PRESS RELEASE
All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has promised to continue exploration works in all frontier basins in the country and particularly recharge the Lake Chad.
He spoke on Tuesday at the ground-breaking ceremony for oil drilling at Kalmani Area of Gongola Basin now located between Bauchi and Gombe states.
Presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the ceremony was the first oil drilling project in the Northern part of the country.
Asíwájú Tinubu commended the president for what he called historic achievement, saying he had always believed every part of the country is richly blessed and should be supported to fully develop their potential and contribute to national prosperity.
Tinubu said: “The effort to find hydrocarbon deposits in our frontier basins has now paid off. The successful delivery of this project will elevate energy security for the country, promote economic growth and prosperity for all our people.
“I would like to commend President Buhari and the NNPC team for being steadfast and for the hardwork.”
He assured the entire country that he is committed to the good works that the present administration had started and bring about their full realization.
“To ensure overall energy security and resource mobilization for our country, if elected, we shall continue the ongoing exploration works in all frontier basins in line with the new Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.
“We will intensify oil search on Borno Basin, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin, Anambra Basin and other basins.
“Mr. President, I join you in anticipation of the full delivery of the projects and other projects of this nature in future.”
The event was attended among others by Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timiprey Sylva, Group CEO, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari and his team.
Asíwájú was accompanied to the event by his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, Governors of Kebbi and Jigawa States, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu and Alhaji Abubakar Badaru respectively. Also on the trip were Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and many other important personalities.
Tinubu Media Office,
Tunde Rahman.
November 22, 2022.

Why Deltans Must Vote out PDP in 2023 by Frank Tietie

The only way to ensure probity and expose the corrupt maladministration that has bedevilled Delta State since 1999 is to vote out the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which now appears to have held the state and its people in captivity, dooming them to a highly, regrettably perpetual state of underdevelopment, despite potentially being the richest state in Nigeria.
For goodness sake, who cursed the Delta people with these kinds of leaders? Whereas the juju spell on the state appears to be quite strong I ever strongly believe that the time for the liberation of the state has come once again and it is in the hands of the people of Delta State, themselves.
Recent revelations about funds remitted to the PDP led administration of Dr Ifeanyi Okowa without commensurate human and infrastructural development demand that the governor and his entire administration be probed.
There is a suspected criminal enterprise about the way the resources of Delta State have been utilised by the PDP and its gang of collaborators within and outside the state. It is not time to mention names.
Opposition political parties in Delta State, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) must form a loose alliance to chase away the PDP from the Asaba Government House in 2023. It is when that happens, some truths about how the state resources were stolen would come out and most probably, the evil trend would stop.
Please let’s have some good music play in Delta State that is different from the present macabre of deathly captivity of silence that has weaponized poverty and underdevelopment. The people of the state are suffering and dying in the midst of plenty. That can no longer continue!
Whereas another Governor, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, with much less resources is parading world class flyovers and floating roads, the PDP Governor of my state is struggling to justify the huge funds Delta State has collected in the same period as Wike.
In my last visit to Warri earlier this year, I was scandalized by blocked drains on nearly every major road with punishing putrid smells. Upper Afiesere Junction in Ughelli had become a rift valley covered with rain water and was impassable.The only state built flyover around the Effurun Roundabout was covered with floor tiles. Goodness me!
I don’t want to talk about schools and hospitals. I have been informed that they are in a comatose state of affairs. Unity School Agbarho (USA), one of my alma maters was dead. I had to send a N100,000 contribution recently to the old students association to assist in building a toilet for the innocent boys and girls who had been using the bush for convenience. My other alma mater, Government College Ughelli has been practically sustained and maintained by the Old Boys’ Association which has spent over 500 Million Naira in the last ten years to maintain the standards as they once were. The Delta State Government cannot take credit for the present manageable state of GCU. In fact the Old Boys’ Association should take over the school.
I do not wish to be neutral on the issue of Delta State and the use of its resources. The PDP has been a disaster and curse to the people of the state. If and when a new political party manages to take over the state, the people may be afforded a reset and a new lease of fresh political engagement that would not allow them to go back to the bondage which the PDP had kept them since 1999.
It is up to the people of the state to decide. They would no longer have the right to complain about bad governance and pillaging of their resources by public officials if they return the PDP in 2023.

*Frank Tietie, Esq.*
Lawyer from Ughelli, Delta State, writing from Asokoro, Abuja

