Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Author: Day Break

Lagos government, Chinese firm sign agreement to produce brand new cars
Lagos govt, Chinese firm sign agreement to produce brand new cars
The Lagos State government has formally sealed a Joint Venture Agreement with CIG Motors Limited for the establishment of a vehicle assembly plant in the state.
Establishment of the vehicle assembly plant in Lagos was part of the bilateral agreements reached by the state government and Chinese Investors’ Community when the governor visited the Asian country in November, 2019.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the establishment of the plant was in furtherance of his administration’s economic growth blueprint, stressing that the Joint Venture Agreement would revive industrialisation, drive up skilled youth employment, and create wealth, boost tourism, and encourage technology sharing, adaptation, and advancement.
“As we formally sign the Joint Venture Agreement for the establishment of Motor Assembly Plant, Lagosians should expect a roll-out of vehicles from this plant within the next 18 months,” the governor said.
“I urge other stakeholders and private investors to collaborate with us to sustain the scheme. We have the political and administrative will to ensure business survives in Lagos.”
The governor also unveiled a new e-hailing taxi scheme, ‘Lagos Ride’ with pilot fleet of 1,000 units of brand new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
IBILE Holdings Limited, a state-owned corporation, will be driving the two investment agreements on behalf of the Lagos State Government.
Mr Sanwo-Olu said the new ride-hailing taxi was a social intervention programme initiated with an objective to create jobs and economic opportunities for residents of the State.
He said the “Lagos Ride” scheme was in fulfilment of his administration’s desire to give residents a better choice in road transportation by offering a safe, efficient and modern cab model in line with policy thrust of his Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.
he governor said the taxi scheme, which is expected to fully take-off in the next six months, had been structured along a profitability model and designed to be self-sustaining for expansion and growth.
“I am elated to unveil the Lagos State Taxi Scheme, which is another innovative policy of this administration targeted at making life easier for Lagosians, improving mobility and creating a seamless multi-modal transportation system,” said Mr Sanwo-Olu.
“The scheme, which is to be known as ‘Lagos Ride,’ is in fulfilment of our desire to give Lagos residents better transportation choices. The modern ride-hailing service is one of the State Government’s socio-economic intervention programmes, which will be professionally managed in line with global best practices.
“Our social intervention programmes are tailored towards the eradication of poverty, provision of jobs and other employment opportunities as well as the provision of basic necessities, that make good governance our people’s reality.
“A major attribute of a modern megacity is a world-class transportation system with inter-connected services and mobility choices for the citizens. The task of bequeathing a safe, efficient, quick, and modern public transportation system is a key thrust of our administration’s development agenda. We are guided by the need for an equitable transportation system with mobility choices for our people.”
Under the taxi scheme, Mr Sanwo-Olu said the Cooperative Society in the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment would give operators brand new SUVs for a period of four years, during which they would pay a monthly installment. At the end of the credit tenure, the operators will have the opportunity to fully own the cars.
The governor said the scheme would offer operators flexible repayment plan and affordable savings for vehicles’ maintenance.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladehinde, said the e-hailing taxi scheme was initiated, following the approval of IBILE Holding Limited’s proposal in the August 31, 2020 State’s Executive Council meeting.
He said the Assembly Plant and the taxi scheme would boost socio-economic activities and support the development of ancillary enterprises in transportation sector.
The Chair of CIG Motors Company Limited, Diana Chen, pledged the full commitment of the automobile firm to the agreement.
Ms Chen, who is also the Vice Chair of China-Africa Business Council (CABC), disclosed that the automobile firm would sponsor 50 students for a two-year engineering training in a vocational school in China to strengthen its partnership with the Lagos Government.
She said: “My teams are ready to work with 100 percent effort to build GAC MOTORS in Nigeria in the highest level of a brand. This international Joint Venture Project will soon bloom up in the Chinese business communities both in Nigeria and China.
