The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has continued to express worries amid rising hardship occasioned by the continued spike in commodity prices.

Naija News reports that Obi, in a post on his official X account on Wednesday, worried that many Nigerians now spend all their income on food alone. The former Anambra Governor, who referenced the hunger index forecast, lamented that the situation was becoming very complex.

He further called on the Nigerian government to ensure the security of farmers in the country and give them adequate support to increase food production.

Obi’s statement read, “I was alarmed when, in January 2023, the Cadre Harmonisé, a UNICEF publication, indicated that nearly 25 million Nigerians were at risk of facing hunger between June and August 2023 if urgent actions were not taken.

“I was very concerned and worried like every other Nigerian and I then called on the government of the day to take urgent steps and stem the tide of impending hunger in the nation. By the end of 2023, around 26.5 million Nigerians were then reported to be at risk of hunger in the nation. By the end of 2023, around 26.5 million Nigerians were then reported to be at risk of hunger in 2024, which was still of grave concern to Nigerians.

“It is saddening again to note that the same publication, Cadre Harmonisé is again warning that more Nigerians, to the tune of 31.5 million, are at risk of acute hunger and serious food insecurity between June and August 2024.

“The situation has now become more complex with the high cost of living and high inflation rate which pervades our economy. Today, with our ranking of 109 out of 125 countries measured on the Global Hunger Index, Nigeria is considered among the 20 hungriest nations in the world.

“Many Nigerian households now spend almost all their income on food alone, leaving all other family expenses to anyone’s imagination. I have consistently maintained that the surest way to fight hunger in Nigeria is by moving our nation from consumption to production, which entails aggressive investment in agriculture by fully exploring and cultivating the vast arable lands mostly in the Northern parts of the country.

“Now that we have been given notice of the impending danger – the additional number of Nigerians that will face hunger by June this year, I strongly urge that we work hard and put in place measures that will help us to avert it. We must take urgent steps to boost food production in the country to defeat the rising hunger, and attendant anger in the nation.

“With the high level of insecurity and terror attacks in many parts of the country hindering farmers from their agricultural activities, and management of our monetary policies impacting negatively on small businesses in the agricultural sector, the government must secure the farmers and give them adequate support for increased food production. Building a productive Nigeria remains our focus in the New Nigeria which is possible.”

The Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Kaduna state chapter has appealed to political leaders and citizens to embrace liberality against greed, which according to the organisation, is a silent menace killing the country.

The CAN Chairman, Kaduna state Rev. Caleb Ma’aji made the appeal in Kaduna, on the occasion of his 54th birthday anniversary, saying Nigeria is blessed with everything and has no reason to suffer.

Rev. Ma’aji who lamented over the state of the country asserted that Nigeria has been plunged into the current economic realities on the ground of greed, adding that both leaders and the downtrodden are fighting for their personal gain without minding the implication of their actions on the destiny of others.

Speaking on the need for Nigerians to retrace their steps back to God and the good old days where everybody lived together as family, the CAN chairman remarked that life is transient and as such people must learn to live their life with eternity in view so as to have a glorious end.

“One thing I know is that life is transient, life is temporal. But even though this life is transient, it is an opportunity for us to prepare ourselves for eternity. We must live as wise people especially as we grow older. Our life should be tailored through meeting with our creator which obviously every man must come face to face with Him.

“God has so much blessed and chosen Nigeria. He has blessed us with everything we need both human, materials, resources and even immaterial but it is utilizing it inappropriately and wrongly that is causing us the pains that we are going through today.

“There is no fear of God in the lives of the leaders and there is equally greed on the path of followership. When God is not allowed to be in the centre of everything that has to do with us and our lives, we are certainly prone to have crisis, chaos and suffering.

“When leadership leads with the fear of God and the followers also follow with the fear of God, that is when we will have progress and with every sense of sincerity, the better for all of us. But when everybody is just fighting for their own, then Nigerians are bound to suffer.

“The leadership of this country must have the fear of God because the way they live, one day they will be accountable to God. Life, power and position are all transient. They all come and with time, they will go away but one thing is sure, the accountability to God is unshakable, we cannot compromise it and we cannot negotiate it,” The cleric said.

Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi, has relinquished his position as the chairman of the Northern Senators Forum.

His decision to step down comes in the wake of his suspension by the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday, amidst allegations of budget padding.

In his resignation letter, Ningi cited the unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North, and the nation at large as the basis for his decision. In a letter personally signed by him and addressed to the forum secretary, he stated, “I will like to resign as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum. This is, of course, necessitated by unfolding events in the National Assembly, the North, and the Nation at large.”

He continued, expressing gratitude to the members of the forum for entrusting him with the leadership role for the past eight months. “I believe this forum is very important and fundamental to the progress of northern Nigeria,” he added.

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Senate President Godswill Akpabio says claims of budget padding made by Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, have put the integrity of the red chamber at risk.

The senate plenary on Tuesday turned into a rowdy session over Ningi’s allegation that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion.

Over the weekend, Ningi alleged that “huge damage” has been done to the entire country through the budget.

The lawmaker further alleged that “apart from what the national assembly did on the floor, there was another budget that was done underground which we didn’t know.”

Speaking during an open session, Akpabio said the senate has lost the respect of the citizens due to the unverifiable statement made by the senator.

“Nigerians are bashing the senate. Many Nigerians will never in future come back to respect this chamber. The integrity of this chamber has been damaged and we wanted you to repair it with your speech,” the senate president said.

“Instead of that, you said you have more documents to prove what you are saying. This thing is in the public glare. I am still waiting to receive full details up to this moment. If you had given me full details, I would have known what you know.

“So far, what you know is only known to you, it is not known to anyone else. I don’t know how you rushed to the press carrying different versions. The social media is very fast. From Canada, the United States, everywhere, the story was budget padding by the senate.”