Ondo Has The Lowest Poverty Level In Nigeria – FG
…Gets Award Of Excellence On Fiscal Transparency And Accountability
…It’s A Result Of Our Deliberate Developmental Efforts – Akeredolu
The federal government has disclosed that Ondo State has the lowest poverty level in the country with 27 percent.
The figure was presented during the launch of Nigeria’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Survey in Abuja on Thursday.
The survey was conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
According to the report, the measure used to calculate the figure was based on Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) with five components of health, living standard, education, security and unemployment.
The survey, which reveled that 63 percent of persons within Nigeria, 133 million, are living in poverty, identified Sokoto State as having the highest poverty level among the states in the country with 91 percent while Ondo has the lowest with 27 percent.
This is even as the state also received an Award of Excellence on the World Bank’s States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) for being a very good performer on Fiscal Transparency and Accountability.
The award was received in Abuja at an event tagged, “Federal Government of Nigeria/World Bank States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) recognition dinner with Governors/Awards Night.”
Reacting to the development, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said his administration has continued to prioritise the need to lift the people of the state out of poverty.
He noted that his administration’s programmes and policies are tailored towards addressing the needs of the people and providing succor for even generations unborn.
“It is clear from the measure used to calculate the figure which was based on Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) with five components of health, living standard, education, security and unemployment.
“The Governor Akeredolu administration has continued to record giant strides in all these areas, thereby reducing poverty levels in the state and promoting more economic activities.
“On health, this administration inherited two Mother and Child hospitals in Akure and Ondo town which services had already been suspended on account of backlog of debts incurred on consumables, most significantly on drugs.
“Governor Akeredolu revived services at these facilities and expanded the mother and child hospitals from just two to seven across the three senatorial districts of the state.
“Similarly, On the 6th of February, 2018, Governor Akeredolu signed into Law the bill establishing the Ondo State Contributory Health Commission (ODCHC) and the Ondo State Contributory Health Scheme (ODCHS). The ODCHC has a five bespoke health insurance products for all strata of the teeming population of Ondo state under the ODCHS cover, including the Abiyamo Maternal & Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS).
“The Abiyamo Maternal & Child Health Insurance Scheme (AMCHIS) is a State Equity Scheme for two sets of Vulnerables – Pregnant women and Under-5 children. This program is fully funded by the State Government.
“Governor Akeredolu launched this scheme on the 3rd of December, 2019. Since the inception of the scheme, it has made provision of maternal and child care free and sustainable. It gives access to Antenatal care, delivery (including Caesarean section), post-natal care for the mother (up to 6 weeks after delivery), neonatal care (first 30 days of baby’s life) and treatment of common illnesses in children till they attain the age of five years. Beneficiaries do not pay for services.
“The pre-qualification criterion to enjoy this scheme is the Kaadi Igbeayo (Ondo State Residency Card), which is issued to residents of Ondo State by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA). Governor Akeredolu has also ensured that the card is issued at NO COST to pregnant women willing to become AMCHIS beneficiaries.
“It should also be known that the premium for AMCHIS is solely paid by the Ondo State Government and there is a state budgetary line yearly to this effect. Till date, AMCHIS has recorded over 22,500 beneficiaries (pregnant women and children below five years of age).
“Since this scheme was launched on the 3rd of December, 2019, a total number of 24,678 including Pregnant Women and Children under 5 have benefited till date. At the Mother and Child Hospital, Akure alone, over 4,842 total number of Pregnant Women have accessed Ante-Natal Care till date with 3,432 total deliveries.
“As we speak, there is an ongoing construction of a modern world-class 250-bed University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital complexes in Akure and Ondo town respectively. This is aside the regular provision of medical equipment at the teaching hospital and Mother and Child hospitals.
“On Education, Governor Akeredolu has reconstructed over 800 public primary schools in the state with perimeter fence and modern equipment. This has increased enrollment in the public schools and encouraged parents and guardians to send their children or wards to schools with ease.
“The adequate security in the state has continued to attract investors. The hospitality business is growing in Akure, the state capital, and other parts of the state. Over the last five years, Governor Akeredolu has regularly equipped the police, Army, Navy, Civil Defence, the DSS and other security agencies in the state.
“The establishment of the Amotekun corps has reinforced confidence among our people. The usual fear that accompanied inter-state trading and other economic activities within the state has been eroded by the galant efforts of Amotekun corps. Ondo is safe for business.
“In Ore, the Ondo-Linyi industrial hub which has also continued to provide jobs and oil the state’s economy is another giant leap taken by the Governor Akeredolu administration. Today, there are over eight companies including textile industry, MDF factory, HDF factory, cassava to ethanol pant, Truck assembly plant, and other investments at the industrial hub.
“The Ondo State Government in partnership with the Linyi Municipal in China made this happened. Many indigenes and dweller of the state are employed into these industries and many more. Just as the growing hospitality industry in the state are providing jobs for the unemployed.
“Unlike before when investors drove for hours to come to Ondo State, there are three major airlines that fly Lagos-Akure-Abuja route. Undoubtedly, these have promoted investment opportunities, driven provision of employment and promote economic activities in the Sunshine State.
“At the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service where Governor Akeredolu built the first of its kind Revenue House, over 500 young graduates have been employed. This is aside the recruitment of over one thousand teachers, over 425 health workers including Consultants, Nursing officers, Staff Nurses/Midwives, Medial doctors, Pharmacists, Radiographers among others.
“Also, the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has recruited 804 health personnel. The UNIMEDTH wasn’t left out. Over 400 medical personnel have so far been recruited. At the Mother and Child hospital in Akure, there are 434 health workers presently working at the facility.”
“Lastly, the infrastructural development in the state is massive. Over 274.11km of roads have been completed across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State while 120km are ongoing. Among the completed roads awaiting commissioning are the 4.5km Agadagba Obon-New Ajapa Road in Ese-Odo Local Government Area; 10.0km Okitipupa-Igbokoda Bye pass, Okitipupa Local Government Area; 3.0km Oke Igbo Township roads, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government; 8.05km Ikaramu-Akunnu Road in Akoko Northwest Local Government Area and 1.6km Ikaro Township Road, in Ose Local Government Area.”