“I assure you that we will use this partnership as a best example tointroduce and promote a Greater Lagos where greater opportunities abound.”
The highpoint of the event was the signing of the partnership agreements by the Managing Director of IBILE Holding Limited, Abiodun Amokomowo, and the Vice Chair of CIG Motors Company Limited, Linus Idahosa, in the presence of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and Lagos Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo.
March 5, 2021
House of Reps to investigate abandoned projects in Nigeria
The House of Representatives has vowed to track all abandoned projects in the country to ensure their completion.
Rep. Makki Abubakar, Chairman of the house ad hoc committee on abandoned projects said this in Abuja on Thursday.
‘The committee was set-up to investigate executed, funded and repeated capital projects in the Appropriation Act,” he said.
He said that there were many abandoned projects in the annual budgets scattered across the country.
Abubakar said that the committee would engage the services of consultants to help in tracking and aggregating all abandoned projects in the country.
Rep. Francis Ottah Agbo (PDP-Benue) a member of the committee observed that there were many duplicated projects in the country.
According to him, the sad aspect of the whole issue is that the reports from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are different from what is on ground.
He said that the committee will ensure that such projects were identified and completed through parliamentary interventions.
March 5, 2021
Ortom Commends Buhari’s Directive Against Illegal Carrying Of AK-47
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has commended President Muhammadu Buhari over his directive to security agents to shoot anyone illegally bearing AK47 rifle.
The Governor gave the commendation today at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi when the Chairman Governing Board, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Professor Adamu Kyuka paid him a courtesy visit.
Governor Ortom stated that the President’s order would reduce the level of criminality, banditary and militia herders’ attacks on Benue communities as well as other parts of the country.
According to the Governor, the order would also make the communities safer for displaced farmers to return to their ancestral homes.
“I wish to commend Mr. President for his recent order against those bearing AK47 rifles. This I am sure will reduce the high rate of criminality, banditary and militia herdsmen attacks on our farming communities,” the Governor stated.
He noted that President Buhari had done the right thing by listening to the calls he and other concerned Nigerians made on the need for the Federal Government to act faster and decisively to save the country from degenerating to a state of anarchy.
“I don’t only criticise, I also commend where necessary. And I want to say shame on those psychopaths who were bashing me for writing to Mr. President because he has finally heeded my advice,” the Governor noted.
Governor Ortom said Nigeria belongs to all its citizens and only justice and equity anchored on the rule of law could guarantee the unity and stability of the country.
March 5, 2021
Sheik Gumi: “If coup plotters are forgiven, why not bandits?”
RENOWNED northern Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, said if government could pardon coup plotters that committed treasonable felony, there was nothing wrong extending the same gesture to bandits.
The Islamic cleric, while responding to the Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna on Thursday, said there was need to forgive bandits for the country to have peace.
Gumi added, “Even those that instigated civil war, the civil war that millions of people died, were pardoned. I see no reason why we cannot accept their (bandits) repentance and give them amnesty.”
Gumi added that he never betrayed soldiers of Christian faith before the bandits when he visited them.
He noted that he was misunderstood by CAN because the video that went viral about his discussion with the bandits was distorted and the actual message was manipulated.
Gumi said, “You ask why do we give them amnesty but they told us specifically that they are ready to drop their arms and they don’t want to be pursued with legal actions after they repented.

“If the country could pardon coup plotters who committed treasonable offences in the era of military administration, the bandits can as well enjoy similar forgiveness even better under democratic rule.
“These people in the bush, who have taken arms; they are criminals. I wonder who is not a criminal. Since Nigeria forgave coup plotters, forgave those that killed. Even those that instigated civil war; civil war that millions of people died, I see no reason why we cannot accept their repentance.

Since that is the bottleneck and it is only the Federal Government that can give them that leverage. Strangely, we found out that they are victims too. They were victims of profiling. So many of them were arrested and punished just for looking like herdsmen.”
