The World Bank yesterday disclosed plans to support the Nigerian Electrification Project (NEP) with an additional $750 million.
Ms Elizabeth Huybens, World Bank’s Director of Strategy and Operations for Western/Central African Region, disclosed this shortly after inspecting a 60kw solar-powered mini grid in Kilankwa II, a settlement in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
Daily Trust reports that the initial $350m grant expires in August, 2023.
NEP, which is administered by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and funded by the World Bank, is a nationwide initiative aimed at delivering energy access to underserved communities.
Huybens said that access to electricity was a priority goal for the bank as it was one of the fastest routes to eradicating poverty.
She noted that: “It is hard for me to think about modern life without electricity. It is also hard to think about reducing poverty without access to electricity. And since the World Bank’s overarching goal is to help countries eradicate poverty, we need to help countries provide access to electricity to their populations.
“The $350 million grant is coming to a close. We we are preparing a successor project that will be $750 million. So, we are expanding our support to something that we think is really critical which, Nigeria is leading the world with this sort of small grant development.”
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of REA, Engr Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, said energy efficient equipment would be connected to the mini grid for more productive use.
“The 60kw capacity project is serving about 300 connections, and it’s been operational for some time now, so we’re privileged to have come here today with the director of the World Bank task team to see how it’s performing. We’re still looking for more productive use, ensuring that we have energy efficient equipment connected to the mini grid,” Ahmad said.
The Zamfara State government said it has embarked on some reforms to correct what it described as four years of mismanagement of the state’s resources by the immediate-past administration of Governor Muhammad Bello Matawalle.
Speaking at a press conference in Gusua, the State capital on Tuesday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Malam Abubakar Nakwada, said: “The purpose of this conference is to throw light on some of the activities of the immediate-past administration of the former Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, which greatly imperilled the state institutions, wreaked havoc on the state’s economy and rolled back some of the progress made since the creation of Zamfara State in 1996.”
The SSG announced the dissolution of new districts created in December 2022 and ordered the immediate suspension of the affected district and village heads.
The government also ordered a “return to status quo ante” even as it also directed the sack of permanent secretaries appointed after the last general election.
The SSG stated, “a well-articulated rationalization and harmonization of MDAs will be undertaken to reduce the cost of governance and improve efficiency, and details will be announced in due course.”
He regretted that the state was on the verge of collapse as at the time of the inauguration of the new government under Governor Dauda Lawal, with the state becoming incapable of fulfilling most of its obligations.
According to the SSG, “the purpose of this conference is to throw light on some of the activities of the immediate past administration of the former Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, which greatly imperilled the state institutions, wreaked havoc on the state’s economy and rolled back some of the progress made since the creation of Zamfara State in 1996.
“This initiative is part of Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration’s commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
“As an administration that came to power through our people’s overwhelming and unprecedented support, we have a great responsibility to keep them informed about the true State of affairs.
“We are all living witnesses to how Zamfara State was run with reckless abandon by Bello Matawalle’s administration over the past four years.
“That administration indulged in excessive and wasteful spending as well as the rampant looting of government property.
“It is truly disheartening that while our peers have made significant progress in their respective states, we are still grappling with a myriad of issues caused by insatiable greed and the lack of patriotism exhibited by the immediate past administration.
“For the first time in the history of our State, workers were unable to receive their salaries for two consecutive months, despite the availability of ample resources during the twilight of the immediate-past administration.
“This unfortunate situation has subjected our workforce to unimaginable hardship and hunger, which in turn has had a detrimental impact on numerous businesses around the state, which largely depend on patronage from workers.
“Gladly, our administration has successfully settled the outstanding salary arrears for the two months and is actively working to ensure the timely payment of June salaries.
“The former administration exhibited utter negligence towards the critical sectors of the state’s economy, and education was not spared.
“The sector has noticeably deteriorated, a fact that all citizens of Zamfara State can attest to.
“To compound matters, the time-honoured government intervention to ensure that all secondary school candidates sit for WAEC and NECO examinations was abandoned.
“If not for the decisive intervention of our administration, our secondary school children would have been denied the opportunity to take this year’s NECO SSCE.
“Furthermore, it is truly alarming that an astounding amount of over N50 billion was allocated to projects within the Government House that have little to no direct impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.
“To make matters worse, many of these projects remain either incomplete or non-existent.
“Additionally, an astonishing sum of about N11.5 billion was expended on the construction of the Gusau Airport, yet there is no visible evidence of substantial progress or development.
