The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has described the passing away of Sen. Munir Muse as sad and painful.

Gbajabiamila said Sen. Muse, who represented Lagos Central Senatorial District, where the Speaker comes from, would be missed by all Lagosians, especially those from his immediate senatorial district.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker described Sen. Munir Muse, who was in the Red Chamber from 2007 to 2011, as a perfect and easygoing gentleman.

He said the late Sen. Muse, who died at the age of 81, gave his best in terms of representing the yearnings and aspirations of his people when he served in the Senate.

Gbajabiamila also recalled with nostalgia how the late senator made remarkable achievements when he served as the chairman of Apapa Local Government before his election to the Senate in 2007.

“On this day, I join millions of Lagosians to mourn a very distinguished man, who served his people with uttermost dedication and commitment. He was a perfect gentleman and silent achiever.

“As a politician myself, I learnt from his wealth of experience. I remember our public engagement at Eko Club, Surulere in 2018 where he encouraged me not to renege on the pursuit for the speakership seat in the interest of the country, A lot of people may have hoped to continue learning from him, but God Almighty has taken him away.

“I won’t forget in a hurry Sen. Munir Muse’s towering achievements as council Chairman of Apapa Local Government, which earned him special recognition in Lagos State, hence his elevation by the people of Lagos Central to the position of Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And when he went to the Red Chamber, Sen. Munir Muse did not disappoint his people as he represented their interest the best way he could.

As a mark of honour, his successor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has been organising a football tournament annually in his honour. The Speaker recalled kicking off the finals of the 2018 edition of the Senator Munir Muse Cup.

“Though he is no more today, we find solace in the fact that he lived a life worthy of emulation,” Gbajabiamila said.

In preparation for the 2020 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Meeting on Sustainable Development in New York, stakeholders in Nigeria have unanimously validated the Final Draft Report of the 2nd Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Nigeria.

The exercise was carried out during the Virtual National Validation Workshop on Nigeria’s 2020 VNR Report, which had about 141 participants in attendance. The participants cut across representatives from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, United Nations System, Organized Private Sector, Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations. Notable among the participants were the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire as host.

The validated Report, which will be presented at the HLPF scheduled to hold between July 13th and 17th, 2020 is a product of extensive research and wide consultations.

“To ensure an evidence-based and policy-useful Report is produced, Nigeria’s 2020 VNR focused on seven priority reporting SDGs: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 16 and 17. This prioritization was based on our national development priorities as embedded in the Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020 and the three cardinal objectives of President Buhari’s administration – economy, security and fight against corruption. Thus, the Report before you was carefully framed to establish these conceptual links,” Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire stated.

The Report also aggregated useful knowledge and shared experiences generated from the broad-based participations at regional and national consultative workshops hosted virtually across key segments of the society grouped according to their levels of specialisations/interests. The groups include Civil Society Organizations and the Scientific Community; People with Disabilities (PWDs); the Organized Private Sector and the Donors/Development Partners. Youths, women and older persons were also embedded in the virtual workshops.

In his keynote address, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba restated the commitment of government to efforts to attain the SDGs.

“Interestingly, this review coincides with Nigeria’s Plan to develop a successor Development Plan to the ERGP. I am happy to state that plans have reached advanced stage in the preparation of the country’s future plan. Specifically, with the domestication and customization of the Integrated Sustainable Development Goals (iSDG) Model late last year and its deployment to the Macroeconomic Analysis Department of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, we are committed to using this Model in the development of the next National Development Plan.”

The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Edward Kallon, in his remarks congratulated Nigeria on the commitment to produce the report in face of numerous challenges. He, however, noted that the government and people of Nigeria must not rest on their oars in the quest to deliver on the goals ahead of the 2030 target date.

Ekiti State COVID-19 Response Resource Mobilization Committee (RRMC) has presented an Interim Report of its activities to the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr John Kayode Fayemi. The Interim Report was submitted to the Governor by the Committee Chairman, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi during the week.

The 62-member Committee was set up by the Governor, in response to the outbreak of Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and discovery of an index case in the State, with the mandate of mobilising an effective support base for the State’s fight against the pandemic, among Ekiti sons and daughters at home in Nigeria and in diaspora, and other individuals and corporate organisations. The Committee’s Terms of Reference include mobilization of resources, identifying and soliciting funding channels/sources and direct funding campaigns for the COVID-19 response.

In a press release signed by the Committee Secretary, Mrs, Margaret Fagboyo, she indicated that the Report outlined the planned programmes and initiatives as well as the achievements within the first month of the inauguration of the Committee.
The achievements include:
1. Donations
• Total Cash donation of N749, 075, 166.11 from 852 donors, including 334 political appointees
• 47 Food Item donors and 45 Non-Food donors
• Donations of 2 Nos Ventilators; 2 Nos Ambulances, Renovation of the Isolation Centre Oba Adejuyigbe Hospital, 140 Hospital Beds and PPEs.
2. Establishment of Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in collaboration with 54gene. With the installation, Ekiti State will be able to carry out its own COVID-19 Community Testing. The Laboratory will also equip EKSUTH to test for other infectious diseases.
3. Training of selected staff of Ekiti State Ministry of Health (frontline health workers working on the Ekiti State COVID response) to boost their capacity and sharpen their performance at this time, and going forward.
4. Renovation of Adejuyigbe Specialist Hospital ready to serve as a major isolation center and planned upgrade of Okeyinmi Comprehensive Health. Centre, Ado Ekiti.
5. Facilitating Health Insurance, in partnership with Verod Foundation, of total sum of N2billion Life and Health Insurance cover for 500 frontline health workers.
6. Compilation and submission of applications from Ekiti for the CBN /NIRSAL soft loan and CBN N50 billion loan for SMEs to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
7. Hungary Government’s offer to train Medical Personnel from Ekiti State Health Care Centers under its Hungary Helps Program.
8. Establishment of Project Identification, Approval and Funds Disbursement Guidelines along with the Process Flowchart for transparency and accountability and Opening of a dedicated account for all COVID 19 donations.

