Osun To Benefit N50bn Youth Empowerment Fund:World Bank Lauds OYES Initiative, Pledges Support

Osun State government efforts on youths empowerment has received a boost, as it has been earmarked to benefit from the N50 billion world bank/ Federal Government youth employment fund.

This was disclosed by the Sector leader of the bank on Human Development and Task leader on Youths Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) assessment on OYES, Professor Foluso Okunmadewa after assessing the corps at their various duty point in Olorunda, Osogbo and Ayedaade Local Government Council areas of the state.

He disclosed that the state government has achieved a milestone in the area of engaging youths into community development and the World Bank is looking into areas to help the government expand the scope of the scheme.

According to him, this is the third time we are coming to the state to assess the scheme and so far we have discovered that the government is showing other states in the country how to get their youths gainfully engaged.

“From our past interaction with the officials of the scheme we discovered that the scheme is getting beneficiaries involved in community responsibility and this time we are seeking the response of the corps members so as to understand it more and help the state build upon the success it has achieved”, he added.

He added that with the youth’s employment model in the state, the World Bank would partner with government and called on other state to emulate the Osun State scheme to make their teeming unemployed youths useful.

The six man team toured about four council areas in the state, where they interacted with the corps members on their area of specialty and areas where the scheme needs improvement, which according to them is to ensure it sustainability and durability.

In his assessment, Yasser El-Gammal observed that the scheme has the potential to be the best in the continent; he stated that what the government is doing has endeared the financial institution to the state.

“The World Bank is here to assess what the state government is doing and complement its effort by improving and helping to expand the project, we are impressed with what we see and believe it is a laudable programme on the part of the government”, he added.

The leader of the state government team, Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Special Needs, Mr Stephen Kolabalogun stated that the state administration has not relent in its effort to give the youths of the state the best welfare programme, saying government is aware of the tremendous challenges ahead and would tackle them appropriately.

He maintained that the state Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola is passionate about the plights of the youths in the state, adding that youths would be the beneficiary of transformational policies of the government.

“Now, through OYES, the state economy is reaping about N200 million monthly and the moment about 5000 of the corps members are absorbed into the state teaching service, 5000 others would be enrolled into the scheme, meaning more hands would be engaged soon”, added the commissioner.

In his own contribution, the chairman of OYES implementation Group; Barrister Femi Ifaturoti revealed that the scheme is not only about engaging the youths but also a platform for human capacity building for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

He disclosed further that other state in the country are coming to learn from the state on how to emulate the initiative, with a view to reducing youth unemployment in their various states.

Others members in the six man World Bank team include are Joy Medani, Dr. Olatunde Adekola, Dr. Sulaiman Yusuf and Dr. Aminu Alarudeen.

Also, in the state government team are Mr Omotunde Young, assistant Director, Community Forum, Bureau of Communication and Strategy Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, OYES Commandant, Colonel Eni-Ibukun Oyewole (rtd) and Mr Gbenga Odulaja.

Ondo Plans to Establish Helicopter Company

By Chinedu Eze , This Day Live

The Ondo State Government has initiated plans to establish a helicopter company, and has already ordered two helicopters with the technical guidance from a Canadian, John Gullie, a former senior staff of Caverton, a major helicopter company in Lagos.

THISDAY gathered that the state government is planning to use the helicopters for surveillance, to monitor illegal logging and also may use it for oil operation, as Ondo is one of the littoral states that is oil producing.

Although the planned cost of these helicopters was not made available to THISDAY, but according to Business and Commercial Aviation magazine, May 2011 edition, a Bell 412 EP helicopters goes for about $9.963,000, which is factory cost and this increases to $11 million (N1,650,000,000) after it has been equipped.

This means that the two helicopters that would be acquired by the state government would cost Ondo state government over N 3 billion. Although the state government does not have a hangar which in accordance to regulations it must operate from, but THISDAY gathered that it would be operating from a hangar owned by a major industry stakeholder at the

Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. John Gullie, who was in Canadan at the time of filing this story, has carried out similar business for another state government in the South West, which in 2009 acquired two helicopters, which it said that it would use for fire and crime fighting, but informed source said that the two helicopters are being used for oil and gas operations and is managed by a well-known helicopter company.