OWO DIOCESE EXPERIENCING MONUMENTAL TURNAROUND – GOV AKEREDOLU
•Highlights Activities For Diocese 40th Anniversary
•Gov Sanwo-Olu To Unveil Anniversary Logo
Ondo State Governor and Chancellor of the Owo Anglican Diocese, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has said the Church of Nigeria, Owo Diocese, has continued to experience monumental turnaround in all aspects.
The Governor noted that Evangelism and Anglicanism are progressing in leaps and bounds while new churches are established in the Diocese.
Governor Akeredolu spoke on Tuesday at the Bishop’s Court, Owo, during a Press Conference to highlight activities for the 40th Anniversary of the Church.
The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the Diocese, is the Chairman of the Anniversary committee.
He said the Press Conference is the commencement of the activities lined up for the celebrations, adding that it will be followed by the Unveiling of the 40th Anniversary Logo on December 4, 2022, at 10:00 am at the Cathedral Church of St Andrew’s, Imola, Owo.
According to Governor Akeredolu, the Chairman and Chief Launcher of the occasion is the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to be assisted by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and other eminent personalities in the society.
“On 6th January, 2023, there will be Epiphany and 40th Anniversary. Between 23rd and 25th January, 2023, there will be revival across the Diocese to be followed by Community Service on 28th January, 2023.
“The Commissioning of Evangelists and Lay Pastoral Assistants, Medical Outreach, Sporting Activities will come up between the months of January and February 2023.
“On 1st March, 2023, the 40th Anniversary Holy Communion Service and Unveiling of Diocesan Hall of Fame will take place.
“Other programmes are Choral Competition, Musical Concert, Exchange of Pulpit, Planting of Trees, Dedication of Projects, Episcopal visit to Churches and the Grand Finale: Dinner, Award and Fund Raising, and Anniversary Thanksgiving and Investiture of Fellow of Owo Diocese will come up on Saturday, 29th April and Sunday, 30th April, 2023,” the Governor announced.
Governor Akeredolu said the supports of all and sundry are needed to actualise the Church’s dream as it intends to win souls for Christ, secure places of worship for less-privileged churches, build a memorable landmark clinic and raise fund for the investment of the Diocese.
Earlier, the Bishop of Owo Diocese, Right Reverend (Dr) Stephen Fagbemi, commended Governor Akeredolu for his steadfastness and commitment to the Diocese and the Christendom.
The Bishop said the tenure of the governor as the Chancellor of the Diocese has brought tremendous successes to the Communion, especially in Owo.
The cleric added that the Diocese is fully prepared for the celebration as the committee saddled with the task of organising the anniversary has graciously commenced work to ensure a memorable event.
Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State.
November 22, 2022.

KOLMANI OIL AND GAS PROJECT HAS ATTRACTED OVER $3BN INVESTMENT IN FOSSIL ENERGY – PRESIDENT BUHARI
– Restates Net Zero Carbon Emission By 2060
President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that his administration attracted over $3bn investment in the Oil and Gas Sector at a time of near-zero appetite for investment in fossil energy.
Speaking Tuesday in Bauchi at the Flag-off Ceremony of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project, a fully integrated in-situ development project comprising upstream production, oil refining, power generation and fertilizer, President Buhari said:
“Considering the land locked location and the huge capital requirement, the economics of the project is a challenging proposition. Consequently, from the outset, I instructed NNPC Limited to utilize and leverage their vast asset portfolio across all corridors of its operations to de-risk the project to attract the much-needed investment.
“It is therefore to the credit of this administration that at a time when there is near zero appetite for investment in fossil energy, coupled with the location challenges, we are able to attract investment of over USD 3 billion to this project.”
While commending NNPCL and her partners for the successful discovery of Oil and Gas in the Kolmani River Field, the President stated that the huge investment the project had attracted “will surely be a reference subject for discussion in the industry as we pursue the just energy transition programme that will culminate in our country achieving Net- Zero position by the year 2060.”
Noting the huge benefits the project brings to the country including “but not limited to Energy Security, Financial Security as well as overall socio- economic development of the country,” President Buhari affirmed that his administration’s charge to NNPCL to explore other Oil and Gas fields beyond the Niger Delta Basins has finally yielded commendable results.
“This is indeed significant considering that, efforts to find commercial oil and gas outside the established Niger Delta Basin was attempted for many years without the desired outcomes.
“However, the successful discovery of the Kolmani Oil and Gas field by NNPC and her partners has finally broken the jinx by the confirmation of huge commercial deposits of hydrocarbons in Kolmani River field.
“This discovery had emanated from our charge to the NNPC to re-strategize and expand its oil and gas exploration footprints to the frontier basins of Anambra, Dahomey, Sokoto, Benue trough, Chad and Bida Basins. Similar activities across the other basins are currently actively on-going.
“We are pleased with the current discovery of over 1 billion barrels of oil reserves and 500 billion Cubic Feet of Gas within the Kolmani area and the huge potentials for more deposits as we intensify exploration efforts.”
Looking forward to the successful delivery of the Project which he called “another vital pillar in the Country’s economic architecture,” President Buhari urged NNPCL and partners to work with all stakeholders for a smooth execution of the project:
“I have engaged the Governors of Bauchi and Gombe States, and both have given me assurances of their unwavering commitment and willingness to ensure support and cooperation in these localities as this activity affects the local populations.
“I urge the NNPC Ltd, NNDC, and their Strategic partners to ensure all lessons learnt from our years of experience as an oil-producing nation are utilized to ensure harmonious relationship with the local communities.”
In his remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, who recalled his relationship with the project, expressed his delight to be associated with the project as Minister having worked with a former Minister of Petroleum Resources when NNDC won the oil prospect lease being flagged off Tuesday.
Also speaking at the event, the Group CEO NNPCL, Mele Kolo Kyari, noted that the search for oil and gas in the frontier basins of Chad, Sokoto, Anambra Platform, Calabar Embarkment, Benue Trough, Dahomey, Bida and the Ultra Deepwater Niger Delta had spanned decades without significant outcomes.
“However, the singular determination of Mr President to ensure optimum exploration and exploitation of our natural resources and Your Excellency’s consequential directives for NNPC Limited to strategize and utilize available human, technological and other material resources to prosecute exploration activities in all Frontier Basins resulted in the discovery of commercial oil and gas deposits in the Kolmani Prospect in April 2019,” Kyari added.
There were also goodwill messages from the Governors of Bauchi and Gombe States, Bala Mohammed and Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya respectively, Chairman Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, as well as the APC Presidential Flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
November 22, 2022

