News
Northern Groups Endorse Tinubu On Fuel Subsidy Removal
Northern Grloups Endorse Tinubu On Fuel Subsidy Removal
Under the auspices of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), no fewer than 150 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have endorsed president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Removal of the fuel subsidy.
According to the groups, the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration allegedly pursue unpopular deregulation programmes while maintaining the ‘fraudulent subsidy regime’ and further plunging the nation into deeper crisis and mass suffering, $15.6billion spent annually on subsidy could build railway from Lagos to Kano, Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri and Lagos to Calabar combined.
Read Also: Zulum orders re-operning of closed road in Maiduguri
Reading the communique issued at the end of the town hall meeting in Kaduna yesterday, the chairman of communique drafting committee and spokesman of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said N2.91 trillion spent by the federal government on petrol subsidy between January and September 2022, was largely responsible for the country’s dwindling public finances.
He said available data has exposed the unforgivable level of disabling corruption perpetrated with the subsidy regime in favour of a few individuals at the expense of public projects that cost less than Nigeria’s $15.6 billion annual subsidy.
Suleiman said the amount spent annually on subsidy is far more than what is required to build railways from Lagos to Kano, Port-Harcourt to Maiduguri and Wembley-like stadiums in each of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
According to him, “Successive governments in Nigeria have tried and failed to remove or cut the subsidy, which has greatly constrained Nigeria’s development goals, as the subsidies mostly only benefit a few wealthy households.
“Concerned by the backlash from some quarters that followed the announcement of the withdrawal of the subsidies by the President, CNG convened a one-day stakeholder roundtable of all its 150 affiliates and other northern interest groups at the Arewa House, Kaduna today, June 6, 2023.
“At the end of the Town Hall discussions, the following inevitable observations were drawn: That generally, subsidy is an evil that subsequent previous governments groomed and fed fat all these years to the detriment of the masses. That all along, the oil subsidy has been a conduit pipe for syphoning public funds for the benefit of a very few members of a powerful cartel at the expense of the entire nation.
“Since assumption of office, the former President Muhammadu Buhari had made several promises of rehabilitating the nation’s refineries, all of which he failed to fulfil. Instead, he pursued unpopular deregulation programmes while maintaining the fraudulent subsidy regime and further plunging the nation into deeper crisis and mass suffering.
“That on emergence as Nigeria’s new President, Bola Tinubu disclosed that the current budget handed over to him by former President Buhari did not provide for the petrol subsidy and therefore it is gone, which did not go down well with the exploiter class that benefits from the subsidy budgets.
”Since Tinubu’s announcement of the removal of the fuel subsidy, the cartel that has been reaping its benefits at the expense of the suffering masses, has waged a campaign about the fictitious knock-on effects that it will have on the daily lives of Nigerians,” Suleiman said.
Northern Groups Endorse Tinubu On Fuel Subsidy Removal
Empowered for a New Life: UNFPA Supports 50 Rehabilitated Fistula Survivors in Gombe
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has empowered 50 rehabilitated Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) survivors in Gombe State through a collaborative program with the Government of Norway.
At the graduation ceremony held in Gombe on Thursday, Dr. Bajowa Lanre, UNFPA’s Sexual Reproductive Health Analyst, reiterated the agency’s commitment to eradicating obstetric fistula, a debilitating condition that occurs during childbirth. He highlighted that UNFPA continues to provide life-saving surgeries for women affected by fistula and severe perinatal tears in Nigeria, working towards a future where maternal mortality and related conditions are eliminated.
Obstetric fistula, an abnormal connection between the rectum and the vagina, is often stigmatized in communities, bringing shame and social isolation to survivors. “No woman should endure this experience,” said Lanre, emphasizing the physical and emotional toll it takes on women and families.
The empowerment initiative, which equips survivors with vocational skills and tools, is seen as key to reintegrating them into society. Sewing machines, grinding machines, popcorn processing equipment, and transportation stipends were provided to help the women become economically self-sufficient.