This seems to be attractive business venture and indications show that Ondo may also deploy the two helicopters to the rich oil rich Niger Delta, when they are acquired, no matter the reason behind their acquisition.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) confirmed that the Ondo state government is now making efforts to meet the conditions for helicopter operating licence and the Authority said that if it meets safety conditions as enshrined in the regulations it would give the state the need certification to operate.

NCAA said that the agency’s concern is safety and if the state meets the stipulated safety and other conditions, it would be given the operation licence.

Margaret Ekpo International Airport reopens for business

The Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, shut three months ago for runway repairs, has been re-opened for flight operations, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

At a ceremony to mark the re-opening of the airport on Friday, Mr Richard Aisuebeogun, the Managing Director of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), said the 2.4 Km runway had been completely rehabilitated.
``Over a long period of time, pilots had complained of `alligator cracks' and a couple of other things because of the aging runway.
``But right now what we have done is a complete rehabilitation of the runway. We did not extend it but did a compete rehabilitation from the beginning to the end.''

Aisuebeogun said the runway could be used for the next 15 to 30 years from a regulator’s point of view.
``The markings are excellent and can be seen from five nautical miles from the aerodrome. It guarantees safety and efficiency of operations.
``The Federal Government termed the airport project a re-modeling programme, and under the programme the Ministry of Aviation is carrying out a total re-modeling programme of our airports,’’ he said.
The MD said the terminal building upgrading was part of the remodeling programme, adding that it was imperative to rebuild ``our terminals to bring them to the standards of what we see in other parts of the world’’.

``I can authoritatively tell you that in the next four weeks, we would begin the remodeling of our terminal buildings.
``As we speak, we have started the remodeling of Kaduna Airport and in another couple of days we would begin the remodeling of the terminal building of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport.
``It would run concurrently with the remaining terminal buildings, so, in the next three months we would have completed remodeling the remaining international airport terminal buildings,'' Aisuebogun said.

He said that a perimeter fence would be provided for the Calabar Airport in 2012, but in the interim, the relevant security agencies would guard it through joint efforts.
Bilyaminu Usman and Maikano Tijo, flight instructors from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, carried out a test flight on the runway.
Usman, the instructor pilot told NAN that the airport runway was ``perfect and that the markings were fantastic”.

Youth leader urges FG to monitor porous borders

Malam Attahiru Isa, PDP youth leader in Masasa ward  of Illela Local Government Area of Sokoto State has urged the Federal Government to equip the nation's borders with sophisticated gadgets. Isa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Friday that basic equipment would enhance productivity among  the security personnel manning the borders.
He said it enable security agencies to monitor the immigrants nto the country.
"Communities at the border areas are facing a lot of security challenges due to porous nature of our nation's  borders."
He said the government should as a matter of urgency, look at the possibility of addressing the issues of  porous borders.
Isa  also  called for a coordinated approach from the communities at the border areas in the task of enhancing the nation's security.

Police arrest armed robber terrorising hospitals

The Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday said it had arrested a suspected member of an armed robbery gang which had been attacking hospitals in the Lagos metropolis.

Mr Samuel Jinadu, the spokesman for the command, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the suspect was arrested  on Tuesday when the gang attempted to attack another hospital.

``The police, acting on a tip-off, arrested the suspect while the others escaped when they attempted to attack El-Bethel Hospital, Oluti in Ojo,” Jinadu said.

He said that the police recovered items which the gang allegedly stole from the hospital, including eight telephone handsets, a laptop, a wallet containing Automatic Teller Machine cards and a driver’s licence.

Jinadu said that the items belonged to the medical director of the hospital.

He told NAN that the case had been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, for further investigation.

Consumers yet to get PHCN prepaid meters months after payment – NAN survey

Electricity consumers across the country have expressed dismay at the slow pace of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in supplying them with prepaid meters months after paying for the facility.