The Committee Chairman said the progress and achievements are in fulfilment of their commitment to utilise their knowledge, wealth of experience, expertise and notable contacts to support Ekiti State in the fight against COVID-19. He thanked the committee members for their commitment and cooperation. Membership of the Committee is drawn from various background of human endeavours and consist of distinguished Ekiti sons and daughters with extensive experiences and expertise.

The Chairman, while giving assurance on the Committee’s determination and commitment to supporting the State to win the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic and boost the State’s healthcare status, thanked the Governor, the Grand Patron, Aare Afe Babalola, the Patrons (all former Governors), and all Omiyes in Diaspora and members of the various committees for their enthusiasm and support for the project.

By Wisdom Acka

All illegal mechanics and others operating around the popular Apo mechanic village have given issued a 7-day ultimatum to vacate and make way for unhindered construction.
This is as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) finalises arrangements to commence large scale city cleaning and clearing of the Apo road corridor, also known as the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX).

Chairman of the newly constituted FCT Ministerial Task Force on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah handed this ultimatum during stakeholders’ meeting with owners of businesses around the area yesterday.

According to him, the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello was displeased with the continued defacing of the environment along that road corridor and ordered immediate and strict restoration of the area in line with the Abuja Master.

Attah further explained that the ultimatum was borne out of the administration’s empathy for the traders, give them time to remove their valuables and avoid immediate cleaning exercise that could cause colossal loss to them.

We gathered that the first phase of the sanitation exercise which will reclaim all the spots from Apo round-about to the popular junction known as NEPA junction would commence next Monday after expiration of the ultimatum. The second phase of the aggressive sanitation will begin from the NEPA junction to APO mechanic village, where illegal businesses have taken over great portions of the road, making it difficult for contractors to complete their work.

Attah said: “This stakeholders meeting was to enable us interface with stakeholders who engage in one form of business or the other along the Apo road corridors, also known as Outer Southern Express way ( OSEX).

“The Minister has given us a directive to reclaim all the road corridors, to allow contractors complete their jobs, and also allow the Abuja Environmental Protection Board officers beautify the place in accordance with Abuja master plan.

“We’ve given the affected people seven days ultimatum, because we want to put up a human face in carrying out the exercise. The Minister had wanted us to start immediately due to his desire to complete all the on going projects there as a legacy he would leave behind for the residents of the nation’s capital.

Also speaking, Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Baba Shehu Lawan who organised the stakeholders’ meeting noted that the Minister had selected seasoned professionals who formed an effective squad for the exercise.

Lawan also warned that at the expiration of the ultimatum, the Task Force team would move to the area, and whoever refuses to vacate the place should not blame the administration.

He added that abandoned vehicles, furniture and every other things left on the road corridors will be removed and seized.

Below: Pictures from the stakeholders’ meeting yesterday. Speaking with a microphone is the taskforce chair., Comrade Ikharo Attah.

A winner has emerged in the May 2020 edition of the “Help the Smart worker” competition, organized by political pressure group, the Princewill’s Political Associates (PPA) specifically for entrepreneurs, youths and residents of Rivers State who are engaged in small, micro and medium business ventures and all forms of smart work in the state. The monthly prize is a cash grant of N150,000.00.

The contest which is a brainchild of the PPA leader, Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill is also intended to encourage residents of the state to venture into productive economic activities which in turn will lead to job creation, prosperity and economic development in the state. You will recall the winner of the April edition was a barbing salon owner who was seeking to open a second shop.

Ms. Naomi Duke whose business proposal was targeted on the expansion of her Interior Decoration/Household makeover business was selected as the most viable by the panel of judges. Ms. Duke, who is the first female winner, is also a grassroots mobilizer and a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers state. She has been running her interior design company DASHIB Designs for slightly more than six years. Her proposal was chosen ahead of two other proposals, one on expansion of mini restaurant and the other, a fresh fruit /vegetable businesses in a keenly contested competition which had over one thousand contestants, was very smart, very concise, very detailed on impact and limited itself to the available budget plan.

In her remarks after the live online announcement as the winner of the contest, Ms. Naomi Duke thanked the Princewill Political Associates for the gesture which she described as a pleasant surprise and a dream come true owing to the fact that it had been her heart’s desire to try to increase the capacity and efficiency of her business this year. She called on other entrepreneurs and youths especially women in business and in politics to take advantage of this platform to increase and improve their productivity instead of solely relying on political handouts. She further wished the participants of the June 2020 edition, good luck.

Concluding her remarks, Ms. Duke, prayed God Almighty to reward the Leader of the Princewill’s Political Associates – Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill, abundantly for his love for his people, his state and the country at large.

Speaking on behalf of Princewill’s Political Associates, Mr. Emmanuel Dagogo congratulated Ms. Duke and advised her on the need to be a good ambassador for other women politicians in business by putting the prize money into judicious use. He also called on the general public to stay safe and adhere to medical advice to curtail the spread of Covid 19 which is currently on the rise in the state.