14/07/23

SHINA JO

President Bola Tinubu has hailed the Wife of General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Folu Adeboye, for her Christian Virtues, devotion to her highly-respected Husband, the Church, and Family values on the Anniversary of her Birthday.

Mrs. Adeboye, who is reputed for her Evangelical Work with Children, Young people, and the Downtrodden turned 75 on Thursday 13th July 2023

President Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, noted with Admiration many of the outreach programmes of the Redeemed Christian Church of God targeted at rehabilitating Drug Addicts and the Poor Spearheaded by Mrs. Adeboye.

“I celebrate this Godly woman, Pastor Folu Adeboye, on the occasion of her 75th birthday. We are inspired by her devotion to the work of God, family values, and the downtrodden among us. Mrs. Adeboye’s generosity of spirit and unflinching commitment to seeing that young people live value-guided life will continue to be a guide and beacon to many.

“Through her many Philanthropic Works and that of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, many lives have been turned around for good.

“I join family, friends and admirers all over the world to wish Pastor Folu many more years in good health and more service in the vineyard.”

14/07/23

SHINA JO

PRESS RELEASE

In Response to the current Food Inflation in the Country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared a state of emergency On Food Security in Nigeria

The President also directed that all Matters Concerning Food & Water availability and affordability, as essential livelihood items, be included within the purview of the National Security Council.

Special Adviser to the President on special duties, Communications and startegy Dele Alake annouced this on Thursday while Briefing State House Correspondents after meeting of the Stakeholders in the Agricultural Sector at the Presidential Villa Abuja.

He said As a direct and immediate response to this crisis, a number of other initiatives will be deployed in the coming weeks to reverse this inflationary trend and guarantee future uninterrupted supplies of affordable Foods to ordinary Nigerians.

In the immediate term, we intend to deploy some savings from the Fuel subsidy removal into the Agricultural sector focusing on revamping the Agricultural Sector.

In an earlier Meeting with Agriculture Stakeholders (today), we drafted a memorandum of partnership between the government and the individual stakeholder representatives that encompasses the decisions taken and actions proposed from our engagements.

The immediate intervention strategies are as follows:

1. We will immediately release fertilizers and grains to farmers and households to mitigate the effects of the subsidy removal.
2. There must be an urgent synergy between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure adequate irrigation of farmlands and to guarantee that food is produced all-year round.

As a country, Mr. President has made it clear that we can no be comfortable with seasonal farming. We can no longer afford to have farming down times.

3. We shall create and support a National Commodity Board that will review and continuously assess food prices as well as maintain a strategic food reserve that will be used as a price stabilisation mechanism for critical grains and other food items.
   Through this board, government will moderate spikes and dips in food prices.
   To achieve this, we have the following stakeholders on board to support the intervention effort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: The National Commodity Exchange (NCX), Seed Companies, National Seed Council and Research institutes, NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, Food Processing/ Agric Processing associations, private sector holders & Prime Anchors, small holder farmers, crop associations and Fertilizer producers, blenders and suppliers associations to mention a few.
4. We will engage our security Architecture to protect the Farms and the Farmers so that Farmers can return to the Farmlands without fear of attacks.
5. The Central Bank will continue to play a major role of funding the agricultural value chain.
6. Activation of land banks. There is currently 500,000 hectares of already mapped land that will be used to increase availability of arable land for farming which will immediately impact food output.

• Mechanization and land clearing- The government will also collaborate with mechanization companies to clear more forests & make them available for farming

3. River basins- there are currently 11 rivers basins that will ensure planting of crops during the dry season with irrigation schemes that will guarantee continuous farming production all year round, to stem the seasonal glut and scarcity that we usually experience.
4. We will deploy concessionary capital/funding to the sector especially towards fertilizer, processing, mechanization, seeds, chemicals, equipment, feed, labour, etc.
   The concessionary funds will ensure food is always available and affordable thereby having a direct impact on Nigeria’s Human Capital Index (HCI). This administration is focused on ensuring the HCI numbers, which currently ranks as the 3rd lowest in the world, are improved for increased productivity.
5. Transportation and Storage: The cost of transporting Agricultural products has been a major challenge (due to permits, toll gates, and other associated costs). When the costs of moving farm produce is significantly impacted- it will immediately be passed to the consumers, which will affect the price of food- the government will explore other means of transportation including rail and water transport, to reduce freight costs and in turn impact the food prices.

As for storage, existing Warehouses and Tanks will be revamped to cut Waste & ensure efficient preservation of Food items.

10. We will Increase revenue from Food and Agricultural Exports. As we ensure there is sufficient, affordable food for the populace, we will concurrently work on stimulating the export capacity of the Agric sector.
11. Trade Facilitation: Transportation, storage and export will be improved by working with the Nigerian Customs, who have assured us that the bottlenecks experienced in exporting and importing food items as well as intra-city transportation through tolling will be removed.