The consumers expressed their disquiet and unhappiness in a nationwide survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The new electronic meter was introduced about four years ago to replace the old post-payment meter in a move designed to increase PHCN's revenue, cut overhead costs which characterise the current house-to-house recovery of revenue and also reduce staff requirement.

The innovative measure, which automatically disconnects consumers who fail to pay for energy consumed, will also enable PHCN to determine actual energy demand in the country. 

A single phase prepaid meter costs N25,000, while a double phase unit goes for N35,000 and a three phase meter costs N55,000.

In Borno, the PHCN Public Relations Officer, Mr Yemi Awe, told NAN in Maiduguri that the company had so far distributed more than 10,000 prepaid meters to customers in the state.

Awe said the company initially gave out the meters to customers in possession of the old analogue meters and added that the prepaid meter could be obtained after payment through the zonal office in Yola.

State offices of PHCN, he explained, received the prepaid meters based on a cash and carry basis on payment at various designated banks.

Awe said the way customers were patronising the new meter was encouraging, noting that power supply in the state had equally increased.

However, a cross-section of customers interviewed called on the government to make the meters available in all PHCN offices in the country.

Some said that after paying the various stipulated fees for the meters, they had to wait for a long period before collecting same.

In Kano, however, Alhaji Muktar Bappa, the PHCN Principal Manager, Public Affairs, told NAN that the company had entered into an agreement with a firm called MOMAS Nigeria Ltd to supply the prepaid meters.

He said the PHCN found it necessary to sign the agreement following the failure of a contractor who was given the licence to supply the equipment.

``There was a break in supply of the meters at the initial stage following the inability of a contractor to turn up and at the end of the day the whole contract was cancelled.''

Bappa said the agreement between the PHCN and MOMAS was a Public Private Partnership arrangement whereby the company would supply and instal the meters to customers, while PHCN would serve as a guarantor to customers.

He said the company had also carried out public enlightenment campaigns on the need for customers to patronise the meters, pointing out that the response was encouraging at the initial stage.

The spokesman, however, explained that prospective customers must sign an agreement form because in the event of tampering with the meters, they would be made to pay N50,000 fine or face prosecution.

``We have made the payment liberal because customers have the choice of paying in full or in instalments.''

``Many people don't want to sign the agreement for reasons best known to them; rather, they prefer to continue collecting estimated bills.

In Kwara, a source at the PHCN office in Ilorin said the company had so far distributed more than 3,000 prepaid and 1,000 analogue meters respectively to customers.

The official, who craved anonymity, told NAN that the meter allocation was based on ``first come first served'' basis.

``The PHCN in Kwara has distributed no fewer than 3,000 and 1,000 prepaid and analogue meters to its customers and even made announcement on radio to that effect,'' the source noted.

``The situation now at PHCN makes everybody, especially senior staff, to be wary of granting press interviews but there is no denying the fact that the company is in problem. Unfortunately, people don't believe it.''

Mr Funsho Adetunji, the Business Manager in charge of the Challenge District of the company, declined any comment, saying all enquiries should be directed to the Ibadan zonal headquarters of the PHCN.

Meanwhile, electricity customers in the state have lauded the allocation of the prepaid meters, but urged the PHCN to expedite action in ensuring that they were available to interested customers.

Mr John Dare, a welder, said the present estimated bill given to customers was ``undesirable and exploitative''.

He urged the government to import more meters to ease the hardships faced by consumers.

Alhaji Babatunde Ibrahim, a business centre operator, told NAN that the availability of the prepaid meters would eradicate indebtedness to the PHCN by its customers.

``The PHCN will be doing itself a lot of good by ensuring that prepaid meters go round the consumers.

``It will eradicate indebtedness to the company and at the end of the day both the consumers and the company will be better off.''

In Plateau, Mr Isah Rafee, the Public Affairs Manager of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), a subsidiary of the PHCN, denied allegations that the company was charging extra money for the installation of prepaid meters apart from the cost of procuring them.

Rafee noted that a single phase prepaid meter and a three phase unit cost N25,000 and N55,000 respectively, and advised customers not to pay any extra money as cost of installation.

He described those asking for such money as fraudsters.