PRESS RELEASE
LAGOS TO MITIGATE WATERBORNE DISEASES THROUGH EFFECTIVE REGULATION OF FAECAL SLUDGE MANAGEMENT
…Partners Netherlands Firm To Train Stakeholders On FSM Toolbox

The Lagos State Government is putting measures in place to mitigate waterborne diseases through effective regulation of Faecal Sludge Management in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6) which stipulates clean water and sanitation for all.

To this end, the state government, through the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), on Monday organized a One-day Workshop on Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) Toolbox for stakeholders in partnership with FSM Alliance of The Netherlands, held at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja.

Speaking at the workshop, Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Mrs Funke Adepoju recalled that in August 2022, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) selected Lagos as one of the three beneficiaries for the implementation of the Sanitation Safety Plan (SSP) in Nigeria, while Ikeja Municipality was selected as a pilot scheme for the development of the SSP to be adopted Statewide.

She said the field inspections conducted in furtherance of the SSP revealed that the sanitation situation in the State was in a dire state and that having validated the SSP, its implementation had become important as mandated by Section 312 (1) (viii) of the Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law 2017 which empowers LASWARCO to “ensure that the functions of water supply and sewerage services are properly carried out in the State”.

“The essence of managing faecal sludge is amongst others to safeguard the environment and protect water resources of the State and mitigate events on waterborne diseases.

“To this end, it is pertinent to up-skill critical sector players in the State in sustainably managing faecal sludge, hence this training on faecal sludge management.

“This effort is also geared towards effective and efficient management of the value chain in the collection, transportation, treatment and disposal of faecal sludge, with its attendant economic and environmental benefits,” Adepoju said.

She said the workshop was also in line with the THEMES Agenda of the state government, particularly the health and environment pillar, as it had been established by empirical findings that there exists a nexus between effective environmental management and the health of residents.

She added that the capacity-building workshop, which was supported by the Faecal Sludge Management Alliance (FSMA) of The Netherlands, was one of the many benefits of the Lagos International Water Conference 2022 themed: “Unlocking Investments and Sustainable Access to Clean Water and Sanitation.”

On his part, the General Manager of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO), Engr Adebola Matanmi said the management of wastewater, including faecal sludge, remains a critical issue in Nigeria that any government should not toy with considering the health implications to residents.

A healthy environment, according to him, requires efficient management of wastewater, and if not well managed, there would be degradation of the health of the people and the environment, adding that the workshop was rightly intended to build the capacity of relevant stakeholders in the environmental ecosystem.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from LASWARCO, LSWMO, Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Professional Engineers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers and Lagos State Office of Environmental Services, among others.

They were extensively trained in the FSM Toolbox which is a set of implementation tools that can help users determine the best FSM plan in any setting. It includes an assessment tool, a planning tool, and a diagnostics and decisions support tool.

The overall vision of the FSM Alliance is to create a world where all people, everywhere, enjoy equitable access to safely managed and dignified sanitation services, which recognizes and treats human waste as a valued resource, improving health, reducing poverty and safeguarding the environment.

Press Statement
Applause To Gov Wike, Rivers PDP Members For Massive Turnout To Unveiling of Gov’ship Flag Bearer, Sir Fubara
To be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others – Nelson Mandela.
The above statement by one of the African political legends that ever lived, and former South African President, late Nelson Mandela readily captures the atmosphere of the recent unveiling of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship flag bearer, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and all National Assembly candidates at the famous Adokiye Amasiemaka stadium, Saturday, November 20, 2022.
The massive turn-out of Rivers PDP members to grace the event is to say the least, an appreciation of a good turn that deserves another.
The number of attendees and the calibre of personalities that attended the event clearly shows that Democracy which by definition is a system of government powered by public interest and for public interest is now rooted in the state through good governance and quality leadership of His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State.
Differently put, freedom as rightly captured by late President Nelson Mandela should be the essence of every government which His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike clearly understands as both a lawyer and political scientist, and has dutifully replicated same in the state to the admiration of the majority of Rivers people.
I am very much excited at the large turnout to our unveiling ceremony which shows our party is doing very well and we give all the thanks to our indefatigable governor, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike who has shown more than enough capacity and turned Rivers State to a construction site.
However, I shall not fell to remind our people once more to shine their eyes as the 2023 elections proper draw closer so that we do not get entrapped in the snares of our political detractors who prefer politics of bitterness, hate and division to politics of development of our people, love and a united Rivers State.
We had earlier appealed that you make sure you have your Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) which are your power to vote in PDP Candidates in Rivers State.
Having said that, let me also plead with all PDP members and the good people of Rivers State to be sure you vote for our Governorship flag bearer, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and all the Rivers State PDP candidates to continue the freedom, this joy and quality leadership we celebrate in the state today, under His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
If Gov Wike of the PDP can achieve all he has done within seven and half years in office, you can imagine what will become of our state, our children, our women and people generally if the PDP continues in office.
May I repeat once again, that the Western countries we all see as civilized and developed today, were able to get to that height because of a long period of untruncated leadership especially when the party in power is efficiently running and directing public affairs.
This is the feat we hope and pray to achieve for our state and by God’s grace, we shall get there. We are only appealing to you to play your own part well by voting for all Rivers State PDP candidates in the coming elections and you will as usual, thank God you did.
Once again, thank you for all your support and encouragement and remain blessed.

