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Adesunbo Onitiri (Nigeria)  Activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, has called on the 17 Southern governors to begin immediate actions on their 10-point resolution adopted in Asaba, Delta State on Tuesday, to save their people from the present insecurity ravaging the entire area. Applauding the governors, Chief Onitiri in a statement in Lagos on Thursday, said they have waited for long, while their states were being deliberately ravaged by armed Fulani herdsmen and other hardened criminals, who have been making life difficult for everybody in the entire area.  "The southern governors should realise that they are not an appendage or inferior to their Northern colleagues. We are in a very perilous state, we are looking for heroes to salvage our country from imminent collapse and calamity. "The governors should immediately make laws to ban open grazing in their various states, address the people of your states on the deplorable state of insecurity in the country and app

(Nigeria) Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, has described the resolutions of the Southern Governors' Forum in Asaba, yesterday as a new dawn for not just Southern Nigeria but the entire country. Speaking on a current affairs programme on Wednesday,   monitored on TVC, Aniagwu said the meeting of the Southern Governors was a reunion of those who believe in Zikism and Awoism. According to Aniagwu, “The gathering of the leaders to discuss on how we can make progress aimed at further uniting our country irrespective of their inherent differences was a confirmation that Nigeria would rise above primordial sentiments to a nation where truth, justice and peace shall reign again.” He expressed optimism that the president and other stakeholders would listen to the suggestions made by the Southern Governors in the interest of the unity of the nation following the endorsement by the Southern Senators and House of Representatives Forum. Aniagwu remarked that

(Nigeria) As insecurity continues to take a toll on the country and subjecting many to kidnapping and killing, the Southern Senators Forum, SSF, has commended Governors from the region for outrightly taking a firm position on burning national issues, including  banning open grazing of cattle. The Senators submitted that such deft and unanimous policy would help in reining in those hiding under cattle grazing to unleash terror of kidnapping and killing on the residents of the region. Southern Governors Forum, SGF, had at its meeting held in Asaba, Delta State Capital, on Tuesday, unanimously passed a verdict prohibiting open grazing in the region to checkmate herders-farmers clashes and senseless kidnapping as well as   killings of Nigerian citizens of southern extraction. A statement by the SSF Chairman, Secretary General and Publicity Secretary, Senators Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti), Mathew Uroghide (Edo) and Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu), respectively and made available to journalists in

(Nigeria) Governors of Southern States of the country on Tuesday, announced their resolution to ban open grazing and movement of cattle by foot across the region as part of measures to check incursion of armed herders and banditry. The governors made this known in a communique at the end of their meeting in Asaba.                In the communiqué read by Chairman of Southern Governors Forum, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, they said that the prevailing insecurity in the country had presented severe security challenge such that citizens were unable to live normal lives, including pursuing productive activities. The forum stated that the precarious security situation in the country had become a threat to food supply, adding that the development and population growth had put pressure on available land and increased prospects of conflict between migrating herders and local populations in the south. The governors called on the federal government to support willing states to

(Nigeria) Government of Abia State has condemned the attacks on security agents and facilities across the country and warn those responsible for those in Abia that they will certainly not escape the long arm of the law as our security architecture in the State was robust enough to bring them to justice. State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Kalu, in a statement on Sunday, said, “Today, Sunday, May 9, 2021, about 09.45 hours, the Mike Okiro Police Station located along Umuahia-Uzoakoli Road, close to Ubani market, was attacked by hoodlums who came in a hummer bus, two Sienna mini vans and three motorcycles. “While two vehicles, two motorcycles, stationeries and office equipment inside the police station were set on fire by the yet to be identified arsonists, there were no human casualties or loss of weapons as the station which was deemed vulnerable to attacks following security review of credible intelligence was already evacuated and personnel relocated three weeks earlie

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria) Effective collaboration between the Federal Government through its agencies and State Governments will bring about more dividends and improved service delivery to Nigerians, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Osinbajo stated this Thursday at the inauguration of the Federal Road Safety Corps Marshal Inspector Training School in Owa-Alero, Delta State. The Governor Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in the State built and furnished the school and donated it to the Federal Government. According to the Vice President, “it is an excellent exemplar of the benefits of collaboration between State Governments and Federal Government agencies. And as it should be, the ultimate beneficiaries are the good people of Delta State and the Country at large.” The VP who praised Governor   Okowa for the construction of the modern, fully furnished buildings noted that this "far-sighted and thoughtful contribution of the state government is wort

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Nigeria) Nigeria is prioritizing innovation and technology investments in agriculture so as to transform the sector by attracting young people and also scale up productivity, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Osinbajo stated this in his remarks delivered virtually at the 2021 High-Level Dialogue on Feeding Africa. The event is organized by the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, in partnership with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA, and the CGIAR System Organization with the theme “Feeding Africa: leadership to scale up successful innovations.” Highlighting the programmes of the Federal Government to ensure agricultural transformation in Nigeria, Osinbajo listed three initiatives namely; The Economic Sustainability Plan; The National Livestock Transformation Plan; and The Green Imperative Project According to the Vice President, “at the heart of Nigeria’s post COVID

