News
Economic Discourse Series: FG Urged To Strengthen Presidential Amnesty Programme

… Discussants Suggest Solution To N’Delta Challenges
Participants at a day Niger Delta Economic Discourse Series, Tuesday, November 29, called on President Muhammad Buhari to urgently strengthen the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in order for it to achieve its original Strategic Implementation Action Plan designed to massively develop the Niger Delta region.
The discussion programme, with the theme: ‘Presidential Amnesty Programme and Proposed Modular Refineries,’ was organised by GbaramatuVoice Newspaper held at BON Hotel, Effurun, Delta state.
READ ALSO: Airstrike Kills ISWAP Commander In Lake Chad Region
Speakers at the event include Prof. Tosan Harriman, Lecturer, Bayero University, Kano, as keynote while Navy Commodore Nesiama Omtseye (Rtd), NNPP Delta South Senatorial candidate and Alabo (Dr.) Nengi James, 2nd Vice President, Ijaw National Congress (INC), also presented papers.
Others who spoke at the event are: representative of NDDC Delta State Director, Engr. Jeremiah Oritsejolone; Assistant Director, NDDC, Chief (Engr.) Don Ben Douyegha; PANDEF Youth leader; Engr. Jato Abido; National Coordinator, Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), Comrade Austin Ozobo, President, Ijaw Peoples Development Association (IPDI), Comrade Jackson Timiyan, community leader; Comrade Ellington Bakumor, ex-agitator, among others.
Participants at the event in unison queried the Federal Government’s current non-participatory approach to development in the Niger Delta region, as well as its protracted inabilities to embrace a broad-based consultative approach that will give the people of the region some sense of ownership.
While noting that the challenges confronting the Niger Delta as a region dates back to as far as the 15th century, the discussants submitted that to effectively resolve the Niger Delta crisis, government at all levels and other Nigerians should begin to see the problems of the Niger Delta as a national one and not restricted to the region.
The speakers at the event expressed displeasure at greed, selfishness, tribalism and brazen absence of political will arising from poor leadership in the country, which according to them has become potent factors that derailed the well-conceived Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) created to tackle youth restiveness resulting from galloping unemployment in the region as well as hindered the actualization of Federal Government’s proposed but now abandoned modular refineries in the rejoin.
They further regretted that thirteen (13) years after the presidential proclamation, the programme had neither dealt with the fundamentals of the Niger Delta struggle nor faithfully addressed the three pillars of the Amnesty Programme: Disarmament, rehabilitation and reintegration, but painfully left the targeted beneficiaries of the programme more as victims of political deceit and manipulation by selfish politicians and other non-state actors that have recently hijacked the programme.
They observed that the amnesty programme had become a cesspool of corruption and avenues for revenue leakages which must be blocked for efficient management of the programme.
The discussants further argued that the Presidential Amnesty Office must stop giving handouts to beneficiaries and in its place develop a workable and democratized roadmap that will ensure that all amnesty beneficiaries are gainfully employed or adequately empowered.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Must Look Beyond Oil – Peter Obi
They opined that for the challenges presently confronting the region to be frontally tackled, Federal Government must take both practical and pragmatic steps to hold a sincere conversation with Niger Deltans aimed at operationalizing modular refineries in the region anchored on the tripod of receipt system, transparent pricing and supervised via a statutory body established by enabling acts for that purpose/objective.
The programme was graced by dignities and well meaning Niger Deltans drawn from the academia, members of specialized groups, presidential amnesty beneficiaries, students at various institutions of higher learning in the country among others.
News
Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.
Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.
“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.
READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole
He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.
According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.
Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.
READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku
He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.
One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.
He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.
News
Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.
He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.
READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack
Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.
“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”
He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.
He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.
Watch the video here
News
Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.
The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached
Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.
He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.
Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
Headline4 days agoWoman Passes Out After Receiving 100 Strokes Of Cane
Headline4 days agoJUST IN: White House Locked Down Briefly As Gunman Opens Fire At Security Checkpoint
News3 days agoMore Pain For Nigerians As Cooking Gas Price Increases Nationwide
Politics3 days agoTwo Masked Men Gun Down Politician In His Rivers State Hotel
Metro4 days agoPolice Reject N500m Bribe, Recover N7.8bn Illicit Drugs In Lagos
News3 days agoFG Declares Two Days Public Holiday For Eid-el Kabir Celebration
Politics3 days ago‘Tinubu’s Borrowing In 24 Months Surpasses 55 Years’ Debt Record’
Politics2 days agoCourt Clears Goodluck Jonathan To Contest 2027 Presidential Election
News3 days agoOPINION: Boko Haram Comes South
News2 days agoOPINION: Like Oyedokun, We Are All Decapitated