“Similarly, an unjustifiable amount of 90 per cent payment has been made for the construction of extravagant Governor’s Lodges across the 14 Local Government Areas (LGAs), amounting to over N1 billion.
“Shockingly, there is a lack of concrete evidence to support the necessity of such expenditure, particularly when it comes to furnishing these lodges.
“Similarly, despite the previous administration’s expenditure of over N13 billion in the last four years for the procurement of utility vehicles, the present administration did not inherit any of these vehicles.
“We are resolute in our commitment to utilizing all legal avenues to recover these vehicles on behalf of the people of our beloved State and to prevent such incidents from occurring again in the future.
“Furthermore, the Government will ensure that all individuals involved in this reprehensible act of vehicle theft are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Most of these instances of theft, impunity, and reckless abandon were facilitated by a pervasive lack of record-keeping culture deeply ingrained in the public service of Zamfara State Our initial experiences within close to a month of assuming office have revealed the prevalence of this culture of non-record keeping across numerous Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and in many cases, it appears to be intentional.
“Accountability will be demanded, and the accounting officers will be held responsible for any breaches or failures in this regard. It is our firm stance that effective record-keeping is fundamental to transparent and efficient governance, and we are committed to instilling this principle across all levels of public service.
“The general public should be made aware that the judicial arm of the State is currently non-functional due to dilapidated structures and poor working conditions.
“As part of a comprehensive reform programme aimed at reversing the sordid condition of our dear state, the government will take several actions in the coming days.
“It is evident that we must work harder to expand our State’s revenue base and meet the aspirations of our large population for more effective and efficient service delivery.
“The government will explore all possible areas that can be leveraged to increase the revenue base in order to acquire more resources to address the development needs of our state and enhance the well-being of our people.”
Hoodlums have beaten a Naval officer, simply identified as Akingbohun M., to death in Imeri, Ose local government area of Ondo State following a minor disagreement.
The deceased, who was attached to the Navy Secondary School, Imeri, was said to have been beaten to death by a six-man mob in the ancient community.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the incident happened on Monday at Idoani and it was reported to the nearby Police Division by a friend of the deceased, Sunday Olaoluwa.
An eyewitness, who narrated the incident, said the deceased was driving in the community when he splashed mud water on an Okada rider and his passenger simply identified as Ayo.
According to him, the deceased parked his car and apologised to the Okada rider and his passenger but his apology fell on deaf ears.
He further explained that the Okada rider invited some hoodlums in the community to the scene and one of them hit the deceased on the head with an iron rod and he fell.
The Naval officer was rushed to the hospital in the town but was confirmed dead on arrival.
He further informed that the Okada rider was apprehended and handed over to the Police while the thugs that hit the deceased with the iron rod fled on hearing the news of his death
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the Ondo State Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, explained that the deceased was attacked and killed during a disagreement that arose from a minor motorcycle accident.
According to SP Odunlami-Omisanya, the suspects used iron and plank to beat the Naval officer before he was confirmed dead at the hospital where he was rushed to.
The PPRO, however, said that the suspects were still at large.
Also, the Ose Local Government Council chairman, Hon. Dennis Adekunle, confirmed the killing of the officer.
Adekunle, who condemned the killing, assured the Naval authorities of the cooperation of the community in dousing the associated tension caused by the incident.
In a statement personally issued and made available to journalists, the Local Government Council boss appealed to Naval authorities in the school to apply minimum force while in search for the suspects.
As of the time of filing this report, some Naval officials were in the community in search of the fleeing hoodlums.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the presence of the Naval officers has turned the town into a ghost town.
The Lagos residence of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, has been razed by fire.
The entire building was said to have been burnt down after a strange noise was heard from the roof, which was mistaken for foraging domestic animals.
The inferno exploded in a ball of fire as members scampered to safety with nothing salvaged from the building.
It was learnt that at the time of the incident, Ajaero was away in Geneva.
Reacting to the incident, Ajaero gave glory to God that no life was lost during the incident.
Ajaero-led NLC had called for a nationwide strike following the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu.
However, the strike was suspended after intervention and negotiations by the Federal Government.
Nuhu Ribadu, the new National Security Adviser (NSA), has been given tasks to tackle as he assumes office.
Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna Central senator, said Ribadu should end the criminality of terrorism, banditry, killings, and kidnappings across the country.
Sani also urged Ribadu to ensure the protection of schools and farmers from terrorists.