Chairman Imo State Traditional Institution and Community Policing, HRM Eze Dr Emmanuel Okeke(middle) HRH Eze Goddy Okeke representing Okigwe Zone (left) and HRH Eze Akujobi Osuagwu representing Owerri Zone( right) addressing Newsmen after their meeting held at the Eze Imo Palace, Mbari Street, Owerri (Nigeria) Traditional rulers in Imo State on Tuesday condemned in strong terms the recent attack on the country home of Governor Hope Uzodimma at Omuma and called on security agencies to carry out thorough investigations into what transpired and ensure that the culprits and their sponsors are brought to book. Rising from a critical meeting that lasted for hours at their office in Owerri, the traditional rulers also threatened to invoke curses on those behind insecurity in the State should they refuse to   change. In a communiqué at the end of their meeting that was well attended, the Chairman of the Traditional Institution and Chairman Imo State Community Policing, HRH Eze   Emmanuel O

A burnt motorcycle in Ebonyi during an attack by suspected herdsmen militia (Nigeria) The Senate has called on the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the killings and kidnapping of citizens in Ebonyi state by alleged herdsmen. The upper chamber made the call amid resolutions reached, sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North) during plenary on Wednesday. Coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, Egwu, in the motion titled: “urgent need for the federal government’s intervention to end the serial killing of innocent and defenseless citizens in Ebonyi state by alleged herdsmen”, bemoaned the general state of insecurity in the country. He expressed concern that, “the killing, maiming, kidnapping and wanton destruction of lives and property by herdsmen have now become the daily experience of citizens of innocent and defenseless people of Ebonyi state who are

Federal High Court, Lagos (Nigeria)The Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, NBC, on Thursday, asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside an ex-parte injunction obtained by Rite Foods Ltd against the continued promotion of its Predator Energy drink in the Nigerian market. It also   asked the court to dismiss Rite Foods' committal application brought against NBC’s Managing Director, MrMatthieu Seguin, for alleged disobedience to the interim order. NBC's counsel Mr Oluseye Opesanwo, SAN, told Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke that Rite Foods' applications were brought malafide and were without merit as the suit lacked a firm ground to stand in law. He argued that the Predator logo had been in existence and in use in many markets outside of Nigeria even prior to the launch of Fearless by Rite Foods in the Nigerian market. In the suit,   the firms are locked in battle over alleged similarities or not between the logos of their energy drinks. Rite Foods had instituted the suit

*Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (Nigeria) President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the National Assembly was focused on strengthening regulatory mechanisms to ensure that our values as Nigerians do not suffer degeneration as a result of drug abuse. Lawan made this known in a keynote address delivered to declare open a Public Hearing on the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency Act 2004. The Senate President who was represented at the event by the Chairman, Committee on Health, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), said the issue of drug abuse in the country “has become a hazard” too difficult to ignore. Lawan said: “Equally important is that drug abuse has become a hazard. While we may often identify abuse with the youths, emerging evidence reveals that it cuts across all social strata. “What this means is that more and more people are resorting to dangerous mechanisms for escape. The consequence of this is multiple, as has been proved.   “We (National Asse

Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to establish the National Agricultural Development Fund. The passage of the bill followed consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Presenting the report, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) explained that the purpose for the establishment of the Fund is to provide finance to support the strategic aspect of Agricultural Development in Nigeria. He observed that to date, Nigeria is yet to fully implement the 2003 MAPUTO Declaration on Agriculture requiring States Parties to allocate 10 percent of its National budget to Agricultural Development. “If this was done, Agricultural Research and Development, Food Production and Food Security would have witnessed a major leap,” Adamu said. According to the lawmaker, the Fund is empowered to provide emergency support funding for Agricultural control access to finance trans-boundary a

Nigerian Senate (Nigeria) The Senate, Tuesday, considered a critical bill that would shore-up the country’s foreign exchange earnings, as well as foster the diversification of the Nigerian economy from the exportation of Shea. The bill which scaled second reading during plenary also seeks to establish the National Shea Development Council. Sponsored by Senator Muhammad Bima (APC, Niger South) said the intent behind the move to establish the Council was to “provide guidance on the entire Shea sector by establishing National Shea Development Council for the restoration of the degraded Shea parklands including off-reserve forests, the establishment of more Shea parklands across Shea belt, promotion of the Shea value chain, job creation and empowerment of rural women in Nigeria.” Leading debate on the bill, Senator Bima said, “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources including a number of cash crops. These include cassava, cashew, Sh

*Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu (Nigeria) Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sent a Freedom of Information request to the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, urging him to “clarify the action that his Ministry has taken to address and find the alleged billions missing from the Ministry and its agencies, and if there is relevant admissible evidence of corruption and mismanagement, to refer the allegations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution.” The organisation is also urging him to “ensure the full recovery of any missing public funds, revealed in the 2017 annual audited report by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.” In the FoI request February 27, 2021, by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the Ministry and its agencies can cause serious harm to the socially and economically vulnerable. Sat

*Open cattle grazing (Nigeria) Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has called on security agencies in the state to assist the government in enforcing the Anti-Open Grazing Law of Abia State. The governor made the call at Michael Ọkpara Auditorium, Umuahia, while flagging-off the statewide sensitization workshop against criminal activities in Abia communities. According to him, enforcing the law would help reduce the issue of farmers/herders clashes in the state. Governor Ikpeazu who was represented by his Deputy, Ude Chukwu, requested the cooperation of stakeholders to ensure government fights and wins the war against criminality in the state. He charged critical stakeholders especially, the Traditional Rulers to live up to expectations, stating that the security of the State is also in their hands. The State Chief Executive equally called on the people of the state to always avail useful information and intelligence to Traditional Rulers, security agencies and government a

(Nigeria) The Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of supporting foreigners to slaughter Nigerians as part of a Fulanisation agenda, warning that it would defend Yoruba land against invaders from outside who had made the country unsafe for living, livelihood and travelling. Speaking after a meeting of the group’s leaders in Lagos, Otunba Wasiu Afolabi alias “Askari,” Deputy President to the Late OPC Founder, Dr Frederick Fasehun, said that the government had shown that it preferred to defend Fulani from outside Nigeria instead of protecting the country’s citizens and indigenes. OPC seized the opportunity to mourn the death of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, describing him as the most resourceful, the most credible and the most selfless Governor the country ever produced. “Baba Kekere is the undisputed Father of Modern Lagos,” OPC said in its statement. “Baba Jakande was a first-class administrator who implemented a great deal of welfarist and people-oriente

*Adesunbo Onitiri (Nigeria) Socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has expressed disappointment  over the National Assembly's rejection of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje's suggestion that cattle movement from the  North to the southern part of the country be banned forthwith.  Ganduje has, while on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock, Abuja, explained that if the ban was supported by a federal law, this would put a final stop to incessant herders/farmers clashes . But replying Governor Ganduje, the National Assembly said banning the herders' movements was unconstutional. In a statement in Lagos on Thursday, Onitiri tackled the lawmakers for that statement that could give support to the herdsmen to continue to violate farmers and others' fundamental human rights by entering and destroying their farmlands and crops because the National Assembly said they could not be restricted by law. He said it appeared that the lawmakers were not

(Nigeria) The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has hailed South East Governors for banning open grazing in the whole states of South East, noting that the Governors have displayed wisdom by respecting the people's will. IPOB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said,  "We,   IPOB, ably led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to salute the courage of South East Governors for heeding, the call to ban open grazing in the region. "We received with delight the news of a statement credited to the Chairman of South East Governors' Forum, Chief Dave Umahi, to the effect that open grazing has been banned in all states of the zone. "IPOB wishes to acknowledge the wisdom of the governors to respect the people's will. We therefore, want to aver, and assure the governors that our gallant Eastern Security Network, ESN, will ensure strict enforcement of the ban which is also in line with a subsisting but neglected judicial pronouncement in 1969.

*Chief Adesunbo Onitiri (Nigeria) Socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to declare killer herdsmen as terrorists group now to ensure peace and progress in the country. In a statement   in Lagos on Thursday, Onitiri pointed out that the killer herdsmen were not representing the true and genuine Fulani going about with their lives lawfully. According to him, it's time to show seriousness in the handling of the ravaging insecurity in   the country by declaring all the rampaging fulani killer herdsmen 'Terrorist Group'.   "The insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and maiming of innocent Nigerians are becoming unacceptable, unbearable and criminal. "These Fulani-turned terrorists commit crimes on our highways and forests with total impunity, as if they are above the laws. "While they commit these crimes, our security agencies look the other way," he alleged. Chi

*Chief Adesunbo Onitiri (Nigeria) President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised by Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, a renowned socio-political  activist and critic, to handle the issue of Fulani herders/farmers with utmost caution for peace to reign in the country. Onitiri in a statement on Monday said the roaming Fulani herders occupying farmlands in Yorubaland and other southern   states should also be called to order, to avoid unnecessary incessant bloody clashes. "The forests the herders are forcibly trying to occupy already belong to the natives. Such land cannot be occupied by force. “They certainly need permission of the natives. Force cannot bring peace. It is also not acceptable that the Fulani herders bear sophisticated weapons like Ak 47 guns without license which is very illegal. When has a set of tribe above our laws. "Amotekun security members are not allowed to bear weapons. How come the killer herders openly bear weapons in our forests? "The problem is tha