``The cost of the meter and the installation is what is summed up in the figures I have given; anything outside that is illegal.’’

On who owns the meter after payment, the JEDC spokesman explained that the meter was a contract between the PHCN and the structure in which the customer was living and not the individual.

``What the customers pay for is not the meter but the cost of taking the service from PHCN, which is why the meter is not mobile.

``For example, if a landlord sells a structure to another owner, PHCN will continue operations with the new owner because the meter is meant for the building and not an individual.''

Rafee announced that the company had installed 29,000 prepaid meters out of the average population of 312,000 customers in the zone since the take-off of the new metering system in 2008.

``We have yet to commence the use of prepaid meters in Benue, some parts of Bauchi State, Plateau South and a reasonable part of Gombe, which are under the coverage of the JEDC,'' he said.

He explained that the delay in the installation of the meters after payment was because of the collation process which preceded the placement of order for the meters from the manufacturing companies.

``We don't produce the meters, we order for them from the manufacturers and that is done based on the number of customers who have paid for them.

``If we take delivery for the ones we have paid for, somebody pays for another immediately, the customer would have to wait for more people to pay because we can only order for the meters in bulk.''

Corroborating the stance of the Jos zone, the PHCN in Akwa Ibom also said customers could not clay claim of ownership of the prepaid meters installed in their houses or business premises.

The Uyo Business Unit Manager, Mr Chukwuemeka Otiji, told NAN that the prepaid meters were the property of the PHCN and that customers were only allowed access to use them in their homes or business premises on the payment of the approved charges.

He, however, said that customers were expected to protect the meters against vandalism or theft.

In case of theft, Otiji said the customers were responsible for replacing the meters.

The business manager said that out of the 33,000 electricity consumers in the Uyo Business Unit, only 1,780 customers had the prepaid meters installed in their homes or business premises.

He attributed the difficulty in accessing the meters to the contractors handling their supply.

Otiji explained that customers were usually allowed access to the meters after the inspection of their buildings and the transformer in the area where the service was needed.

``If the transformer cannot accommodate the customer, the meter will not be installed for such a person.

``Another requirement is that the wiring of the house or business premises must be certified by a licensed electrical contractor.''

In Delta, Mr Edwim Okwara, the Business Manager, PHCN Asaba District Office, said more than 6,000 prepaid meters had been installed in the district this year.

He told NAN that the meters were readily available for installation as soon as payment was made.

``We have so far installed more than 6,000 prepaid meters in the Asaba Business District from January to date.

``Initially, customers who paid for the meters were discouraged because they had to wait a longer time.

``But the period of waiting has gone as the stock is readily available and can be installed within one month at the residences of those who met the conditions.''

Okwara said most customers preferred the analogue to the prepaid meter because it was cheaper and rugged.

He said the district had embarked on the sensitisation of consumers in the area on the need to use the prepaid meter instead of the analogue unit.

``The system is becoming digitised everyday and we believe that the situation will gradually change and consumers will embrace the prepaid meter.''

Meanwhile, some electricity consumers told NAN that they preferred the analogue to the prepaid meter because they lived in rented apartments with a common meter servicing the entire tenants.

Mrs Patience Okocha, a resident of Asaba, said she would have preferred a prepaid meter if she was living alone and had full control of the facility.

``It is discouraging when you have to operate a prepaid meter in a rented apartment where many tenants are connected to one meter.

``I will not subscribe to that because you can't have full control over its usage.''

Mr Peter Onochei, another electricity consumer in Asaba, said he had been saved from the problem of disconnection since he installed the prepaid meter in his apartment.

``Now I am in control, I can manage my electricity the way I like. When I was on analogue, I spent more on PHCN bills than now.''

In Jigawa, the PHCN said it had installed prepaid meters in 1,000 residential houses in the state capital.

The Business Manager of the company in the state, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, told NAN in Dutse that the meters would be extended to the local government areas.

He said payments for the three categories of meter were spread over a period of 18 months and explained that the electronic facility had some advantages, one of which is that customers pay exactly what they consume.

``The meter will also help beneficiaries plan well in advance on how much electricity they want to consume within a period of time.''

