SR SahelReporters

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The original inhabitants of Abuja in conjunction with the Centre for Transparency Advocacy have called on Lawmakers to consider their plight as they vote tomorrow on the amendment of some clauses and section of the 1999 constitution. The group made the call on Monday while briefing journalists in Abuja noted that, it became imperative in order to fight for the rights of the original inhabitants of the FCT. Convener of the group, Lazarus Nyaholo, said that, of great interest which directly affects them are section 297 to 307 to be replaced by Establishment of a Mayoralty for FCT with an elected Mayor and Mayoral Assembly which will now replace the President by designating FCT Minister as the Governor of FCT and National Assembly as the FCT Legislators as against the status of executive and legislative functions respectfully vested on the President and National Assembly. The group demands on section 14(1) that deals with appointment into Federal Execu

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja COMMUNIQUE On the National Summit on Mass Atrocities, Issued by The Community of Practice Against Mass Atrocities February 23rd, 2022 Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Preamble: On the 22nd and 23rd February 2022, Global Rights-led Community of Practice Against Mass  Atrocities convened a 2-day National Summit on Mass Atrocities themed: “Remembering to  Prevent: Enhancing Collective Memory for Mass Atrocities Prevention”.  The Summit was a hybrid event featuring a physical gathering in Nigeria’s Federal Capital, Abuja, and online  participation across the country and globally.  The Summit had in attendance representatives of civil society organizations from across the  country, Government Ministries and Agencies including the National Human Rights Commission, the National Orientation Agency, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of  Défense, and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, as well as Development Partners including Heinrich Boll Foundatio

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), on Thursday expressed worry over land degradation and other natural resources, calling on relevant stakeholders support in addressing the menace confronting the country. The NCF Director-General, Dr Muhtari Aminu-Kano, made the expression at a National Exports Consultation workshop on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, organised by NCF, in Abuja. He said that the effort and support of the stakeholders would address the environmental challenge confronting the country as a nation Aminu-Kano said that the workshop comprises of Ministry of Environment and other critical stakeholders from different sectors pulled together to deliberate on how to restore the degraded land and natural resources in the country. “The lost of nature is a serious thing every where in the world. At the same time difference sector of the economy are responsible for this lost and it has huge impact on our society. "Our cle

By Our Reporter An All Progressives Congress (APC) governership aspirant in Benue, Arc. Bernard Yisa, has appealed to members of the party to continue to pray fervently for Sen. George Akume to emerge the party's National Chairman. Yisa made the appeal on Wednesday in Gboko, the headquarters of Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of the State when he visited the Jemgbagh intermediate area to intimate them of his ambition and to seek for their support as well as blessing. Jemgbagh intermediate area comprise, Buruku, Gboko and Tarka LGAs of the state. He stressed that though Akume had brighter chances of winning the election and nobody could stop him, emphasizing that they still needed God's hands in the project. He reiterated that Akume's chances of winning the election were high and above every other candidate, stating that majority of the stakeholders were behind his aspiration. "The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs' aspiration sh

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has said that,  atrocities against Nigeria citizens should not be forgotten or swept under the carpet, but be matted with strict sanctiones regardless of who the perpetrators are. The Minister stated this during a two day summit on enhancing collective memories to mass atrocities prevention, organized by Global Rights on Tuesday in Abuja. Represented by the Deputy Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp. NSCDC, Ibiloye Oluyemi, said, the mass Atrocities are against civilians as well as security agents in Nigeria, from the raveging Boko Haram terrorist in the Northeast, the activities of Bandits in the North Central and confrontations between herders and farmers across the country that have kept the number of casualties growing by the day. Adding that a with quite a number of children been orphaned, women been widowed and citizens rendered homeless amongst other atrocities by state and non state a

By Our Reporter Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has advised stakeholders to work with the Centre for Humanitanan Dialogue to bring lasting peace to the 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state that are experiencing various forms of conflicts. The governor gave the advice on Tuesday in Otukpo the headquarters of Otukpo LGA of the state during the signing of the Agatu Natural Resource Peace Agreement between Egba and Ologba clans in Agatu LGA of the state. It is gathered that the Egba and Ologba communities in Agatu LGA of the state had been fighting over fish pond since 1972. Represented by his Special Adviser on SDGs/NEPAD, Prof. Magdalene Dura, Ortom said that some of the conflicts in the LGAs were inter while some were intra. "The inter-conflicts were caused by the Fulani herdsmen who incessantly attacked Benue communities. "I appeal to the centre to also work towards bringing the herdsmen to a dialogue table in order to sign a cease fire agreement s

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has called on all Nigerians to take useful urgent actions in conserving the remaining species of Pangolin even as the world commemorates World Pangolin Day (WPD) on Saturday, February 19, 2022. In a statement signed on Monday by the Head of Communictations, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, (NCF) Oladapo Soneye, said that, unfortunately, though an amazing animal, all the eight species of pangolin are under so much threat that they could go extinct soonest if drastic steps are not taken. He noted that, It is discovered currently as the most trafficked mammal globally. The statement said "World Pangolin Day is created to raise public awareness on the endangered status of pangolins, who are threatened by poaching and deforestation of their natural habitats. "An estimated one-million pangolins have been taken from the wild illegally in globally. If actions are not taken urgently, the earth might lose