March 5, 2021
Today’s Major Nigerian Newspapers’ Cover Stories 05-March -2021

March 5, 2021
Nigeria will not succeed if we continue rewarding Bandits While Owing Lecturers – Peter Obi
Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra state, has faulted the alleged payment of ransoms to rescue persons abducted by bandits.
Obi, who was a vice-presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, said Nigeria is not progressing because bandits are being rewarded, while lecturers are owed salaries.
He was speaking at the launch of a book titled, ‘Communication and Media Studies: Multiple Perspectives’, written by Stella Okunna, a former commissioner in Anambra.
The recent weeks have seen a spike in the abduction of students by bandits raiding communities in the northern part of the country.
While all the students have been freed, there have been reports that ransoms were paid to rescue them, but the government has denied this.
Obi said Nigeria’s economy cannot be productive if the country continues to reward criminality while overlooking its intellectuals.
“How do we go and negotiate and pay somebody, a bandit, when we have not paid those who are working?” Obi asked following reported negotiations with bandits who abduct schoolchildren in the north.
“You can’t pay people for banditry. The only business that thrives in Nigeria is stealing the government’s money, banditry and kidnapping — and that’s why your country is not progressing.
“We are owing those who have legitimately worked. And we are negotiating and paying those who have stolen kids. It is a criminal system.
“Lecturers are owed. How do we compensate those who have not contributed anything to the economy? The economy is not productive and that’s why it is failing.
“Nigeria will not succeed if we continue asking bandits to come to a meeting, and we are not calling professors to a meeting. That is why the country is where it is today. May God help Nigeria.”
March 4, 2021
US President, Biden Snubs Buhari In His First Calls to Africa
U.S. President Joe Biden made his first call to an African leader last week, apparently choosing not to speak to Nigeria’s President Buhari, an omission experts say reflects not only America’s diplomatic priorities but Nigeria’s estimation at a time the continent’s largest democracy faces staggering domestic problems.
Mr Biden reached out to Africa Thursday after more than a month in office and a flurry of phone calls to American allies around the world.
He spoke to President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, while Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday.
Mr Biden had earlier spoken to President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in November 2020, days after his election.
The obvious sidestepping of Nigeria, long seen as an influential regional leader, has not gone unnoticed.
“It’s an indication that the United States government doesn’t think too much about our performance as a country right now. It’s as simple as that,” said Jide Osuntokun, professor of History and International Relations at the Osun State-based Redeemer University.
“Many governments outside Nigeria are worried about the future of our country. So it’s an indication that you have to do something or the world will pass you by.”
Many global leaders traditionally view engagements with their American counterparts, either through telephone calls or visits, as a gauge of their countries’ strategic interests with respect to the foreign policies of the world’s most powerful nation. They also pay attention to the timing of those interactions.
Former President Barack Obama called 22 world leaders in four days after his election in 2008, while President Donald Trump called 20 within seven days of his election in 2016, according to CNN data.
Mr Biden telephoned 19 global leaders in six days of his election, and as of Tuesday, had spoken to 17 leaders since taking office on January 20, White House releases. The calls were made to close allies such as the United Kingdom and to those with security concerns such as Iraq and to rivals like Russia.
When Mr Biden delayed contacting America’s closest ally in the Middle East, Israel, the country took notice. Israel’s oldest newspaper, the left wing-leaning Hareetz, warned it was a “wake-up call”, and blamed it on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s closeness to Mr Trump, and the alienation of the now ruling Democratic Party.
“The White House said Biden would be calling Netanyahu soon. But even after that happens, Israel will need a lot of time to repair the damage he did to the ties with the Democratic Party,” the paper said in a February 15 editorial.
Mr Biden’s office said it was not a deliberate snub, and Mr Netanyahu argued the U.S. president had not called other Middle East leaders. The two leaders eventually spoke on February 17.
