was a pointer to the fact that internal policies must be evolved to act as catalysts for local industries to facilitate industrialisation and economic diversification.

Mrs. Akande said: “I wish to also remind you of the need to begin to work out strategies that would give our Country comparative advantages as a nation in view of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement which Nigeria keyed into on 22nd July, 2019 in Niamey”.

“It is expected that once AFCFTA is fully implemented, it will create a single African market for goods and services, covering an estimated 1.2 billion people with a combined GDP of USD2.5 trillion across 55 member States,” she stated.

She noted that the Sanwo-Olu government had introduced the exhibition of locally fabricated machines, equipment and innovative projects from schools in Lagos State to create the desired linkage between machine fabricators, manufacturers of products and the end-users.

The Commissioner enjoined all stakeholders to take advantage of this opportunity and make efforts to create a synergy that would lead to value addition on the government’s path to industrialisation, economic recovery and growth.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Oladele Ajayi asserted that the annual event is a good platform to showcase innovative potentials of students in local machine fabrication and made in Lagos products.

He declared that the event will assist young entrepreneurs and industrialists to grow their businesses and create linkages for sustainable development.

While commending the State Government’s effort in sustaining the annual event, Ajayi submitted that the Week has encouraged young industrialists to thrive, despite the socio-economic challenges, and also encouraged the patronage of locally made products.

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N84bn fraud : Senator-Elect Yari Running from Corruption Investigation, Arrest says EFCC Source

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Abdulaziz Yari
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As the race for the president of the 10th Senate gathers momentum, an aspirant in the Democratic Group of the Senators-Elect, Senator-Elect Abdul-Aziz Yari, has ran to the judiciary to prevent his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies for corruption cases he was linked with as well as emerging money laundering investigation into his reckless spending in pursuit of his ambition.

It is to this extent that the recent injunction secured by former Governor of Zamfara State is adjudged as being capable of undermining the nation’s image on Anti-Corruption war.

Yari had secured court Injunction before Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Abuja Division of Federal High Court to prevent his re-arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, as well as Directorate of State Services, DSS, from re-arresting him.

Yari is currently under investigation on N84 billion fraud involving the former Accountant- General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed which he reportedly benefited N22 billion.

In addition, Yari is under investigation by EFCC over alleged financial infractions of $56,056.75 reportedly lodged in his account with Polaris Bank; N12.9m, N11.2m, $303m, N217,388.04 and $311.8m said to be kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of Yari and his companies.

Sources familiar with the investigations by EFCC stated that the ongoing investigation of the N84 billion fraud by former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, in which Senator -Elect Yari was linked and previously arrested but released on bail is still pending with more information coming to light on the role of Yari and his associate, one Anthony Yaro of Finex Professional Services believed to be a front that collected N20 billion of the looted fund on behalf of Yari.

The source in EFCC who wants to remain anonymous as he is not authorized to publicly comment on the sensitive case said “with the court order that we read in the newspapers, we may need our Legal Department opinion on what to do”.

He said further that “In addition to new revelations on the massive fraud at the Accountant-General of the Federation’s Office for which some refund has been made, in the EFCC investigations of the ex-governor ofl Zamfara State, Mr. Bello Matawale, the name of Yari has also surfaced in the alleged massive looting of the resources of that poor state under his watch as governor.

We are making efforts to locate him (Yari) for further interrogation in this regard.”

In similar manner, the ICPC was about to invite Senator-Elect Yari for his role in the fraud of Paris Club Refund to governors when he was the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) for which about N500million and $500,000 have been forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The Senator Elect from Zamfara West is a subject of inquiry in our office. Beyond the Paris Club Refund looting, we are also investigating the disclosure that Yari spent at least $700,000 in Saudi Arabia on a trip for lesser hajj which has raised suspicion of money laundering” an ICPC source disclosed on why he may have approached the court to prevent his invitation.

Aside from running to the court to frustrate his imminent re-arrest, Yari is also reportedly planning to go underground in the coming days to prevent possible arrest for questioning days before the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

As if the above alleged humongous financial malfeasances were not enough troubles for the Senator-Elect who has remained defiant of the zoning arrangement for the leadership of the 10th Senate by his party, the APC, another source disclosed that the Department of the State Security (DSS) has also unearthed some information that the killings and banditry in Zamfara State may not be unconnected with the gold mining activities of Senator Yari, another source of his unexplained wealth.

Observers are keenly watching how Senator-Elect Yari will free himself from the many tangles he has walked himself into and whether the judiciary will vacate the exparte motion when the matter comes up on Thursday, 8th June, 2023 to allow the security agencies to perform their roles without let or hinderance.

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Fuel subsidy: Edo Join Kwara To Slashes Work Days To Thrice Weekly

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Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki
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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has reduced civil and public servants’ work days from five days to thrice weekly.

Kwara State earlier took the same step.

This is part of measures to ameliorate the sufferings faced by the people due to the Federal Government’s subsidy removal policy.

“As a proactive government, we have since taken the step to increase the minimum wage paid to workers in Edo State from the approved N30,000 to N40,000, the highest in the country today,” he said in a Tuesday statement.

We want to assure you that we will continue to pay this amount, while we hope to increase it even further if more allocation accrues to our State from the Federal Government in view of the expected savings occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“We know the hardship that has been caused by this policy which has radically increased the cost of transportation, eating deep into the wages of workers in the State. Therefore, the Edo State Government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their workplaces from five days a week to three days a week till further notice. Workers will now work from home two days a week.

“Similarly, for teachers and parents, their commuting to school will be reduced as the government is working on deepening the EdoBEST@Home initiative to create more virtual classrooms, thereby reducing the cost of commuting on parents, teachers, and pupils. The Edo SUBEB will provide details on this initiative in the coming days.”

He added, “To lower the rising cost of energy on our people, we will continue to work with the electricity companies in the State to improve power supply to homes and businesses.

“Similarly, fibre optic connections are being made available to help our people work remotely, thereby reducing their cost of transportation.

“While government intensifies these efforts to alleviate the burden of the fuel price increase on the people during this very challenging period, we want to call on everyone to remain calm and go about their daily businesses lawfully.”

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Aircraft Used For Nigeria Air Was Chartered Flight From Ethiopian Airlines — MD

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Nigeria Air
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The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt Dapo Olumide, on Tuesday, said the aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.

He said the aircraft returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling.

Olumide stated this before the Senate Committee on Aviation.

The Committee members expressed its misgivings towards the unveiling of the national carrier during a meeting with Olumide; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel Meribole; as well as heads of aviation agencies.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi wondered why the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika hurriedly unveiled a national carrier on the last day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, said the launch of Nigeria Air is a fraud.

He stated this after meeting stakeholders in the aviation sector who largely denied knowledge of the launch.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Aviation said Nigeria Air was only unveiled and not launched.

Responding to the Committee, Capt Dapo Olumide said Nigeria Air was unveiled at the time it was to prove to Nigerians that the project is not a fluke.

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