These are some of the immediate interventions this Government will put in place to tackle this crisis.
Principally, one of the major positive outcomes of these interventions will be a massive boost in employment and job creation.

Indeed, agriculture already accounts for about 35.21 percent of employment in Nigeria (as at 2021), the target is to double this percentage to about 70% in the long term.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to create Jobs for our teeming Youth population will be achieved with between 5 to 10 million more Jobs created within the value chain, working with the current 500,000 hectares of arable land and the several hundreds of thousands more Farmlands to be developed in the medium term.

In closing, this administration understands that food and water are the bedrock of survival and therefore is calling on all Nigerians to partner us in ensuring the success of this strategic intervention. This administration is working assiduously to ensure that Nigerians do not struggle with their essential needs.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wishes to use this medium to continue to assure Nigerians that this administration will not relent in its efforts until all strategic interventions are deployed efficiently and effectively and until every household is positively impacted. Our president is the president of all Nigerians and the father of the Nation.

14/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele has been charged to Court in Compliance with the Order.

The Public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation. Though he obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June, 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.

The Service assures the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling this matter and indeed the discharge of its duties within the confines of the law.

Peter Afunanya Ph.D fsi
Public Relations Officer
Department of State Services
National Headquarters
Abuja
13th July, 2023

14/07/23

GABRIEL O D

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested 13 Chinese Nationals for offences bordering on illegal mining in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The information contained in a statement by the EFCC explains that the offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 1(8) (b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17, 1983.

The suspects which include a female and 12 males were arrested on Wednesday at the Government Reserved Area, G.R.A Ilorin following credible intelligence about their illegal mining activities and non-payment of royalties to the Federal Government as required by Law.

Prior to their arrest, discrete investigations on the activities of illegal mining operators in Kwara State revealed that the operators have different illegal mining sites in almost all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state and upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to be workers of a Chinese Company known as ‘W. Mining Global Service Limited’ situated at Olayinka in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

It was also gathered that the Company was using the illegally mined Granite to produce marble for sale locally in Nigeria. Findings also revealed that some of the suspects working in the said company were without work permit but only entered Nigeria with Visitor’s Visa.

The EFCC says the suspects would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the investigations.

The Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Abdulkarim Chukkol had during a one-day media training for Journalists in Kwara State lamented the activities of illegal mining operators, describing it as big threat to local and National Economy.

Within the last 8 months, no fewer than 80 illegal operators had been arrested by the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC and 24 truckloads of assorted minerals impounded.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC had on September 10, 2022 arrested a Chinese National, Dang Deng, managing director of Sinuo Xinyang Nigeria Ltd for being in possession of 25 tons of assorted crude minerals and got him convicted on October 19, 2022 before Justice Mohammed Sani of the Federal High Court, Ilorin.

The EFCC had warned that it would be unrelenting in the fight against corruption just as it is leaving no stone unturned in breaking the rings of the illegal mining operators across Nigeria.

13/07/23

PRESS RELEASE

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that the framework for palliatives to remedy the effects of fuel subsidy removal was being worked out, assuring that the decision was in the best interest of the country, especially in guaranteeing future prosperity.

President Tinubu, who received 18 governors who served with him, Class of 1999, at the Presidential Villa, appealed for more patience from Nigerians, while the government will increase effort, speed up the process and ensure a full-proof social security structure that will not be compromised, especially in cash-transfer.

“I understand that our people are suffering yet there can be no childbirth without pain. The joy of childbirth is the relief that comes after the pain. Nigeria is reborn already with fuel subsidy removal. It is a rebirth of the country for the largest number over a few smugglers.
“Please tell the people to be a little patient.

The palliative is coming. I don’t want cash-transfer to fall into wrong hands. I know it pinches and it is difficult. In the end, we will rejoice in the prosperity of our country,’’ he told the governors, who were led by former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion.

The President assured the Governors and Nigerians that he will work towards “unity, equity, stability, and prosperity of the country’’.  

“My commitment to that democratic value is unwavering. I am overwhelmed and honored by the numbers of you here,’’ he said, “I have an open door policy. You are my advisers. We went into the pond and wrestled with a pig. We got dirty, and cleaned up. That is why I am here today.’’

President Tinubu noted that the country will not make meaningful progress without fixing Electricity, assuring that his administration will harness gas resources, and explore every opportunity to ensure stable power generation and supply.

On Security, the President who had earlier met with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to review situation in the North East, appealed to Nigerians, especially Plateau State, to sheath their swords and use dialogue in resolving conflicts, adding that issues of borders were man-made, not created by God.
“We will do everything possible to stabilize the country,’’ he added.

The former Governors urged the President to pursue his vision for a greater Nigeria with vigour, steadfastness, and resilience, trusting their support for development policies, and promising to provide the necessary social structure for actualization.