Bro Felix Obuah
Director-General,
PDP 2023 New Rivers Vision Campaign Council,
Rivers State.

PRESS RELEASE

SANWO-OLU SEEKS STATE GOVTS INPUT IN ELECTRICITY BILL

•As LASG, USAID partner to bolster energy for Lagos residents

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday appealed to members of the House of Representatives to allow input of sub-national governments in the Electricity Bill 2022 to unbundle knotty issues surrounding generation, transmission and distribution of power in Nigeria.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the appeal at Lagos House, Ikeja during the handover ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to bolster the overall energy security for residents, which was commissioned in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development USAID, and Power Africa as part of the Nigeria Power Sector Programme, PA-NPSP.

The Integrated Resource Plan serves as a roadmap and blueprint to improve sector planning and coordination while providing guidance on Lagos State energy development requirements to stakeholders, including federal and state agencies, regulators, power generators, electricity transmitters and distributors, investors, and consumers.

The Integrated Resource Plan will improve sector planning and coordination to provide stable and sustainable energy to all citizens and businesses. The Plan will also outline resource development plans for the next 20 years to meet the long-term electricity needs of the State’s residents, businesses, industries, and public/government premises such as hospitals and health clinics.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Programme, in partnership with the Government of Lagos State developed the plan.

Speaking at the event, Governor Sanwo-Olu who disclosed that Lagos is the first State to come up with IRP initiative noted that despite privatisation, a lot more is needed to be done in the power sector and it will be better for each State to identify and proffer solutions to their peculiar power needs.

He said: “There has been some form of privatisation but we still need a lot more. There is a bill that is currently with the National Assembly, specifically in the House of Representatives that we need to make a big case about. We want our input in the bill. We want the members of the House of Representatives to call sub-national; states so that we can have proper input into the bill and finally unbundle all of the bottlenecks in the power sector.

“We can sit down together and bring about a bill that is bankable; a bill that will help private sector funding and financing in today’s sector and a bill in which everybody can move at their pace; every location can actually analyse what their demands are and what their future demands would be. This kind of bill will help all of us do a good job of our worth.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also urged stakeholders, including the top officials of Ikeja electric and Eko Disco who were at the handing-over ceremony not to leave the document on the shelf.

“We can indeed make this economy work for our people. We can make it work for small and medium businesses and cooperate to have access to their power need. It is only when we do that that we will trickle-fold the GDP of this State and of course by extension, the GDP of this country.

“I want to say to every member that this is a job cut out, we cannot go to sleep. This document should not just stay on our shelf, it is something that we need to analyse and digest,” the Governor said.

The United States Consul-General, Lagos, Mr. Williams Stevens, in his address described electricity as the basis of economic growth, trade and investments, adding that the United States government is excited to partner with Lagos State.

“The U.S. government is committed to expanding and supporting the modernization of Lagos’s energy sector, building a foundation for broad and inclusive economic and social development. This Integrated Resource Plan is a concrete testament to the partnership between the United States and Lagos State as we both work together to create a sustainable and equitable future,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Olalere Odusote, described the IRP as a milestone, which will gradually take Lagos distribution away from the national grid.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
22 NOVEMBER 2022