Tweeting, the political activist lamented that previous governments wasted billions of dollars fighting insecurity without much success.
According to Sani: “Our expectations and the urgent task before the new NSA Ribadu are to end the criminality of terrorism, banditry, and the incessant killings and kidnapping for ransom in this country.
“There should be a renewed and result-oriented effort to secure our schools and protect farmers from terrorists.
“The past Government wasted billions of dollars, held hundreds of meetings, banned mining activities, banned the use of motorcycles, shut down telecommunications, claimed to have bombarded all sorts of places and even organised prayers and yet left us with terrorist kingpins in the likes of Bello Turji, Dogo Gide, Ado Aleru and co. We expect a different approach and a better result.”
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has been urged to withdraw his case against the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 2023 presidential election.
The 2023 Labour Party governorship aspirant in Plateau, Chief Yohanna Margif, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
He also urged the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is also challenging Tinubu’s victory in the tribunal, to do the same.
The LP stalwart said that the call on Obi and Abubakar became necessary in order to foster national unity and integration.
“The new leadership of Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu has shown capacity to lead and improve the nation’s fortunes without fear or favour, which is crystal clear and visible within just four weeks in office.
“With is happening in Nigeria in the recent past, ranging from insecurity to unemployment and religious intolerance, it is critical to embark on a project of national unity and integration.
“This will ease the burdens and wounds caused by the outgone administration and enable Tinubu to sail the ship called the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the promised land.”
Margif lauded Abubakar and Obi for taking their case against the election to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal instead of resorting to unconstitutional means.
According to him, such is in line with the spirit of democracy, sportsmanship, patriotism, national unity and integration.
“The electioneering campaigns have come and gone, leaving behind the unsettled dust at the PEPT, where both Abubakar and Peter Obi are challenging the outcome of the election won by Tinubu.
“This is democracy, and everyone has the right to be heard, but that notwithstanding, I wish to applaud the presidential candidates of all political parties for the peaceful conduct during the elections.
“Also for seeking legal redress over conflict, which is the virtue and spirit of sportsmanship.
“However, I call on both Obi and Abubakar to sheath their swords by withdrawing their cases at the tribunal for the sake of national unity and integration,” he said.
Margif, who described himself as an Ambassador of Peace, stressed that Tinubu’s emergence as President was God’s will and choice for Nigeria.
He added that Tinubu became President without having a political godfather because it’s the handiwork of God.
“Today, what all Nigerians are looking for is good governance and dividends of democracy and, as it stands, President Tinubu is already on the right track to economic recovery and nation-building.
“In my opinion, Tinubu is the will of God and we must accept it because, while I, for instance, voted for Obi; some voted for Abubakar, others voted for Tinubu but the outcome of the election favoured Tinubu.
“Personally, regardless of my litigation against LP’s Plateau State Chapter and the National Executive Councils pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja, I’m willing to withdraw the case and forgive all.
“As such, I also suggest that Obi and the LP, as well as Abubakar and the PDP, should do the same in the interest of national integration,” he said.
Margif, who was elected as the LP’s governorship candidate for Plateau but whose name was later substituted with that of Dr Patrick Dakum, also called on Tinubu to form a government of national unity and integration.
He said that one common thing among all the candidates, the political parties and their manifestos during the general elections was their emphasis on national unity and integration.
According to the LP stalwart, Nigeria’s unity and integration is the strength of the nation.
He urged the Tinubu presidency to ensure that it leverages the Renewed Hope mantra to usher in a new Nigeria that is in line with the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers.
“I, therefore, appeal to President Tinubu to consider and put national unity and integration above all by forming a government of national unity and integration.
“The leadership of the ‘Renewed Hope’ administration should also consider a platform that will include women and youth in governance,.
“It should also ensure that it designs and establishes enduring youth-based national policies,” Margif said.
(NAN)
The Canadian government has unveiled its first-ever immigration tech talent strategy that will create new job opportunities for other countries including Nigeria.
This comes a few days after Germany passed an immigrant law designed to encourage more people from outside the European Union to come to the country for work.
The talent strategy which was launched at the 2023 Collision Conference in Toronto includes new measures and improvements on existing measures to help businesses in Canada thrive in a competitive landscape.
“Over this year, Canada is going to be developing a specific stream for some of the world’s most highly talented people that will be able to come to Canada to work for tech companies whether they have a job offer or not,” Sean Fraser, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said on Tuesday.