Gombe’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms. Asmau’u Iganus, expressed gratitude for the initiative. Represented by Mrs. Abu Hassan, she noted that the program would enhance the survivors’ livelihood and boost their social and economic wellbeing.
Dr. Musa Issa, Executive Director of the Fistula Foundation Nigeria, praised the collaboration between UNFPA, the Norwegian government, and the state, calling the empowered women role models who can inspire others in their communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Safiyanu Moses, shared her journey from being ostracized due to the condition’s effects to regaining hope for a brighter future. “This intervention has transformed my life,” she said. “I will use this empowerment to help my family and community while raising awareness about treatment for others.”
The program aims to foster support systems for fistula survivors and reduce the stigma associated with the condition in Gombe State and beyond.
WAFU Qualifiers: Mailantarki Care FC beat Nigeria’s Flying Eagles 1-0
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles …
The Nigeria National team U-20 (Flying Eagles) suffered a defeat in the hands of Mailantarki Care FC in one of its series of preparatory games on Wednesday in Abuja.
The reigning Champions of the 2024 International Youth Championship in Denmark (Dana Cup) produced an all-around performance against the Nigeria National team outfit, the Flying Eagles at the FIFA Goal Project pitch of the MKO Abiola Stadium.
Coach Aliyu Zubairu’s U-20 team began preparation last week ahead of the upcoming WAFU Championship scheduled in Togo, where the representatives of the zone in the 2025 U-20 nations cup will emerge.
Sensational wing wizard Miko Dalha scored the only goal of the game following a delightful footwork before smashing into the near post before the break.
The host could have equalized from the spot deep into the game just for Mailantarki goalie Abbati Muhammed to punch away the penalty kick. However, the Flying Eagles defeated Water FC 1-nil in its first game courtesy of Bayelsa United forward Rabiu Abdullahi.
USAID Urges Adamawa Officials to Sustain State2State Interventions and Reforms
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has called on Adamawa State officials to continue supporting various interventions and reforms to foster sustainable development across key sectors. The call was made during a review of Adamawa’s financial instructions held in Yola on Wednesday.
Aduku Godwin, the Regional Advisor for USAID’s Learning to Read Project, emphasized the importance of maintaining these reforms to drive long-term progress in areas such as governance, education, and infrastructure development. He affirmed USAID’s commitment to collaborating with the State2State team in Adamawa to enhance good governance and ensure quality education in the state.
Machill Maxwell, USAID Project Management Specialist for Integrated Governance, commended the improvements seen in Adamawa’s health, education, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sectors. He stressed the need for efficient and accountable use of resources, pointing out that past inefficiencies had limited the impact of significant financial investments.
Hajiya Nafisa Ado, Senior Technical Assistant and Learning Advisor for the Learn to Read Project, expressed satisfaction with the partnership aimed at building the capacity of state officials to promote transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in governance and education.
Similar collaborative efforts are also underway in Bauchi, Gombe, Ebonyi, and Sokoto States as part of USAID’s broader initiative to support state-level reforms in
-
Business1 year agoNew Rates: ‘I borrowed money to finance this business…’ – Petroleum Marketer cries out over Non-supply of products by the NNPCL
-
Health5 months agoOnly 58,000 doctors renewed licence out of 130,000 registered doctors – MDCN
-
Entertainment2 months agoBBNaija Season 9: TAMI Duo Evicted After Low Vote Count
-
Defence & Security1 month agoOrganisers Demand IGP’s Dismissal Over Fatal Protest Crackdown
-
Defence & Security1 month ago“Defence Chief Praises Strong Inter-Service Cooperation for Operational Successes”
-
Business2 years agoNew Naira Notes: We Have No Information On The Supreme Court Ruling – CBN
-
Weather2 months agoNiMet Forecasts 3 Days Thunderstorms, Rain Nationwide
-
Opinion2 years agoAddressing Nigeria’s food security challenge through eco-friendly agriculture