March 4, 2021
EFCC Probe: Tinubu Shouldn’t Expect Any Support From Us – Afenifere
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Wednesday said it will not meddle in the plans by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos state and national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yinka Odumakin, the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary in a chat with Daily Independent said Afenifere’s focus now is lasting solution to the siege on Yorubaland by Fulani herders and bandits.
An online news medium, Peoples Gazette had reported that The EFCC has written a letter to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CBB), requesting copies of Tinubu’s asset declaration form.
A copy of the letter revealed that the investigation into Tinubu began last year after the removal of erstwhile Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.
The letter marked CR/3000/EFCC/LS/Vol4/322, dated November 6, 2020, was signed by the then Lagos zonal head, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who is now the Chairman of the EFCC.
The letter read in part, “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish the commission with the outstanding requested information of Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu.
During his screening at the National Assembly, Abdulrasheed Bawa last week, the new EFCC Chairman said the Commission has the legal backing to investigate unexplained wealth.
When asked if Afenifere will intervene to defend one of its sons if Tinubu is summoned by the EFCC, Odumakin said Afenifere will not defend any of its sons who refused to stand up for Yorubaland in their time of need.
According to him, the planned probe of Tinubu by the EFCC is an internal political affair of the APC and not of interest to Afenifere.
“Let them sort out themselves. It has nothing to do with us in Afenifere. Let them fight their corruption the way they want and sort themselves out. It is not an issue for us. It is their internal politics and it has nothing to do with Afenifere.
“We are fighting the killings and attacks on Yoruba people at this moment. That is what we have time for now. Our focus now is to end the serial attacks, banditry and raping of our women and other things that are going on. That is our concern at the moment; not any party or political leader.”
On the claim by Chief Ayo Adebanjo four years ago that an attack on Tinubu is an attack on the Yoruba race, Odumakin said the circumstances in which Adebanjo uttered the statement is quite different from today’s situation.
“We do not disown our leader, Papa Ayo Adebanjo for the statement he made at that time but the circumstances was different from what obtains now.
“Our people are under serious siege and anybody that cannot stand up for them in what they are going through cannot have Yoruba support at this time.”
March 4, 2021
Zamfara governor: I’m ready to resign if it will end insecurity
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has offered to resign if taking such step will bring a lasting solution to the high level of insecurity in his state.
Zamfara is one of the north-west states affected by banditry.
Many persons have been killed while countless people have been abducted in attacks by different armed gangs.
Responding to the disturbing trend in the state, the federal government declared Zamfara a no-fly zone on Tuesday and also banned mining activities there.
Malam Garba Shehu, Presidential Spokesman, had told Reporters that the action was taken based on the suspicion that choppers ferry in arms for bandits.
Speaking when he featured on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Matawalle said he does not mind using his job as a sacrifice for peace to reign.
“If I know that my resigning as a governor will make the people sleep with their two eyes closed, I can resign.
“I am ready to do what will bring security. I am not power-hungry. I have been having a sleepless night to protect the people of Zamfara state.”
The governor who has been pushing for dialogue with bandits also defended his stance.
He said repentant bandits facilitated the release of students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, who were adducted last week.
“People are saying amnesty, it is not about amnesty. What amnesty means maybe is the federal government provides some huge amount of money,” he said.
“Nobody gave amnesty to these people, we only convince them to give them some trading in various skills as skills acquisition.
“We are not giving them kobo, we are not giving them anything. People talk about amnesty, is like people are thinking that huge amount of money was collected and given to them.
“No single kobo was given to them, any of them who repented, nothing was given to them.”
The governor, who had earlier rejected the decision of the federal government to declare the state a no-fly zone, the governor said: “The decision of Mr President on the no-fly zone, I accept it and I agree with that. People don’t even know that Zamfara does not have an airport. So, the states that have airports and are encountering this kind of situation, what happens to them?”
March 4, 2021
Today’s Major Nigerian Newspaper’s Cover Stories 04- March -2021
March 4, 2021