Four burnt in Lokoja road accident

A road crash involving two Peugeot J5 buses along Lokoja -Okene road in the early hours of Friday left four people dead and seven others critically injured.

The four casualties were burnt to death in the two buses buses with registration numbers XB 609 JTA-Plateau and KZR 321 ZT- Katsina.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Ogochukwu Ugboma, attributed the accident to one of the drivers dozing off.

The accident happened around 5:00a.m on Friday at Irepeni Village.

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Govt will ensure quick passage of 2016 budget - Minister

The Federal Government is taking necessary measures to resolve the issues delaying the passage of the 2016 budget at the National Assembly.

This according to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, is to ensure the quick enactment of the 2016 budget.

Senator Udoma gave the assurance on Thursday at a meeting with the State Commissioners of Economic Planning and Chief Executives of State Planning Commissions in Abuja.

He said that the budget which is structured on non oil revenue has the sole aim of reviving the economy.

"We have resources which we need to harvest; we have agencies of government that generate revenues which are not being captured.

"We have in addition, many people who do not pay their taxes, so we want to increase tax collection.

"We want to try and get more people to pay their taxes; also we want to block all leakages because there are many leakages in the system

"So, by blocking leakages, by getting all the excess revenues and harvesting them, it is through these ways that we intend to fund the budget,’’ he said.

Udoma also said that government would need to borrow to meet the funding gap in the budget.

"We cannot afford to allow the economy to come to crumble

"We have to revive it and the typical way you revive an economy is that you do a major capital spending, harvest your resources and also borrow.’’

NAN

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Imagine this: Just two Nigerian states can satisfy West Africa's rice needs

The Competitive African Rice Initiative, CARI says that Nigeria has the capacity to produce enough rice for consumption in the West African sub-region

The Policy Advisor of CAPRI, Mr Abraham Odoom made the revelation on Thursday during the inauguration of the Nigerian Rice Policy Advocacy Platform in Kano, Kano State

He said that empirical evidence indicate that two of the rice producing states in Nigeria can produce enough of the commodity to feed the West African sub-region.

“Nigeria is blessed with abundant arable land and water for massive production of rice.

“The issue of unemployment can be effectively tackled if the much needed leverage is secured by indigenous farmers willing to prove their worth on rice production,” he said.

Earlier on,  Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Nasir Gawuna who was represented by his Permanent Secretary,
Hajiya Binta Rabiu said that the state government would continue to pay special attention to agriculture in order to boost food production.

News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that the commissioner said that the state government  recently gave Rice Farmers Association in the state N1 billion soft loan to boost rice production.

NAN

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CAF Reschedules Nigeria, Egypt AFCON 2017 clash for March 25

The Confederation of African Football, CAF on Thursday directed that the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Nigeria's Super Eagles  and the Pharaohs of Egypt be played on Friday, March 25 at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna rather than Saturday, March 26 as was earlier scheduled.

The decision was conveyed by CAF in a letter to the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF on Wednesday. In the letter, CAF instructed the NFF to ensure “a minimum of two full days of rest between the two matches."

In the words of NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi ;“We have now moved the match forward by 24 hours. So we will play on Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26 will serve as the day for the two teams to travel, while March 27 and 28 will be rest days before the return leg on Tuesday, March 29.”

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Ngige debunks sudden death rumour from Zambia

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige has dismissed rumours of his sudden death at the National Assembly complex on Thursday.

Speaking from faraway Zambia where he was on national assignment, Ngige urged his well wishers to disregard the rumours making the rounds that he had gone to the House of Representatives to defend the 2016 budget of his ministry but collapsed and died in the process.

The minister took to his Facebook time line to reassure that he is hale and hearty.

“Dear friends , please disregard the wicked tissue of lies, contained in an online publication about an unfortunate incident said to have taken place today (Thursday) at the National Assembly and in which I was said to have been involved.

“I am currently not in the country let alone being at the National Assembly. I have since Monday, February 15, 2016 been attending the 42nd Ordinary Session of the African Regional Labour Advisory Council, taking place in Zambia.

“The meeting ends tomorrow (Friday ). Indeed, as the Vice-Chairman of today’s session, I had the privilege of moderating as well as giving the vote of thanks on behalf of other African countries.

“I thereafter presented a gift also on their behalf to the Vice-President of Zambia, Mrs. Inonge Wina,” he wrote.

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Past leaders who looted treasury lacked shame - Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that Nigerian leaders who looted the public treasury in the past acted shamefully.

The vice president spoke on Thursday while receiving a delegation of Remo Traditional Rulers and Chiefs led by the Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Sonariwo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said that the massive corruption witnessed in the country in the recent past could qualify for crimes against humanity.

He urged traditional rulers to add their voices to the fight against corruption.

“As leaders, we must condemn corruption in the strongest terms. It is right that we condemn corruption in strong terms, more so that traditional rulers do not belong to any political party.

“The kind of corruption we experienced in the recent past is the kind that in any other part of the world it would be considered as a crime against humanity. What the leaders did in the past few years is very shameful.

“Corruption is such a terrible thing and I don’t think it is a matter of politics. I think its one thing everybody should be ashamed of, if you consider what the leaders of this country had done,” he said.

He added that the Buhari administration desires to ensure that everyone understands the consequences of corruption.

“We are trying to put in place a system that ensures that there is consequence if you do wrong, so that the people you serve are not treated like animals. I think that one of the major problems that we have faced is just that the level of corruption is high.

“The fact is that when you look at what has happened, the truth is stranger than fiction. When you look at the facts and figures, it doesn’t make sense.”

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Buhari jets out to Egypt for business forum

President Muhammadu Buhari  leaves Abuja this Friday for Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to take part in the Business for Africa, Egypt and the World Forum.

On his entourage are the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelama.

he forum holding held in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh on Saturday, is being organized by the Egyptian government under the auspices of the African Union Commission.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina ;
“The forum’s objective is to accelerate private sector engagement and investment within Africa and promote the development of African ties and partnerships.

“President Buhari, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and the Presidents of Togo, Sudan, Kenya, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia are among confirmed speakers at the forum.”

Other speakers are the President of the African Development Bank, ADB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the President/CEO of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.

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