In Rivers, the Electricity Distribution Company (EDC) in Port Harcourt said it was planning to repair faulty prepaid meters under its jurisdiction comprising Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers.

 A source close to the company told NAN in Port Harcourt that some of the installed meters had developed fault due to the weather in the concerned states.

The source said the meters were not assembled in Nigeria and that on installation, the temperature in some of the states affected them.

 ``For now, we are replacing the faulty prepaid meters while new requests will be attended to when we are through with the exercise.''

The source said many requests for new prepaid meters had been received by the company, noting that customers who had paid for them should await installation.   

However, in Kaduna State, the PHCN attributed inaccessibility to prepaid meters to high demand by customers. 

Its Public Relation Officer, Barnawa Business Unit, Malam Bala Shuaibu, told NAN that PHCN contractors had not been able to meet the increasing demand for the meters.

Shuaibu said that customers wishing to change from analogue to prepaid meters should apply for separation, attaching old PHCN bills. 

He said the company had installed around 46,500 prepaid meters in Kaduna since the take-off of the programme in 2007. 

Similarly, he said the company had approved for delivery some 6,500 meters and another 3,000 meters for distribution to customers in the Kaduna, Sokoto and Doka business units. 

In Abia, the PHCN has advised its customers to withhold payment for prepaid meters, as the units have yet to arrive in the state. 

Mr Vincent Ekwekwu, the PHCN Business Manager, Umuahia Business Unit, gave the advice in an interview with NAN in Umuahia. 

``Many customers have expressed their interest to acquire the new prepaid meters, but the correct situation is that the
meters have yet to be supplied to PHCN in the state.

``Those seeking to procure the prepaid meters should hold on until the equipment is supplied to us.

``It is only when we have them in stock that we will know the amount customers are expected to pay,'' he said.

The business manager said the information available to his office showed that the new meters were being supplied to PHCN units across the country in batches, noting that any time they got to Abia, the public would be appropriately informed.

Ekwekwu advised consumers not to pay additional money besides the official charges for the meters, saying the measure would check sharp practices by fraudsters using the name of the company to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

On the persistent poor power supply experienced by PHCN customers in Umuahia and its environs, he attributed the problem to obsolete facilities feeding Umuahia from the Aba Transmission Station.

``The 33kV line connecting Umuahia from Aba Transmission Station was installed in 1951. The poles and other conductors always develop a problem; that is why PHCN has difficulty in serving its customers in Umuahia.''

Ekwekwu told NAN that the company had started to replace the faulty components and hoped to complete the project before December.

``A new line we are running from the PHCN Transmission Station, Alaoji-Aba, has reached Ohia, Umuahia.

``What we are trying to do now is to evacuate power supply to Ohia and before December, the power problem in Umuahia will be over,'' he said.

Ondo LP Members Condemn Dr Adeyanju’s Appointment as Commissioner

By Our Reporters

SOME members of Labour party in Ondo Kingdom have criticised the appointment of Dr Dayo Adeyanju as the commissioner representing Ondo in the newly formed cabinet of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

Cross section of members of the ruling party told PLATFORM NEWSWIRE in a brief chat that the choice of Dr Adeyanju as commissioner in Ondo shows that the party is digging its own grave in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Ondo state.

The aggrieved party stalwarts opined that Governor Mimiko was on his own, with his preference for a political novice like Adeyanju as commissioner when his (Mimiko)’s position is hanging precariously as he prepares to face the electorates in the 2012 gubernatorial election.

They said they were shocked by the action of Mimiko in choosing Adeyanju from the long list of politically relevant loyalists, who have been working vigorously for the success of the present administration since its inception.

According to Mr. Ayo Akinbulumo, “I agree that Dr Adeyanju is a gentle man and a thoroughbred professional who also has a humble nature. But I beg to disagree that he is not the type of commissioner we need at this stage that we are getting set for gubernatorial election. We had expected Governor Mimiko to pick some of the well known politically-relevant technocrats in Labour party and not someone like Dr Adeyanju who lacks political pedigree as far as electioneering campaign is concerned.”