Meanwhile, the senate has suspended Ningi for three months after a motion on privilege moved by Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun has raised an alarm about potential attacks on schools and rural farm communities in the state.

According to the governor, there are intelligence reports indicating a deliberate mobilization of criminal elements for attacks on rural areas.

According to Adeleke, the attackers aim to disrupt farming activities through kidnappings and assaults on rural farm settlements.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Malam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke disclosed that schools are being targeted with abductions and attacks.

To address the security concerns, Adeleke announced that a meeting of the state security council had been convened.

He also issued preliminary directives to school authorities to enhance the safety of pupils and students.

“The Ministry of Education and all educational agencies have been ordered to review safety measures in Osun schools in line with the safe school initiative.

“In specific terms, school principals and heads are expected to clear overgrown weeds in school environments and ensure close liaison with the Parents and Teachers Association to secure their school environments,” he said.

He said the state is peaceful and would not succumb to attempts to destabilise the peace and harmony among the people.

“No stone will be left unturned to disrupt plans of enemies of progress to plunge the state into crisis.

“I urge members of the public to inform security agencies of any unusual movements or activities across the state,” he added.

The Abia state government has rescued 16 pregnant girls from a baby factory in Aba.

This was revealed by the First Lady of the state, Priscilla C Otti, via a post on X.

Expressing deep concern, the First Lady conveyed her sadness over the discovery.

She strongly condemned the heinous act of profiting from innocent girls and reiterated her commitment to safeguarding the Abia girl-child from violence and exploitation.

Her words: ”I was deeply saddened by the recent discovery of a baby factory in Aba, where approximately 16 pregnant girls were rescued.

”It’s particularly disheartening that this occurred on International Women’s Day, a day when we celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in Abia state.

”I am determined to safeguard the Abia girl-child from violence and exploitation, and I strongly condemn the heinous act of profiting from innocent girls.

”This barbaric practice endangers the lives and well-being of these girls, exposing them to serious health hazards including HIV and other STDs.

”Our findings indicate that unemployment, lack of education, and poverty are contributing factors to this tragedy.

”I reaffirm my commitment to empowering vulnerable girls, especially those recently rescued, through skills acquisition programs.

”Rest assured, all perpetrators will be brought to justice. Let’s unite as Abians to eradicate this despicable practice and ensure the safety and dignity of our girls.”

Nigerian Army troops say they have uncovered and neutralized a major firearms and drone manufacturing factory allegedly operated by the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

According to Army spokesman, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the factory was located at Onicha Ulona in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

He said the troops faced stiff resistance upon raiding the facility but managed to overpower the armed fighters in a fierce firefight.

Nwachukwu said two of the fighters were neutralized, and a substantial cache of arms and ammunition was recovered.

”Items captured by the troops include, a wide range of IPOB/ESN firearms, ammunition, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and a drone manufacturing factory.

”Other items recovered are a variety of weapons, drones under construction, with prototypes, Improvised Explosive Device materials, a fully equipped workshop, and several power generating sets.

”Troops also apprehended four male and two female fighters during the operation,” he stated.

He assured members of the public of the troops’ unalloyed commitment to dismantling terrorists’ and insurgents’ networks.

”We urge the public to continue to support the Nigerian Army and other security agencies as they strive to restore peace and stability in the country,” he concluded

Controversial Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has expressed his readiness to engage with the terrorists responsible for kidnapping 287 school children from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State.

In a press statement from his media team, Gumi stated that he is willing to facilitate negotiations between the federal government and the bandits to secure the release of all abducted Nigerian citizens.

Gumi proposed that the government should adopt a similar approach used to recover passengers kidnapped from the Abuja-Kaduna train on March 28, 2022.

He encouraged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to avoid repeating the error of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to negotiate with bandits.

In his statement, Gumi said, “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position.

“My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits, not only for these Kuriga school children abductions but all the cases.”

He further added, “I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is a religious duty for me to do so for peace.

“I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.”

The school children were abducted last Thursday, and the government has yet to secure their release

Bandits responsible for the abduction of 16 students from a Qur’anic school in Sokoto State have demanded a ransom of N20 million.

The proprietor of the school, Liman Abubakar, also known as Tsangaya, revealed the ransom demand during an interview on Tuesday with Daily Trust.

“I received two calls from them this morning (Tuesday’s morning). In the first call, they asked me whether I don’t care about the plight of my students that was why I didn’t contact them. I told them I didn’t have their contact.

“They then asked me to wait for another call around 11am. Some minutes after 11am, they called again and directed me to meet our village head and tell him to raise N20 million for the children.

“I wanted to plead with them but they said they would not reduce anything from the money. I went and discussed the matter with the village head but we are yet to reach a conclusion,” he said.

The students were reportedly abducted at Gidan Bakuso in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State last Saturday while seeking refuge in their rooms during an attack on the community.

The Nigerian Senate has suspended Senator Abdul Ningi for 3 months following allegations of Budget Padding.

During an Interview on BBC Hausa last week, Ningi accused the Senate of Padding the 2024 appropriation bill to the tune of N3.6 Trillion.

Ningi represents PDP, Bauchi Central. Despite outrage and widespread condemnation from his colleagues in the Red Chamber, Ningi maintained his position on Monday that N3.7tn could not be accounted for in the 2024 budget.

During Plenary on Tuesday, Senator Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West) raised a motion that there is urgent need to address the false allegations by Ningi.

Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, read the transcript of Ningi’s Hausa BBC interview on the floor of the house after Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a committee of the whole house.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim then moved for the suspension of Ningi for 12 months.

The session became heated with Majority of the Senators clamoring that it should be reduced to 3 months.

More to come….