“We are going to be launching a digital Nomads strategy which is going to allow people, who have a foreign employer to come and work in Canada for up to six months,” he said.
He said they will live in communities in the county and spend money and should they receive job offers while they are here, they are going to allow them to continue to stay and work in the country.
“Finally, we have been watching very closely what has been going on in the tech sector in the United States where we have seen a public narrative about layoffs. We have been having private conversations about opportunities” he added.
According to the minister, going forward, as of July 16, they will have a stream that will allow 10,000 H-1B visa holders in the United States to come and work in Canada.
“The reality is that you have the ideas but you need the talents. You have told us that and we have been listening. We are going to do everything we can to push Canada as the destination where your ideas can become a reality,’ he said.
Canada’s aging population and lower birth rate have been shrinking its labour force, forcing the country to intensify its efforts to attract large, young and vibrant immigrants by offering immigration-friendly policies.
The country landed 437,120 Permanent Residents (PRs) in 2022, a nearly eight percent increase from the total number of PRs in 2021, according to data the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
For Nigeria, it grew by 41.9 percent to 22,130 last year from 15,595 in the previous year.
Last year, the Canadian federal government announced an aggressive plan to take in 500,000 immigrants a year by 2025, with almost 1.5 million new immigrants coming to the country over the next three years.
“We’re enthusiastic about the ambitious goals we have set in immigration because they aren’t just about numbers—they are strategic. With this strategy, we’re targeting newcomers that can help enshrine Canada as a world leader in a variety of emerging technologies,” Fraser said.
Last month, Canada announced new measures to make it easier for families of recent immigrants to relocate to the country just a few days after the UK said it was restricting foreign students from bringing their families into the country starting next year.
That same month, the country announced that its express entry was now implementing a category-based selection to help tackle labour shortages and boost the economy.
The World Bank has stated that Nigeria has one of the highest inflation rates, which pushed an estimated four million people into poverty between January and May 2023.
This was disclosed during the launch of the June 2023 edition of the Nigeria Development Update on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Washington-based lender also said about 7.1 million poor Nigerians would become poor if the Federal Government failed to compensate or provide palliatives for them, following the removal of fuel subsidy.
According to World Bank data, 89.8 million Nigerian were poor as of the beginning of this year. The lender noted that additional four million Nigerians became poor between January and May this year, raising the figure to 93.8million.
Latest projection means the number of poor Nigerians will rise to 100.9 million if the government fails to compensate vulnerable citizens for fuel subsidy removal.
The World Bank Nigeria Development Update report noted that Nigeria’s inflation has risen to a 17-year high, and has been driven by a number of factors, such as CBN funding of budget deficit, previous multiple exchange rates, devaluation, and trade restrictions.
The report read, in part, “Consumer price inflation has surged and is currently one of the highest globally, which is related to Nigeria’s fiscal imbalance and points to the urgency of reform efforts. Inflation in Nigeria has been high for many years due to structural factors, but it escalated in 2022, to the point where consumer prices increased at their fastest pace for 17 years.
“The consumer price index further accelerated in 2023 through May, up to 22.4 percent y-o-y. High inflation has been driven by the monetization of the fiscal deficit by the CBN, multiple exchange rates and exchange rate depreciation in the parallel market, and intensified trade restrictions, exacerbated by the spike in global food and energy prices.
“The CBN implemented measures to control rising inflation, including raising the monetary policy rate by 700 basis points, but these proved ineffective and monetary policy remained loose overall in the first half of the year. The loss of purchasing power from high inflation has increased poverty in the short-term, pushing an estimated 4 million Nigerians into poverty between January and May 2023.”
The National Bureau of Statistics recently disclosed that inflation in the country rose to 22.41 per cent in May, which is the highest in about 19 years.
Also, the NBS, in its National Multidimensional Poverty Index report, disclosed that 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor.
The NBS said 63 per cent of Nigerians were poor due to a lack of access to health, education, living standards, employment, and security.
The Multidimensional Poverty Index offered a multivariate form of poverty assessment, identifying deprivations across health, education, living standards, work, and shocks.
In its new report, the Washington-based bank noted that the loss of purchasing power increased the poverty headcount rate by an estimated 2 percentage points or 4 million people.
This may mean that the total number of poor people in the country has risen to 137 million this year.
The World Bank added that the number of poor people in rural areas increased by an estimated 4 percent, while in urban settings, there was an estimated increase of 11 per cent.