The party members advised Dr Mimiko to immediately rectify the anomaly by bringing a commissioner, who will have the trust of the people of Ondo kingdom into his cabinet.

In the words of Hon Kunle Olakanye, “It’s like our governor is is no longer interested in contesting for second term in office. I wonder how on earth he could pick Dr Adeyaju as the commissioner to represent Ondo at this critical moment. The Dr Adeyanju I know is avery shy person who cannot face a crowd. I don’t know how such a commissioner would be able to take care of the needs of thousands of party members and other residents of Ondo who may need his attention.”

“You can never have access to Dr Adeyanju the way you will have access to many leaders of Labour Party. That’s his style of course. You know he is not a politician. So we are not expecting any magic from him as usual. All we want is for the governor to appoint an accessible politician as commissioner for us,” he added.

Efforts by PLATFORM NEWSWIRE to speak to Dr Dayo Adeyanju were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Kano State Govt. plans to establish radio station for farmers

The Kano State Government has set aside N17 million for the establishment of a Farmers Radio Station in Kano, as part of renewed effort to boost agricultural production in the state. 

Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso disclosed the plan while addressing the people of the state shortly after the 51^st Independence anniversary parade in Kano on Saturday. 

Kwankwaso, who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, said the radio station would be the first of its kind in the country.

He said that the station would aim at enlightening farmers, especially in the rural areas, on modern farming techniques.

The governor also said that the state government had approved the rehabilitation of five Kano Agricultural and Rural Development Agency (KNARDA) training centres at the cost of N4.6 million.

He said that the state government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture would spend the N2.1 million on the construction of a model farmers’ market in the state.

``Similarly government has initiated moves to enhance tomatoes production at Kadawa and Kura irrigation sites by Dangote farms and other private investors,'' Kwankwaso said.

He further said that the state government had approved N15 million for the upgrading of the amusement park in the Kano Zoological Garden to enhance its activities.

NAN reports that prominent personalities, including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, attended the parade, which was held at the Sani Abacha stadium. (NAN)

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN’S OCT. 1 BROADCAST

Fellow Compatriots,

On this day 51 years ago, the British Union Jack was lowered and replaced by our national Green-White-Green flag, heralding the independence of our nation. The 1^st of October remains a special day for us, for Africa, and indeed the world.

As we celebrate today, we remember with pride, the nationalism and patriotism that inspired our founding fathers and the Nigerian people. They set aside their differences, to secure the unity and independence of our great country.

 That is the Nigerian spirit! For the Nigerian spirit cannot be broken. We are a resilient nation, determined to chart a course, through the turbulent waters of nation building. The Nigerian spirit is vibrant today in the world.

Our citizens at home and abroad, are making their mark in all fields of human endeavour. These hard-working and committed Nigerians, remain a source of pride to us and a beacon of what is achievable, if we remain focused and determined.

I know that a great number of you are joining hands with me and the Administration, in the great task ahead.

I value all Nigerians. I see our youth who are looking for jobs and yet remain hopeful. I see the farmer, and fisherman, toiling everyday to earn a living. I see the teacher, working hard, to train our future generations, with much sacrifice. I see the market women whose entrepreneurial spirit helps to generate income for their children and families. I see our sportsmen and women training hard to bring glory to our nation.  I see our resilience and commitment, as a nation, to defend our democracy and secure our future.

I see every single profession and vocation, making positive contributions to national progress. I value you all!

Together, we shall work for a Nigeria in which democracy and the rule of law are sacrosanct.

A country where corruption and its attendant vices, are banished. A country where human life is sacred and respected, and where the rights of the individual are protected.

Nigeria is a young entity in the comity of nations and yet in her 51 years, she has made significant strides in making her presence felt all over the world. Our diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts, in various parts of the continent, have helped to end conflict and avert crises. In sustaining global security, our intervention has been crucial to peace, progress and democracy for the citizens of the affected countries. 

The journey to nationhood always has its own challenges. Nigeria has had her own share. Our growing pains as a nation have included the civil war, the June 12 election crisis and restlessness in the Niger Delta. But Nigeria has always overcome each of these challenges. We overcame before. We will overcome yet again.