WIKE PRESENTS RIVERS’ N550.6 BILLION BUDGET FOR 2023
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has presented the 2023 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
The governor, who christened the 2023 appropriation bill, ‘Budget of Consolidation and Continuity’ said it comprises capital and recurrent expenditure of N550, 666,987,238.00 for the fiscal year 2023.
Presenting the budget before State lawmakers on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, he explained that his administration has projected the sum of ₦350,977,495,537.00 as Capital Expenditure for the fiscal year 2023.
“This amount represents about 63.2% of the total budget and conforms to our practice of prioritising capital expenditures over recurrent.”
Under capital expenditure, governor Wike said the State will spend N114,264,480,208 on infrastructure, N36,999,486,717 specifically on education and N31,500,002,023 on health.
“Accordingly, the sum of N114,264,480,208 is provided in the 2023 capital budget estimate to fund the completion of all ongoing roads and other physical infrastructural projects awarded by our administration.”
In the 2023 budget proposal, governor Wike said his administration has also proposed a Recurrent Expenditure of N175,249,692,497à, representing about 31% of the total budget for the 2023 fiscal year.
The governor explained that in 2023 the State will expend N73,460,278,307 on salaries (Ministries/Departments/Parastatals), N7,758,772,851 on new recruitment, N33,600,000,000 on monthly pensions as well as N12,000,000,000 on gratuities/death benefits.
Governor Wike said the fiscal year 2023 budget is targeted at delivering economic growth, additional infrastructure and prosperity for citizens.
He stated that while no new projects may be awarded, except where such is considered very significant, the administration shall galvanise efforts and resources to complete all ongoing projects so that the new government can start on a clean slate, unencumbered.
The governor said in 2021 and 2022, the State government introduced several fiscal measures, including a moratorium on external borrowing to achieve economic growth, fiscal discipline and financial consolidation.
These measures, according to him, have significantly blocked revenue leakages, improved the State capacity for internal revenue generation and prevented unsustainable deficit financing.
“We have, therefore, resolved to continue with the existing fiscal measures for the year 2023. This means that there would be no increase in tax rates. No new taxes will also be introduced.
“However, we will continue to intensify our drive to significantly improve IGR by expanding opportunities for more investments, industrialization and efficient tax collection.”
The governor disclosed that the State remains determined to reduce its dependence on statutory federal allocations to finance its budget and development. To this end, he urged other sister States to join Rivers in the struggle to secure the right to impose and collect VAT at the sub-national level.
Reviewing the 2022 budget performance, governor Wike narrated that the approved total budget of the State was N420, 485,053,736.00 only.
He disclosed that by the end of October 2022, total revenue receipts of the State stood at N321, 250,781,228.91, only about 70% performance. While, the total receipts from internally generated revenue (IGR) was N112.099 billion. This, according to him, represents 25% performance above the figure of 2021 for the same period but over 50% less than the projected sum for 2022.
“The shortfall in IGR is attributed to our inability to collect the projected proceeds from value-added tax following the stay of execution ordered by the Court of Appeal, which we have appealed to the Supreme Court.
“Furthermore, augmentation from the Federal Government accounts for the nominal increase recorded in the allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC). In other words, the 2022 budget performance did not also meet projected receipts from FAAC.
“Nevertheless, the aggregate performance of the budget on the revenue side stood at over 90% at the end of October 2022.”
Governor Wike revealed that the sum of N5 billion has been proposed under Special Projects to introduce and fund a free feeding programme for pupils in State primary schools to increase and sustain enrolments and reduce poverty.
He said the State has further provided N4 billion under Special Projects to fund free medical care for nursing mothers and children for the fiscal year 2023.
The Rivers State governor said although this is the last lap of his tenure, the administration is resolved to continue to advance Rivers development and secure its future.
“We are therefore poised to use the 2023 budget to deliver more transformative infrastructure and other strategic projects and services and move our dear State closer to the point of self-sustainability.”
The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, noted that governor Wike has through prudent allocation of resources put in place a roadmap for the development of the State.
Ibani, who commended the governor for his achievements in the past seven years, noted that his numerous infrastructural projects will positively impact on the development of the State in future.
November 22, 2022

PRESS RELEASE:
LIRS Boss Bags Innovative CEO of The Year Award, Promises to Sustain Tax Revolution in Lagos State

The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr Ayodele Subair has been conferred with the Most Innovative CEO of The Year Award 2022 by the New Telegraph Awards 2022.

The award ceremony, held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, on Friday, had in attendance several other awardees and dignitaries, including the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, honoured with the Statesman of the Year Award, All Progress Congress Presidential Flagbearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who both bagged Lifetime Achievement Award and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who went home with the Governor of the Year(Education), among others.

The organisers of the awards, The New Telegraph Newspapers, explained that Subair was honoured for his landmark strides since he became the LIRS Executive Chairman in 2016, as he has been able to implement strategic innovations as well as double the initial revenue generation from N240bn to N427bn with his astute knowledge and experience in Accounting and Taxation.

Driving the tax revolution at the LIRS, other Subair’s achievements, according to the newspaper, include the introduction of eTax in 2019, the launching of the whistleblowing initiative (2022), staff reforms and welfare upgrade (from 2017 till date), the introduction of the IBILE HUB Initiative (2021), Technology driven Operational Reforms in LIRS formed in 2022, where an Intelligent Unit- a team of undercover administration specially trained in information gathering and intelligence reports to provide information on all taxpayers in Lagos State and to ensure the agency has adequate information for appropriate profiling to expose tax defaulters.

Others include the establishment of the LIRS Service Charter (2021), the introduction of Automation of collection of consumption taxes (2017-2018), the inauguration of the Joint State Revenue Committee (JSRC) in 2021 as well as becoming the agency with the Highest Generated Revenue amid Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

While receiving the award, the LIRS boss, who was accompanied by some of the agency’s directors, expressed gratitude to the management of New Telegraph for recognising LIRS for the efforts it has been making in driving the State’s revenue generation under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration.

Subair said: “I want to say a very big thank you to the organizers of this great award, including the publisher and management of New Telegraph. “I want to say thank you for recognizing LIRS as being the most innovative and very strategic agency. We know we have to be on top of our game so that we can generate enough revenue for this wonderful state.”