The Brenton Woods institution further noted that with the removal of fuel subsidy, about 7.1 million people are at risk of becoming poor if no form of compensation is provided by the government.
The report read, “In the immediate term, the removal of the petrol subsidy has caused an increase in prices, adversely affect ting poor and economically insecure Nigerian households. Petrol prices appear to have almost tripled following the subsidy removal.
“The poor and economically insecure households, who directly purchase and use petrol as well as those that indirectly consume petrol, are adversely affected by the price increase. Among the poor and economically insecure, 38 percent own a motorcycle and 23 percent own a generator that depends on petrol. Many more use petrol dependent transportation.
“The poor and economically insecure households will face an equivalent income loss of N5,700 per month, and without compensation, an additional 7.1 million people will be pushed into poverty.
The World Bank warned that many newly poor and economically insecure households will likely resort to consequential coping mechanisms, such as “not sending children to school, or not going to the health facilities to seek preventative healthcare or cutting back on nutritious dietary choices.”
The bank stressed the need for adequate compensation, noting that compensating transfers will be essential in helping to shield Nigerian households from the initial price impacts of the subsidy reform.
The lending institution further applauded the removal of the subsidy and FX management reforms, which are crucial measures to begin to rebuild fiscal space and restore macroeconomic stability.
It stressed that the opportunity should be seized to take further necessary policy reform steps.
The report added, “Following a bold start with the recent PMS subsidy reforms and FX reforms, the urgency remains for Nigeria to seize the opportunity to chart a new course with ambitious and comprehensive reforms to raise long-term growth prospects.”
In his remarks, the governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde, said the reforms of the new administration are a step in the right direction.
However, he said there is a need to ensure that social safety nets are put in place because other than the local disruptions, there are also global headwinds that affect Nigeria as well.
“Social protection programs must be taken with a systemic approach towards long-term objectives,” he said.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti stressed the need for deregulation in the oil sector in order to maintain the reforms in this sector.
“What is important is not that the subsidy is removed, but the ability to sustain that removal, and the only way to do is moving from regulation to deregulation,” he said.
He further stressed the need for a sustainable cash transfer programme and other programmes that are well-targeted to the poor affected by the reforms in the country.
The Resident Representative for Nigeria of the International Monetary Fund, Ari Aisen, noted that the current reforms of the new administration are expected to have side effects.
He said, “There were so many distortions accumulated in the past, it is naturally that when these policies are implemented, you have some side effects. We should all expect that.”
Aisen added that inflation will likely keep rising, and stressed the need for policies that would curb inflation.
“Here, inflation is the main culprit in the room. We have seen inflation already high before the implementation of these policies. Inflation is likely to increase further. In our view, it is going to be critical to tailor macroeconomic policies to reduce inflation,” he said.
The IMF Representative further said that there is a need for further tightening of the monetary rates, which he said, remain loose.
He added that the IMF hopes to continue its long-term relationship with Nigeria, supporting the country with capacity building, policy advisory, and financing.
The Director General, Debt Management Office, Ms Patience Oniha, noted that although the government can borrow from the Central Bank of Nigeria through the Ways and Means Advances, it is important to stick to the limit.
She further stressed the need for urgent support from multilateral organisations in addressing the tough time Nigerians are going through.
Oniha said, “These are tough times because the policies have all been introduced now. In what ways can we get real support? We do appreciate all the concessional funding that we get from the multilaterals. In this short time, in what way can we get that assistance?”
The Special Adviser to the President, Bola Tinubu, on Monetary Policies, Wale Edun, said that other than the $800m loan from the World Bank, there may need for additional financing to ensure the sustainability of the bold reforms under the administrations.
“We have identified some sources of funding, but we are going after many more,” he said.
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, further disclosed that Nigeria is the biggest beneficiary of concessional financing from the World Bank, with over $10.5bn since February 2020.
The World Bank lead economist for Nigeria, Alex Sienaert, during a presentation at the event, said that Nigeria is projected to save up to $5.1bn (N3.9tn) in 2023 alone after the removal of fuel subsidy and reforms of its foreign exchange market.
Sienaert also said that the gains from these policies are expected to reach over N21tn between 2023 and 2025.
An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain in Kaduna, Engineer Mohammed Khailani, has called for inter-Agency synergy against insecurity , particularly banditry.