Today, as a nation, there is much for us to celebrate. We celebrate our diversity. We celebrate our entrepreneurial spirit.

We celebrate our resilience and ability to turn adversity into hope. We celebrate our culture. For the labours of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.

As your President, let me reassure all Nigerians that I remain resolutely committed to the ideals and dreams of our founding fathers. Let me also reassure Nigerians that I will strongly defend the peace and stability of our nation.

My administration will spare no effort in fighting crime, building peace, and securing our homeland against internal threats and infiltration by violent groups, from outside our borders.

We condemn all acts of violence and declare that such acts of mindless savagery shall not be allowed to define our country. We will not be deterred. Our resolve is strong.

I have put in place a new and reinvigorated national security strategy, to combat the threat to our safety. Yet, no matter what I do as your President and no matter what we do as your elected leaders, at all levels, the peace and security of our nation rest also on our collective efforts as citizens, in our various communities.

All leaders and citizens, in every community, must therefore make peace the number one priority of their daily routine.  This is because, without peace, no community can realize its objectives or achieve a happy and productive life for its members.

The current incidents of violence and terror, in parts of the country, will surely be overcome. We will secure the safety of our citizens for only when we do this, will we be able to build the needed peace and tranquillity in all parts of the federation.

Securing our peace and stability will ensure economic growth and prosperity for all. 

Since I assumed office, as the President of our great country, I have continued to focus my attention on the economy.  I have taken several measures to address structural weaknesses which stand between us and economic growth and prosperity for all.

We are growing our economy, to generate employment opportunities for our teeming youth and enhanced prosperity for every citizen. This remains the main focus of my administration.

In a few days time, I shall launch an innovative competition for our young entrepreneurs to come up with ways to expand their businesses, create more jobs, and sharpen their business skills.

 Now, it is very clear that without fundamental reforms in the key sectors of our economy, we will not be able to fully unlock our potential as a nation. We must manage our resources more prudently and efficiently. We must provide stable electricity to our citizens to help drive economic activity.

I call on our political leaders to put aside partisan politics, for united action towards the advancement of our nation. We must build together.

Because of the measures we have taken on the economy, our GDP is today one of the fastest growing in Africa.  We are currently growing the economy at 7.8%. We expect to sustain an 8% growth rate and a better GDP in the medium term, on our journey towards realizing our Vision 20:2020 goal.

We shall strive to make this growth, job creating and inclusive.

Growth in agriculture and other non-oil sectors are crucial, to help diversify the economy and to generate much needed jobs. Agriculture remains one of the highest priorities in my government’s Agenda for National Transformation. We have set out clear, agricultural, transformation action plans and policy measures, to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of rice, cassava, maize, sorghum and other staple foods.

Self-sufficiency in rice alone will save us the 356 Billion Naira that we currently spend annually importing rice. We will revamp the way we distribute fertilizers, taking government out of distribution of fertilizers.

We plan to reach 20 million farmers with private-sector distributed fertilizers over the next four years. We will improve the investment environment and incentives for the private sector across the agricultural value chains. Our agricultural transformation plan will generate 3.5 million jobs and an additional 20 million metric tons of food.

But we must all show pride in our farmers. We should eat what we produce. The increasing popularity of local products, like ‘Ofada Rice’, ‘Badegi rice’, and ‘Abakaliki Rice’, attest to the fact, that the populace will readily embrace locally grown produce.

We must also take pride in our scientists. This week, Nigeria released 8 new high yielding cocoa varieties. This will help to transform cocoa production, across the 14 cocoa producing states in the nation.

We have put in place implementable programmes to transform our Nation from an importer of petroleum products, to the regional  hub for exportation of value-added petroleum and petrochemical products. We are revamping existing refineries and building three new ones.

We are effectively supporting the private-sector led construction of world scale petrochemical and fertilizer plants. This will for the first time in our history, result in effective monetization of our abundant natural gas resources while at the same time, creating over a million jobs.

Our potential is huge.

We have the requisite market volume.

