News

‘World Bank Report Reveals Why Nigeria Needs Atiku’

Published

3 years ago

December 12, 2022

Editor

‘Against the backdrop of a bleak economic future for Nigeria painted by the World Bank recently, the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council has said the report justifies the need to have its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, elected president of the country to address the nation’s many challenges.

The PUNCH had quoted Alex Sienaert, World Bank’s lead economist for Nigeria, as saying that in 2023, debt servicing will gulp 123.4 per cent of the country’s total revenue.

Sienaert had stated this in a presentation titled ‘Nigeria Public Finance Review: Fiscal Adjustment for Better and Sustainable Development Results’ for the month of November.

“Borrowing more is not the solution: debt costs are rising rapidly, squeezing non-interest spending,” he said, adding that “debt servicing has surged over the past decade and is expected to continue increasing over the medium-term, crowding out productive spending.”

Responding in a statement to the presentation, spokesman of the campaign council, Senator Dino Melaye said, “The solution to the years of the locusts under APC is Atiku Abubakar, who worked under a team that brought great economic prosperity to Nigeria.

“The APC presidential candidate is always eager to dissociate from Buhari, but he carries a DNA that is infused with the APC blood and water. What can he do differently? Besides, if he had a different solution he could have offered it to his failed party so as to pave a smooth way for his own emergence. Having ‘chilled’ with the big boys, he now wants to ‘chill’ alone.

“Nigerians should look forward to the termination of APC’s arrested development when Atiku/Okowa and the PDP return Nigeria to its winning ways. As President Obasanjo said in his famous aphorism, there is no need to reinforce failure.

“What the World Bank report has done is an economic advisory, which Nigerians have to take seriously by looking away from APC and embracing the People’s Democratic Party on February 25, 2023.”

According to the statement, “the recent report by the World Bank, confirming the arrested development experienced under the All Progressives Congress administration since 2015 has more than any other indices, justified the imperative of stopping APC from doing further damage to Nigeria’s economy and social advancement in 2023.

“The APC inherited a healthy economy in 2015, just a year after Nigeria’s economy was re-based, and rated as the largest economy in Africa, ahead of South Africa. Rather than consolidate on the gains recorded by the PDP administration, Buhari and the APC embarked on unprecedented economic amateurism that has thrown Nigeria into one of the least performing economies in Africa. The APC has also thrown Nigeria into such a huge debt doldrum that it would take the country years of creative management to regain lost grounds.

“The APC which premised its campaign on change has succeeded in taking Nigeria back more than 10 years. While they accused their predecessors of corruption, they have now made corruption a state policy and the stench in the high corruption quotient of APC provokes deep revulsion.”

The statement further read, “Nigerians will not forget the great prosperity under the PDP administrations. They can also not forget how the reversal of fortune under APC has brought Nigeria down from prosperity to poverty, resulting in the relegation of Nigerians to a nation of 133 million poor citizens.

“If only Nigerians understood what the APC meant by change! The prodigal son scores better when peered with the APC.

“Sadly, the poor performance of the APC is not limited to the economy. Insecurity has degenerated by a higher degree. Unemployment is at its worst. The energy crisis remains intractable and unaddressed.

“The Buhari administration and APC are now relying on the Department of State Services to make fuel available to Nigerians. The subsidy programme that came under heavy criticism by APC has not only been sustained but has become an indefensible and convoluted policy in which the supposed poor now pay higher for fuel than the obviously rich. While fuel sells for about N180 in the cities, the rural folks buy the same product at about N300-500 per litre.”

News

U.S.-based Nigerian, Ogieva, Honoured As Grand Award Judge

Published

1 hour ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

A U.S.-based Nigerian and visionary in geoscience and data innovation, Mathew Ogieva, has continued to leave an indelible mark on global Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics advancement.

Ogieva, in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, said he served as Grand Award Judge at the 75th Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 75th ISEF was held from May 10 to May 17 in Columbus, Ohio, the world’s largest annual STEM competition for pre-college students

It is an annual science fair in the United States, owned and sponsored by the Society for Science, a non-profit organisation based in Washington, DC.

Ogieva, therefore, described the event as “the world’s largest and most prestigious science competition featuring nearly 1,700 participants from over 60 countries.

“In the Earth and Environmental Sciences category, I helped to evaluate over 70 groundbreaking projects, bringing my expertise and passion to the forefront of global youth innovation.

“My influence spans coast to coast and beyond, having judged at California Science and Engineering Fair (CSEF 2025) – California Lutheran University, Earth and Environmental Science category.”

He said that his judging legacy was not just on projects, but in igniting purpose and mentorship across continents.

“I am currently serving on the 2026 CSEF Judging Advisory Committee.

“State Science Day & STEP Fair (Ohio, April 2025) – Under the Ohio Academy of Science, Terra NYC STEM Fair (March 2025) – Held at New York University – Tandon School of Engineering
“Technovation Girls Global Competition (2025) – Evaluating tech solutions by girls in over 60 countries and Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS, May 2025) – Championing science excellence among youth in Virginia,” he said.