He urged the new service Chiefs to ensure they work together towards ending the insecurity bedeviling the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, Engineer Khailani who is the Director-General of Amalgamated APC Support Groups, noted that “some of them will just keep intelligence within instead of sharing it with other sister agencies. if they can come together and form a formidable force, we will deal with the issue of insecurity in this country.”
He also spoke on the recent allegation made by ex-Militant leader Asari Dokubo that 99 percent of oil theft in the oil-rich Niger Delta were being perpetrated under the watch of some military personnel.
He alleged that there was also the involvement of some very highly placed Nigerians in the oil theft running into billions of dollars since 1983.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the management of the apex bank under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele, Muhammad criticized recent calls for Emefiele’s release, asserting that such actions were not in the best interest of Nigerians.
He lauded President Tinubu’s bold economic initiatives, as he appealed for patience from the Nigerian populace and expressed confidence in Tinubu’s ability to steer the nation towardrds prosperity.
The APC chieftain commended Tinubu’s dedication to the progress of Nigeria.
At least, 51 Nigerian Universities led by Covenant University, Ota, have made impressive outing in the first Times Higher Education 2023 Sub-Saharan Africa rankings.
At a colourful unveiling event in Accra on June 26, Times Higher Education announced the results of its 2023 Sub-Saharan university rankings.
The event was attended by a delegation from Nigeria led by Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee.
According to a statement by the National Universities Commission, on Wednesday, Okebukola led the Nigerian delegation.
According to him, “Covenant University emerged in the 7th position in Sub-Saharan Africa and the No. 1 in Nigeria.
“Other universities that appeared on the elite list and their ranks are Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (26th) Benson Idahosa University (30th), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (31st ), Redeemer’s University (35), University of Ibadan (36), CRUTECH (37th), OAU, Ife (39th) Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (43rd ), Adeleke University (45th), and Ahmadu Bello University (46th ).
“Others are: the University of Benin (47th), Landmark University(49th), Babcock University (50th), Ajayi Crowther University (51-60th), the Bells University of Technology (51-60th ), Federal University Kashere (51-60th ), Federal University Lokoja (51-60th ), Gombe State University (51-60th ), Lagos State University (51-60th ), the University of Port Harcourt (51-60th ), Baze University (51-60th ), Delta State University (61-70th ), Elizade University (61-70th ), Niger Delta University (61-70th ), Abia State University (71+), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike (71+), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Ikere (71+), Bauch State University (71+), Bayero University (71+), Edo State University (71+), LAUTECH (71+), Lead City University (71+), NOUN (71+), Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University (71+), Veritas University (71+), and Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano (71+).
According to the former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, “the methodology of the sub-Saharan African rankings is on “five pillars- resources and finance (20%); access and fairness (20%); teaching skills (20%); student engagement (20%) and Africa impact (20%)”.
He noted that on all measures, Nigerian universities did impressively well, with much room for improvement.
Okebukola was the immediate past Chairman Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN noted that “since this is the first edition of the sub-Saharan university rankings, by the next and subsequent editions, Nigerian universities will leap to the lead.
“We will continue to improve on the metrics through better quality teaching, especially with the incoming Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards research and provision of better services for our students.”
Okebukola further noted that during the unveiling ceremony and the Sub-Saharan University Forum which preceded it on “Revolutionising African Higher Education”, Duncan Ross, Chief Data Officer of Times Higher Education, lauded Nigerian universities on progress made in the last two years on global and regional league tables.
According to Ross, of the 121 universities that contributed data, Nigerian universities make up the “largest proportion (42%) followed by South Africa (12%) and Ghana (7%) Professor Okebukola explained this as the impact of the revolution towards improving quality of delivery of university education in Nigeria, initiated by Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, Executive Secretary NUC and supported by the immediate-past Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu”.
More...
President Bola Tinubu, former President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, yesterday called for sober reflection as they felicitated with Muslims on this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
State governors, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, and telecoms company, Glo, among others, also made similar calls.
Nigeria’s problems not insurmountable –Tinubu
In his message, President Tinubu enjoined Muslims to show mercy and compassion to others. He acknowledged the challenges people were going through but assured that the problems were not insurmountable as he was working hard with his team for solutions
He said: “As we immerse ourselves in the joy of this moment and celebrate, let us remember those who may not be as fortunate as us. There is no greater sense of duty ever recorded in history outside the ennobling example of Prophet Ibrahim in offering his only son Ismail as a sacrifice to Allah.