We have a youthful, energetic, and hardworking population.

The structural and managerial bottlenecks, that have obstructed our economic growth, are being addressed, to unleash the energy and potentials of this nation.

 To achieve this, I am determined to ensure that Nigerians have reliable electricity. Our economy will grow faster, and our hard working small businesses will thrive, when we finally fix the power challenges we face. We are fast tracking power reforms, to improve the generation and distribution of electricity.

 Already, we are beginning to do things differently. I believe that integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service and fear of God, must be the hallmarks of leadership at all levels.

 A nation is sustained by its institutions and systems. I have taken strong measures to improve on governance.  It is in this regard, that I signed into law, the Freedom of Information Act. I will further strengthen all institutions, to ensure greater transparency, probity, and accountability at all levels.

 Last year, I promised to restore confidence in our electoral system and pledged to deliver free and fair elections. To achieve that, we initiated some electoral reforms and strengthened INEC and other related agencies.

As a result, our April 2011 general elections was adjudged by Nigerians and the international community as the most transparent and credible elections, ever conducted in our country. Indeed, post-election petitions reduced by over 50%.

 Let me assure all Nigerians of my resolve to lead our nation into a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous future for our children.

For the time has come, to rise above ethnic and religious divisions;

The time has come, to unite against violence, in all its ramifications;

The time has come, to secure our peace, and unite against suffering, and deprivation;

I see a new Nigeria rising. A Nigeria, that is economically strong. A Nigeria, that takes its rightful place of leadership in the world. A Nigeria, that uses its diversity to reinforce its strength. A Nigeria, we all can be proud of.

This is the Nigeria we need and this is the Nigeria, we all must build.

As we celebrate today, let us resolve to build the Nigeria of our future.

I thank you.

God bless you all.

And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Prof Steve Ugbah Under Attack: Assistant Shot By Gunmen, Says Benue ACN

Another attempt to eliminate Prof Steve Torkuma Ugbah was executed
yesterday, September 30, 2011 at about 7:30pm at the premises of Mr.
Adaa Maagbe located at Benson Abounu Crescent, Hudco quarters,
Makurdi. The residence also serves as the abode of Prof Steve Torkuma
Ugbah, the ACN Governorship Candidate in the April 2011 general
elections in Benue State. The attack witnessed the shooting of an
Assistant to Prof Ugbah and is suspected to be the handiwork of
political opponents particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in
the State.

The gunmen on siting the victim, Mr. Aondoungwa Ashiekaa at Maagbe’s
gate, shot at him and escaped when he alerted the neigbourhood. The
incident was immediately reported at the Nigeria Police “B” Division,
Makurdi and the Police promptly rushed the victim to Federal Medical
Centre Apir where he is receiving treatment.

We are deeply worried that this trend of attempts on the life of our
Candidate, Prof Steve Ugbah has continued despite several reports we
have made to the security agencies in the State. It will be recalled
that the media Aide to Prof Steve Ugbah, Mr. Charles Ayede was
murdered in similar circumstances by yet to be identified gunmen at
Kadarko.

The party is particularly concerned at the spate of unresolved
killings in the state. When we raise alarm, the party is always
castigated for crying wolf where there is none.

We call on law enforcement agencies in the state to thoroughly
investigate this incident and bring the culprits to book. It is high
time will call on all well meaning sons and daughters of Benue to
denounce violence and thread the path of peace in resolving issues.
The ACN as a party will continue to abhor violence and seek
constitutional means of seeking redress.

The other day, civil society and organized market associations took to
the streets to peacefully demonstrate the miscarriage of justice in
Benue particularly as it affects the Governorship election. Instead of
addressing the needs and yearnings of these groups, the PDP-led
government issued a directive to the Police to arrest members of the
ACN and other innocent citizens who had nothing to do with the said
demonstration.

We call on our supporters to remain calm and law abiding as always and
wish to assure the general public that, an ACN government in Benue
State will put an end to all these killings by effectively engaging
the youth who serve as the tools for perpetrating violence in the
State.

Comrade Abba Yaro
ACN State Chairman.