By Our Reporter Menroi Rural Priority Foundation will sponsor 2,100 children at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in the Federal Housing Estate, North Bank, Makurdi. The President and Founder of the organization, Dr Kohol Iornem disclosed this on Saturday in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi. Iornem said that the children needed to go to school irrespective of their present situation.  "They are in the camp with no means of education be it primary or secondary.  "The 2,100 children at the camp are of school age and in dire need to be enrolled in school. "The organisation is established with the aim of taking care of the less privileged and orphans as well as assisting traders in their businesses by giving them interest-free loans," he said. He said that for the interim we would be teaching the children to learn six simple steps to personal grooming namely brushing their teeth, taking their bath, washing their underwear, apply body cream or

By Our Reporter Elder Namnyi Ikyase said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in Mata were taken aback when they read a statement signed by Mr Bemgba Iortyom, the PDP Publicity Secretary in Benue, warning groups, including theirs, to steer clear of endorsements. This is contained in a statement signed by Ikyase, the spokesman of the group and issued on Friday in Makurdi.  Ikyase explained that according to Wikipedia, "a political endorsement is a public declaration of one's personal or group support of a candidate for elected office".  "Iortyom at his level ought to know that endorsement is part and parcel of the democratic process. "That explains why he could not cite any part of the PDP constitution, guideline or code of conduct that our endorsement of Honorable Terwase Orbunde had breached. "Moreover, no part of the document he complained about hinted, even vaguely, that the endorsement was done on behalf of the formal structure

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Barely few days to the deadline, before which the Independent National Electoral Commission is expected by law to release the Notice of Election for the 2023 general elections, the hope that President Muhammadu Buhari will assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill appears uncertain as 23 civil society groups, on Friday, expressed fear that the same fate that befell previous attempts to amend Nigeria’s election law awaits this latest version. Recalled that since 2018, President Buhari had refused to sign the proposed amendments to the nation’s electoral laws on five occasions; and till now, has not hinted at any possibility of giving his assent to the electoral bill since he received the newest form of the document transmitted to him by the National Assembly on the 31st of January, 2022. However, the CSOs accuse the President of playing the waiting game yet again, in spite of appeals from different quarters, including the diplomatic community, for h

By Our Reporter The Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Dr Bem Ageda disclosed that 98, 271 persons have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in Benue.  Ageda disclosed this during a one-day media orientation workshop for Covid-19 Mass Vaccination Campaign organised by Breakthrough Action-Nigeria on Tuesday in Makurdi. Represented by Mr Emmanuel Beeka, the State Health Educator of the board, Ageda explained that out of that figure, 72,996 persons were fully immunized using the Astrazeneca vaccine. "While 25,160 are fully immunized using Moderna vaccine. Also, 120 are fully immunized using Pfizer vaccine," Ageda said. He lamented that 180,226 people took their first jab of Atrazeneca but on 72,996 completed their dose. Relatedly, 78,544 persons took their first jab of Moderna but only 25,160 of them completed their dose, adding that 22,286 took their first jab of Pfizer but regrettably only 120 of them completed their dose. "Out of the number tha

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja The Nigeria Climate Conscious  NCV-2023, has endorsed a Presidential Aspirant, Mrs Vivian Bello for President for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria. In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Coordinator, NCV-2023, Aderayo Margaret Adefowora in Abuja said that  the took the decision in view of the critical importance Climate occupies in the polity and in sustaining the very vital bio-diversity and environment that sustains life and of which every sphere of life is practically dependent on, and therefore in view of her tireless and long-standing campaigns and works in this regard. NCV is a professional and well trained Climate Reality Leaders with national, African and global reach of an Int'l organization, *Climate Reality Project* founded by Algore former U.S. Vice President According to the statement, The Nigeria Climate-Conscious Voters believed that climate change should be treated as a matter of national security and have for long watched

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Chief of staff to former Governor of Zamfara state and a top contender for the National Chairmanship Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Abdulazeez Yari, has described media report making the round that, the former Governor was flown to United Kingdom on wheel chair as the hand work of evil machinations.  Engr. Abdullahi Tsafe in a statement on Sunday said that, the claim was mere ranting of an enemy and a blatant attack to send a wrong information to the general public as well as the teeming supporters of Abdul'Aziz Yari home and abroad. According to him, it is natural as humans to fall sick which needs not to be overblown out of proportion The statement reads in part: "There is a news making the round ostensibly emanated from Sahara Reporters, that His Excellency, Abdul'Aziz Yari Abubakar has been flown to United Kindom, precisely on wheel chair for a serious medical treatment. "This is nothing but a ranting of an en