“The best way by which we can demonstrate this example is in how we conduct ourselves in relation to our fellow citizens and in our duties to our beloved country. We must imbibe and manifest those values inherent in Prophet Ibrahim’s life, namely; complete devotion to Allah, tolerance, patience, perseverance, selflessness, love and compassion.
“At the moment, our country is going through some challenges, especially with our struggling economy and simmering security challenges. While I acknowledge all of these, I want to assure you that they are not insurmountable. ‘’I am working day and night with my team, fleshing out solutions. We have started with the decisions taken so far, to reform our economy and remove all impediments to growth.”
Support Tinubu to succeed – Buhari
On his part, former President Muhammadu Buhari, while congratulating Muslims, urged them to support President Tinubu’s administration to succeed.
According to him, “leading a country like Nigeria is one of the hardest challenges in life and urged Nigerians to fully support the Tinubu administration to succeed. Leadership is a challenging task that demands the sacrifices and support of the citizens.”
Imbibe love, unity and faith — Akpabio
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his goodwill message, urged Muslims not to forget the tenets of the season, which are love, obedience and perseverance, as they celebrate.
He also urged Nigerians to eschew bitterness, and hatred and imbibe the spirit of love, unity and faith during the celebration, noting that “it is only in a state of peace and tranquillity that governments at all levels would be able to get the country out of its current economic situation”.
Pray for the success of leaders- Abbas
In his message, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, called on Nigerians to pray for the unity, peace and progress of the country. Abbas urged the citizens to use the occasion to pray for the success of the administration of President Tinubu while calling for their spiritual and moral support for all elected and appointed leaders nationwide.
“It is a time to thank Almighty Allah for His grace and mercy upon our nation. It is a time to reflect on the prospects and the brighter future ahead of the nation. It is also a time to pray for the success of our leaders, as they move to tackle the challenges facing the country, counting on the prayers and support of the people,” he said.
Live a life of sacrifice – Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, asked Nigerians to seek God’s blessings to elevate the country “to a path of peace, harmony, and prosperity” while also enjoining them to live a life of sacrifice,
Abubakar said the significance of the celebration is about the “profitability of being patient with God in our affairs as human beings, and most especially, as Muslims.
“We are also enjoined to follow the footsteps of the prophets, especially Prophet Muhammad, which means that we must live our everyday life as a sacrifice, not just for our families, but the communities where we find ourselves.”
Obi calls for more prayers
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, called on Nigerians, especially the Muslim Umma, to intensify their prayers for the security and prosperity of the nation.
Obi in his Sallah message via tweeter, said: “An intense prayer for our dear country has become very necessary more than ever before as our nationhood is in dire need of divine intervention to survive.
“Our economy is already under severe stress, the currency is losing value daily, unemployment and inflation rising at unprecedented speed, and people living in multi-dimensional poverty are increasing by the day.”
Govs call for sober reflection
Osun
Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, rejoiced with the Muslim faithful, assuring them of his commitment to delivering good governance.
The governor in a Sallah message issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, urged Muslims in the state to rededicate themselves to serving Allah and humanity for a prosperous state.
Ogun
On his part, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun expressed his gratitude to Allah for the success of pilgrims at Arafat noting that it was a great achievement.
He rejoiced with Ogun Pilgrims on the success of the 2023 Hajj exercise, praying that all that they have prayed to Allah be granted.
Katsina
Katsina State governor, Mallam Dikko Radda admonished Nigerians to treat each other as one irrespective of religious differences. Radda urged Muslims in Katsina and other parts of the country, to steadfastly pray for national unity, peace and integration during this season.
Niger
Niger State governor, Mohammed Bago urged Muslims to imbibe the virtues of love, obedience, and sacrifices as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim. The Governor stressed the significance of Eid-El-Kabir to Muslims and called on them to use the occasion to deepen their faith and submission to the will of Allah.
Oyo
Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, who appreciated the Muslims for their support and prayers, called on them to continue to pray for his administration, the state and Nigeria.
According to the governor, the continued peace and prosperity of Oyo State and the success of his government are hinged on the prayers and support of the people.
Ekiti
Ekiti State governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, described Eid-el-Kabir as a time to appreciate the Almighty Allah for his mercies and benevolence. The governor rejoiced with the Muslim faithful for another opportunity to witness the celebration of an important festival in the Islamic Calendar.
Enugu
Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, while felicitating with Muslims, called on both the Muslim Ummah and other Nigerians to make uncommon sacrifices for the development of the country and further urged them to sustain the spirit of the Sallah celebration which encapsulates peace, love, unity, progress, neighbourliness, development and nation-building, promising to forge a common front for the wellness of the society.