Speaking further, the astute Tax administrator noted: “I am very happy to receive this award. It is the recognition of all the hard work we’ve been doing at the LIRS. This award encourages us to strive to improve our innovation. The LIRS is hinged on technology, and anybody who wants to make any headway in tax administration has to embrace technology. So, it’s our joy that we are being duly recognized as the foremost agency in that direction.

“I dedicate this award to my late father, Engr. Abiodun Subair, Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who always says yes to our wish list. I also want to dedicate the award to my family, to all directors and management staff of LIRS who are here to support me tonight and very importantly, to all staff of LIRS that have stayed committed to our strategic objectives.”

Speaking on what to expect from the agency shortly, Subair noted; “As for me, when you talk about figures, I want to ensure that we continue to double our numbers so that we have enough funding to sustain the development of our dear State.

Among the directors, who accompanied the LIRS chairman to receive the award included LIRS Board Secretary, Mr Owolabi Kamson, Director, Admin and HR, Arinola Kola-Daisi, Director, Legal, Seyi Alade, Assistant Director, IT, Rasheed Olu-Ajayi, Assistant Director, Relationship Management Unit, RMU, Mr Tunji Osuntokun and Head Corporate Affairs, Monsurat Amasa. #End

PRESS RELEASE

LAGOS MARKET LEADERS MEET SANWO-OLU, PLEDGE SUPPORT FOR APC

•Governor approves business grant for 100 traders in each market

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has extended his ongoing political consultation to markets and community of traders across the State.

The Governor, on Tuesday, met with all market leaders in Lagos under the aegis of Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria. The meeting was held at the Alausa residence of their President-General, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo.

It was the second time in three months Sanwo-Olu would be meeting with the market leaders. The Governor was accompanied by Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Special Adviser on Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Bolaji Roberts, All Progressives Congress (APC) State chairman, Hon. Cornelius Ojelabi, and Director General of the APC Governorship Campaign Council, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon.

Sanwo-Olu, who described marketers as “important stakeholders” in the governance of the State, said the visit was part of his wide consultation ahead of the general elections, noting that the interaction with traders in the informal sector was strategic in reaching out to the grassroots.

The Governor reassured the market leaders of his administration’s commitment to their well-being and asked for their full cooperation as to their support for the APC in the coming elections.

He said: “Market leaders and their members are important stakeholders in the governance of Lagos. We interact with them from time to time and consult them on issues concerning growth of our markets. Today, we have come here to thank them for the support they have continued to give our Government and to encourage them to continue to be loyal citizens of the State.

“This venue has been a strategic meetinghouse for discussion with market leaders on socio-political issues. It was from this same house that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu left and was sworn in as the Governor of Lagos in 1999. Since then, this edifice has been the spot of convergence for all the market leadership in Lagos. The visit today is to reassure market men and women about our commitment to their well-being and to ensure we have their full cooperation as to their support for the progressives party.”

Sanwo-Olu told the traders that the Government had hastened up ongoing work to complete all the markets currently being constructed.

The Governor announced continuation of credit grants to 100 micro and small businesses in each market across the State, stressing that the intervention had empowered many women and low-income households to meet their needs.

Sanwo-Olu took the opportunity to share the benefits of good governance reaped by the State in education, transportation and health, among others, noting that his administration’s programmes were aimed at improving the lives of residents, regardless of their incomes and status.

The Governor said: “We are in the season of politics and we consider it necessary to meet with our people in the market and solicit for your support in the forthcoming general elections, especially for our presidential candidate, governorship candidate and other positions our party is vying.

“This is an important step, you are part of the crop of people that diligently wait at the polling booths to cast votes for our party. We cannot take you for granted, despite having new people in the electoral register. We need to engage and talk to you about our plans. In this case, we are seeking their support for all our candidates in general.”

The traders, in the course of the discussion, raised issues affecting them and advised the State Government on possible areas of improvement and collaboration.

Iyaloja-General, Tinubu-Ojo, assured the Governor of market leaders’ continued support for the party, pledging to mobilise members of their households and communities to vote en masse for APC in the State and at the federal election.

SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
22 NOVEMBER 2022

Governor Okowa Is An Astute Manager Of Resources

By Dr. Festus Goziem Okubor.

This is election season and the moment for unscrupulous politicians to throw brickbats and engage in callous mudslinging to tarnish formidable honour and unassailable integrity that took years to build. Civilized and mature politics demands that decency should be the rule of the game. When politicians and public officeholders go out of their way to concoct lies and distort facts in order to score cheap political points and transient popularity, then they are not only assailing the public good and public interest, but poisoning the watershed of the political ideal which derives from information and enlightenment. As we prepare and look forward with hope to the consolidation of our democratic experience with the general elections of 2023, some mischief makers who have seen clearly that their political aspirations have been rejected by the people have resorted to spinning and spewing lies of slanderous proportions into the public space. This intervention is a response to one of such deliberate lies. And there should be honour, integrity, and dignity in politics. Men of honour, integrity, and dignity do not lie. So, these characters that chanced on our political space lack these three elements which are desired in building stable societies “where peace and justice reign”.