By Our Reporter The All Progressives Congress (APC) of Jechira intermediate area of Benue have consented to the gubernatorial aspiration of Arc. Bernard Yisa. Members of the party in Jechira made their feelings known when Yisa met with them on Sunday in Vandeikya, the headquarters of Vandeikya Local Government Area (LGA) of the State to seek their consent and blessing. Jechira comprised two LGAs namely Vandeikya and Konshisha respectively. Elder Orsar Labe said that after due consultation with some APC stalwarts in the area they had come to a conclusion that they would support Yisa to enable him actualize his dream of governing Benue in 2023. Labe further said that Yisa was eminently qualified in all ramifications to govern the state. Also, Elder Mseer Gyegwe, assured the aspirant that they were solidly behind him to enable him pick the party's ticket because of his humane disposition. Former Chairman, Konshisha LGA, Mr Tyokula Shangbum and Mrs Mwuese Akpera, expressed

By Our Reporter Mrs Kashimana Orbunde, has appealed to Benue people to support the gubernatorial aspiration of her husband because he had something to offer if given the mandate to govern the State in 2023. She made the appeal on Friday when she received the executive committee of Ipusu PDP Women. Her husband, Arc. Terwase Orbunde, is a leading gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue. She stated that Governors Moses Adasu, George Akume, Gabriel Suswam, and Samuel Ortom, as well as Senator Anyim Pius Anyim discovered some of her husband's talents and utilized them in various ways. She further appealed that the people of the State should give him an opportunity to express himself fully as State's Chief Executive. "I and my husband met during the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Program in Ogun State in 1986, got married in 1990, and had been blessed with children and grandchildren. "I h

...... I am not Threaten by any Aspirant - Oyetola By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Ahead of the February 19 primary election, a governorship aspirant and a former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Mr. Moshood Adeoti, disclosed that Governor Gboyega Oyetola was installed by a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, whom he described as an emperor. He made the disclosure Thursday in Abuja after he was screened at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja. Other aspirants screened by the screening committee includes Oyetola and the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lasun Yusuff. Adeoti explained that he left the All Progressive Congress Party (APC) in 2018 to vie for the governorship position on the platform of Action Democratic Party (ADP) because the primary election of APC was scuttled at the eleventh hour. According to him they had prepared between 75-80 percent for the primary before it was scuttled at the eleventh hou

By Our Reporter A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Arc. Terwase Orbunde, has urged individuals and groups canvassing support for his aspiration to be confident of victory. Orbunde stated this when he met with Orbunde Consolidation Movement and Kashimana Abigail Orbunde Support Group on Thursday in Makurdi. "When you are talking to people about my aspiration tell them that  Terwase Orbunde is also interested in the governorship position. "Go out confidently and canvass support for me but do it politely, avoid insults and unnecessary arguments," Orbunde advised. He further stated that he was excited at their decision to support him voluntarily, adding that when God want to help someone He do give him people as He had brought them to him. Orbunde said that he was appealing to the people of the state to zero in on him because he had cognate experience at all levels of government as well as a grasp of the challenges and

Illicit Financial Flows, Obstacle to African Development- CISLAC By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Illicit financial flows and corruption are inhibiting African development by draining foreign exchange, reducing domestic resources, stifling trade and macroeconomic  stability and worsening poverty and inequality.  These illicit flows rob Africa and its people of their prospects,  undermining transparency and accountability and eroding  trust in African institutions. Faced with high capital flight, tax  avoidance and a marked dependence on corporate income  taxes, African Governments face significant constraints to widening their tax base.  The UNCTAD Economic Development in Africa Report 2020 shows that the large financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be closed solely through government revenues.  Tackling illicit financial flows, however, will open the door to releasing much needed investments in education, health  and productive sectors. African Gove

By Nnena Naji Former presidential candidate and Co-Convener, Nigerian Consultative Forum, Prof Pat Utomi, has said prominent Nigerians, labour unions and civil society organisations are forming an alliance against Nigeria’s biggest political parties – the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party – in the 2023 general elections.   Utomi, a professor of political economy, said the coalition would not register as a new political party but adopt the already existing ones. Apart from the APC and the PDP, there are 16 other parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, with over 100 applications awaiting the electoral umpire’s approval.   Speaking on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme on Channels Television which our correspondent monitored from Abuja on Sunday, Utomi said the coalition should not be considered as a ‘third force’ like that of the 2019 elections. Utomi decried that “those who have captured the Nigerian state

By Nnena Naji The remaining kidnapped Bethel Baptist High School student who been held in the kidnappers den, has allegedly refused to return to his family and expressed that he was now comfortable staying with the terrorists. However, the member of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) who took the ransom demanded by the terrorists was also kidnapped after he delivered the message. Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN) in Kaduna State, Rev Joseph John Hayab, also Vice Chairman of CAN in the North and Abuja, had expressed worry that “the remaining pupil, the youngest of the abductees, rejected an offer of freedom from the terrorists.” Recall that 121 Bethel Baptist High School students were kidnapped on July 5, 2021, at the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, Damishi, in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna state but 120 were released. “The remaining student preferred to remain with the bandits, it puzzled the entire members of the