NAN reports that Ogieva’s extraordinary ability lies not only in scientific expertise but in uplifting the next generation of global problem-solvers, and he is proud to strengthen ties in Nigeria to advance scientific innovation.

NAN

News

Okpebholo Inaugurates Boundary Dispute Committee In Edo

Published

5 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

Edo State governor, Monday Okpehbolo, has inaugurated boundary committee to address persistent boundary disputes affecting communities in the state and bordering neighboring states.

Inaugurating the committee chaired by his deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the governor, who expressed confidence in the 14-man committee, noted that no doubt every boundary dispute would be settled by the committee.

“We have Ondo, we have Delta, we have Kogi State. So, we have boundary crises here and there. For this reason, I think the people before me today are the best to handle this task for the betterment of Edo people,” he noted.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Hon. Idahosa expressed gratitude for the opportunity, pledging the committee’s commitment to its crucial task.

He noted: “Mr. Governor, I want to thank you for this opportunity and deeply hold on to accept the responsibility to serve as the chairman of the newly-inaugurated boundary committee”

“On behalf of all members of this committee, I wish to express our sincere gratitude and acceptance of this responsibility, which we pledge to discharge in fairness, transparency, and integrity.”

Idahosa highlighted the committee’s objectives: “This committee will strive to carry out our mission which is to ensure accurate boundary demarcation, promote peaceful coexistence among communities and foster development in the areas affected by conflicts while collaborating with all stakeholders and actively engaging with citizens in fulfilling our mandate.”

He added: “We appreciate His Excellency for the confidence reposed in us and with the diverse expertise of these prominent citizens of this committee. I am confident that we will achieve our goal with fairness and equality.

“It is a privilege to contribute our quota as we are proud to serve our State and our nation with utmost dedication and professionalism.”

Members of the 14-man committee include: Dr. Samson Osagie, CP Monday Agbonika, Mr. Isaac Chikere, M. C. Monyei, Surv. Henry Aghedo, Sir Lucky Eseigbe, Engr. Emmanuel Okoebor, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu and a representative of the Oba of Benin.

Others are: Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Hon. Abasi Braimah, and Hon. Patrick Ikhariale. Surv. Ozigbo Osayande Duke will serve as the secretary.

News

Threat To Life: Gbaramatu Wants Security For kantu, Ijaghala Communities

Published

7 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

Gbaramatu Traditional Council (GTC), has called on security agencies including the Delta State government to provide security to the people in Ijaghala ( Zou-ala uba) and Ikantu (Kantu) communities in the kingdom.

The GTC said the call became necessary and timely over an alleged threat on the leadership of these communities by suspected Itsekiri elements after they (Ijaghala ( Zou-ala uba) and Ikantu) reaffirmed their position as Ijaw and Gbaramatu people.

Speaking at a press briefing in Warri, Delta State, the Fiyewei (spokesman) of the kingdom, High Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said the leadership of Gbaramatu Kingdom has been inundated with calls over threat to evacuate and kill members of Kantu and Ijaghala communities.

According to him, the threats were coming due to the fact that the aforementioned communities had decided to reaffirm their position as Ijaw and Gbaramatu people.

The Fiyewei, flanked by other chiefs of the kingdom, insisted that the law provides freedom of association, adding that Ijaghala and Ikantu people should be allowed to associate with their Ijaw progenitors.

He warned against any attempts to attack Ijaw Ijaghala and kantu people, adding that they will vehemently resist such threats, and will not cede any parcel of land to Itsekiris migrants.

He lamented over the suspected murder of the Gbaramatu Ijaw illustrious son in Tebijor community in the recent time, warning that such should not repeat itself again.

The Fiyewei warned that Itsekiris who are issuing threat to Ijaw should desist, stressing that “in case they are ignorant about the ownership of such lands, they should ask their fathers about their origin and their migration history.”

He added: “In case their fathers had died, they should find any means to exhume their bodies, so they could provide a guide to modern Itsekiri youth who do not know where they came from.”

He said the Kantu and Ijaghala ( Zou-ala uba) people had decided to trace their true origin, stating that they should be allowed to enjoy their freedom of life and association.

Gbenekama, maintained that lie had an expiry date, noting that Itsekiris were glorifying themselves with lies, and that such lies have expired.

The Ijaw leaders insisted that Ijaghala, Kantu, Omadinor and Obodo were ancestry lands of Ijaw people, adding that the elders of the Itsekiri were conversant with these facts.

He, on behalf of the traditional council, called on the federal government to investigate the Warri traditional ruler who was accused of gun running and brought him and others to book, stating that the gun running was an attempt to attack and kill the Ijaw and Gbaramatu people of Warri federal constituency.

The Gbaramatu leaders, therefore, urged INEC to complete the delineation exercise, adding that there was outright peace in Warri and its environs, stressing that the delay in completing the Warri delineation exercise wasn’t for the interest of peace.