The latest preoccupation of disgruntled leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State is to peddle lies in order to discredit the Governor of Delta State, His Excellency, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, and clothe him in the robe of a poor manager of resources who squandered allocations to Delta State under his watch. Those who know Governor Okowa will attest to his nobility of mind. Even those currently accusing him falsely know that Governor Okowa is a man of uncommon mettle whose sandals they are not worthy to undo in saner climes as they ought to be cooling off in jail for the many crimes they committed against the State from stealing from the State treasury, extorting contractors and collecting money for ghost and unexecuted projects and for mace snatching. Certainly, public memory is not short and the internet never forgets. Those falsely accusing the highly respected Governor Okowa should google their names and that of the beloved Governor and they will see the infamous narratives around their names in contrast to the nobility of spirit of the amiable Governor.

The ongoing smear campaign was triggered off by the incoherent story by attention-seeking Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State that President Muhammadu Buhari released monies accruing from deductions from the 13% derivation funds and that the infrastructural achievements of his Government were made possible by the money President Buhari paid. Well, nobody needs to be told that Wike has become a sore loser and a weeping baby. The questions people should ask Wike are: when was the money released? Why did he not tell Nigerians when the money was paid? Why is he just telling them now? Wike is an advocate of bad politics which is unhealthy for the polity. His new activism without definition, boundary, or ideology is a product of the fact that he was beaten during the PDP Presidential Primary and furthermore, he lost woefully to the noble Governor Okowa of Delta State. Wike is fighting his homestead and people. He is bound to lose because no man ever wins against his people. The fact that none of the other five South-South Governors associates with Wike points to the truth that he has been rejected at home.

The rabidly desperate promoters of the Wike bad belle narrative are Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Adams Oshiomhole, and their BANDits of political desperadoes wanting to push Delta to the EDGE of disaster. What the duo and their minions are pushing into the public space is the narrative that Governor Okowa squandered 250 Billion naira accruing from the 13% derivation fund released by President Buhari. In their unthinking nature they pointed at the flyovers built by Wike in Port-Harcourt, take note, in Port-Harcourt and not any other part of Rivers State, and asked Governor Okowa what he did with the money accruing to Delta State. Their query could be as a result of crass ignorance or deliberate mischief to mislead the public and score cheap points. These are certainly not the hallmarks of altruistic politicians or Statesmen. Altruism is never desperate as the men have chosen to be. Governor Okowa remains an astute manager of men and resources. The fact that he does not mount the rooftop to announce with multiple megaphones the number of projects he has executed does not diminish his monumental and unsurpassed achievements as a Governor.

The truth with Delta State is that about 340 Billion Naira is accruable to it, but it has not been earned. The refund they are talking about is 292 Billion Naira and the Federal Government promised to pay in sixty installments. This was why the State requested a drawdown of 150 Billion Naira and only =N=30 Billion was recently drawn. So the talk about the hefty sum of 250 billion being mismanaged by Governor Okowa is a concocted political lie.

Only an ignorant or mischievous fellow will compare Delta State with Rivers State in terms of infrastructure development and spread. Rivers State is 55 years old, while Delta is just 31. It means that Rivers State ought to have more infrastructure. But let us compare. Delta State has about thirty-one urban centres, the highest in any State in Nigeria. Rivers State has only Port-Harcourt which is where all the flyovers Agege and Oshiomhole are drooling over are located. Whatever development going on in Bonny Island is by Joint Venture, and Rivers State Government refused to meet its obligation. Delta State Government under Governor Okowa has constructed 1,905 kilometres of roads and 1,035 kilometres of drains. Delta State is Nigeria’s frontrunner in human capital development, 14,075 youth entrepreneurs have emerged, and over 223,000 employments created with about 1.3 million indirect jobs. Delta State is number one in Contributory Healthcare Scheme with more than 1.2 million enrolled. The State has four Universities and seven other tertiary institutions, the highest by any State in Nigeria. Roads have been built in the riverine communities for the first time and there are 16 bridges under constriction with 6 others completed. The bridges are ambitious and cost-intensive projects that will link the riverine communities with the world.

The list of projects executed by Governor Okowa’s administration will show the even distribution across the length and breadth of the State. There is a deliberate integration of urban and rural communities so that all Deltans will feel a sense of belonging. Were Governor Okowa to concentrate all the State’s resources in developing only Asaba, then the city would have overtaken Dubai or New York in beauty. Governor Okowa is conscious of his place as Governor of all and not a sectional leader like the Orhomuru-Orogun Senator who took all the projects meant for the entire Urhobo nation of twenty-four clans to his miniature sub-community of Orhomuru-Orogun.

Those calling out Governor Okowa should step out to be audited as public officeholders. Senator Omo-Agege’s time as Commissioner and Secretary to the State Government was financially disastrous for Delta State. His house became a Central Bank where cooks made away with Ghana-must-go bags of money. His Orogun people will not forget how he extorted contractors and collected money for forty-eight projects that he didn’t execute. There were monies for hundreds of projects across the State that he seized using the Tenders’ Board. He thinks the people have forgotten. Is this the man wanting to be Governor? The mace incident and his recruitment as a servant of the caliphate with him a Chief kneeling to thank Buhari remains repulsive to his people. As for Adams Oshiomhole, he left Edo State in massive debt and destroyed the entire fabric of Government. Governor Obaseki is still working to fix the catastrophe that Oshiomhole turned Edo State into. How he ran down the APC and embarrassed the nation before he was disgraced out of office is still fresh in our memory. Are these the men who should call out Governor Okowa on account of probity? Not at all. They lack what it takes. The public, especially Deltans, should discountenance the ranting of Agege and Oshiomhole. They are raving in frustration as they are bound to have their day in the court of public morality.