Nigerians must embrace peace, love — CAN
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, extended warm felicitations to Muslim faithful in the country urging all Nigerians to embrace peace, unity, and love for one another. In a press statement yesterday, CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, highlighted the significance of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, which commemorates the values of sacrifice, love, and obedience.
“We join our Muslim brothers and sisters in marking this auspicious occasion and call on all Nigerians to put aside our differences and work together to build a stronger, more united, and prosperous nation,” he said.
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, on Tuesday, appealed to the British government for leniency for convicted former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The Igbo group made this known when the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo affirmed that it accepted the pronouncement of the trial court that approved nine year and eight months jail term for Ekweremadu in the matter of organ harvesting.
The UK court on May 5, also sentenced his wife, Beatrice and the doctor, Obinna Obeta to four years six months and 10 years in prison respectively.
One of the leaders of the group, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, said that Ndigbo would be happy should Ekweremadu’s jail term be reduced.
Chukwuma said, “There is a very important issue that we have to bring to your attention. You’re aware of the case of Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who was convicted and is in jail in your country. He’s from this state and we all know the circumstance he got entangled in that unfortunate incident because he wanted to save his daughter.
“He is already serving a jail term. It’s unfortunate but it has happened. I testified for him during the trial and in fact, the judge mentioned my name two times while delivering his judgment.
“But we’re using the opportunity of your visit to ask for leniency for him so that he doesn’t spend the number of years in jail. We have accepted the judgment, but are saying if there’s anything that could be done to reduce the jail term. He’s from this area and if we don’t bring this thing up as Ohanaeze or from us here, concerning this important son of Igboland, it wouldn’t be nice of us. We are quite overwhelmed”.
Statement from the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Chairperson, and National Returning Officer of the Sierra Leone Electoral Commission on the Presidential Election Results
Admin1. IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred on it by Sections 33, 42(2)(e) and 38A (as amended) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991) and pursuant to Sections 7 and 68 (1) of the Public Elections Act, 2022 (Act No.17 of 2022), the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) conducted a Presidential election on 24th June, 2023.
2. Both the polls and tallying processes were observed by political parties' agents, various National and International Observation Missions/Groups, Embassies and the Media.
3. The Results:
• 11,712 polling station results were entered into the result database, representing 98.98% of all polling stations across the country.
• The national turnout is 2,800,691 representing 83 % of all registered voters.
• The total number of valid votes cast is 2,789,808
• The total number of invalid votes cast is 10,883 representing 0.39 % of the votes cast
• A total number 120 polling stations were not entered into the Result Database due to either being tampered with and therefore quarantined at Regional Tally Centres; or unavailability of Result Forms caused by violence at identified polling stations.
• The above outstanding results cannot materially affect the outcome of the final Presidential election results.
• Details of the results at polling stations will be posted on the ECSL website at https://ec.gov.sli
• A full breakdown of the results by districts is attached to this statement.
5. Therefore, by the powers vested in me as the National Returning Officer by Section 67, 51(2) and 92(4) of the Public Elections Act 2022 (Act No.17 of 2022) and pursuant to section 42(2)(e) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991 (Act No. 6 of 1991), I hereby certify that BIO, JULIUS MAADA, having polled 1,566,932 of valid votes cast representing 56.17 % of total valid votes cast in the 24th June, 2023 Presidential election duly elected President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
6. Any citizen who has lawfully voted in this election may challenge the validity of the said election of the President by petition to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone within seven days after the declaration of Presidential result pursuant to Section 54(1) of the Public Elections Act, 2022 (Act No.17 of 2022).
Sierra Leone Election: President Julius Maada Bio Sworn In Shortly After Electoral Commission Declared Him Re-Elected
AdminAccording to Final Results of Sierra Leone's 24 June 2023 Presidential Election announced by the Commision for Sierra Leone (ECSL) on Tuesday, 27 June 2023:
Incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of ruling SLPP was re-elected with:
1,566,932 votes or 56% of the valid votes cast.
Dr Samura Kamara of main oppostion APC came second with 1,148,262 or 41.16% of the votes cast.
Eleven other candidates received combined vote of less than 3%.
A candidate required 55% of valid votes to win the first round, otherwise, the two frontrunners go into run-off vote, which is unnecessary in this case going by the ECSL announcement.
