FG disputes $25bn Diaspora Remittance figure

VANGUARD Nigeria. Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Written by Victoria Ojeme & Omeiza Ajayi

Remittances to other countries

The Federal Government has disputed the $25 billion figure said to be the annual remittances of Nigerians in diaspora, saying the figure is actually higher.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Enyeama disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Technical Workshop on Diaspora Remittances and Sustainable Development under the chairmanship of the Kingdom of Belgium and the French Republic.

Enyeama who said the figure often bandied about is actually not a true reflection of diaspora remittances to Nigeria, however, said the challenge with most countries is how to channel such remittances to development.

“As you know, in the past few years, it is said that Nigerians in diaspora remittances is $25 billion. The figure being bandied about is $25billion per year in remittances.

“Well, I read not too long ago that this figure is inaccurate. It is very far from being accurate because when you logically think about it, it is huge and as they say, it even dwarfs the budget. It is hard to fathom. So, I think there is some debate as to how accurate that really is. But of course, we will love it to be that. There are huge resources coming into the country from Nigerians in diaspora and the challenge, as with most countries, is how to channel those resources to development”, he said.

The minister, who stressed the importance of diaspora remittances to sustainable national development, especially if properly harnessed urged stakeholders to, however, consider the cost of remitting the funds home, saying there was the need to make it easier for those in the diaspora to remit funds.

“In the past few years, the Nigerian diaspora has remitted billions of dollars to their kith and kin back home at a very high premium. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2018, diaspora remittances to Nigeria was about U525 billion. This represents 6.1 per cent of our GDP and 83 per cent of our national budget. It is also 11 times the foreign direct investment flows into the country within the same period.

“This should show us the importance and the value that could derive from these remittances if properly harnessed. On the flip side, we should also consider the cost of remitting these funds back home. We therefore need to make it easier for those in the diaspora to remit funds back home and find ways of harnessing these funds for national development,” he urged.

Letters to Buhari: Kudos, knocks trail Obasanjo's advise to Buhari

Topics:

- Kudos, knocks trail Obasanjo's advise to Buhari
- IBB’s full text on 2019: Towards national rebirth
- Nigeria’s Messiah from Adamawa?
_______________________________________________

Kudos, knocks trail Obasanjo's advise to Buhari
~Vanguard Nigeria. Wednesday, January 24, 2018.

…Obasanjo to Buhari: Go home, forget 2019

…Calls for a third force to bail out Nigeria,

…Buhari, Tinubu, Akande, APC NWC meet

…Amaechi, Adebanjo, Junaid Mohammed, Okorie, Ozekhome, ACF, others speak; Presidency keeps mum

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during his visit to
President Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House, Abuja,
on Thursday, April 7, 2016. 

LAGOS - Alleging gross incompetence in the face of challenges of state, former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, yesterday, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to sidestep calls for a second term and join him and other former leaders in the rank of statesmen.

President Obasanjo in a scorching 3,564 word statement, lamented that his hope that Buhari would help birth change when he supported him in 2015 had been grossly derailed in the face of what he said was the President's failure to rise above his deficiencies.

While affirming that he was not unaware of Buhari's shortcomings in the areas of the economy and foreign affairs, areas he said he expected him to have sought help, President Obasanjo, however, blasted him for promoting clannishness in governance which had led to increased divisions in the polity and a culture of buck passing.

Obasanjo said his disappointments with Buhari, however, did not mean that the political opposition in the shape of his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was any better.

While noting the appropriation of the opposition party by some forces he said would not offer any change, the former Nigerian leader called on patriots to join him in a third force which he said should birth the change that would take Nigeria to its place of glory.

The Obasanjo Statement

President Obasanjo in his special press statement, entitled THE WAY OUT: A CLARION CALL FOR COALITION FOR NIGERIA MOVEMENT, said: "Since we are still in the month of January, it is appropriate to wish all Nigerians Happy 2018. I am constrained to issue this special statement at this time considering the situation of the country.


"Some of you may be asking, 'What has brought about this special occasion of Obasanjo issuing a special statement?' You will be right to ask such a question. But there is a Yoruba saying that 'when lice abound in your clothes, your fingernails will never be dried of blood'.

"When I was in the village, to make sure that lice die, you put them between two fingernails and press hard to ensure they die and they always leave blood stains on the fingernails. To ensure you do not have blood on your fingernails, you have to ensure that lice are not harboured anywhere within your vicinity.

"The lice of poor performance in government – poverty, insecurity, poor economic management, nepotism, gross dereliction of duty, condonation of misdeed – if not outright encouragement of it, lack of progress and hope for the future, lack of national cohesion and poor management of internal political dynamics and widening inequality – are very much with us today. With such lice of general and specific poor performance and crying poverty with us, our fingers will not be dry of 'blood'.

Slave Trade: The 21st Century menace

Written by Chioma Gabriel
Vanguard Nigeria. Sunday, December 10, 2017.

One of the 164 returnees from Libya facilitated by International Organisation on
Migration  and National Emergency Management Agency on arrival
at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday

Nearly half a decade ago, the funeral of a promising young man who died in the desert was held somewhere in the southeast. Obumneme, that was his name, was travelling to Europe in search of greener pasture after an HND in Civil Engineering and five years of unemployment in Nigeria. He was the only child of his parents and his death quickly claimed the life of his father. The old man died of a broken heart.

Obumneme had joined legions of Nigerians heading to Europe through the Sahara Desert but he was not as lucky as they made him believe. The challenges were not as surmountable as they made him believe. So, he died.

He was not the only victim. Stories abound of Nigerians who died in the desert everyday and those who died across the Mediterranean sea. Many of these victims were violated and deliberately killed.

In Nigeria today, many secondary school graduates and University graduates who are frustrated due to inability to either get a job or a good paying job, often, believe that it is better out there. Some do not seek the necessary information before getting out of the country. So, they fall victims to push and pull factors.

Nigerian governments have failed Nigerians and for many, there is very little hope of things improving. This push factor has sent many into their early graves.

It is often believed that reducing public corruption and providing efficient social services will go a long way in reducing the exodus of young Nigerians. A major 'pull factor' for many Nigerians leaving the country, especially the financially capable is the efficient infrastructure, governance and orderliness they may enjoy abroad that is lacking in Nigeria. Nigeria has the human and material resources to reproduce this state of affairs but capable and good leadership is required.

Everyday , we hear stories of the suffering of young African migrants seeking better opportunities in Europe through illegal routes. The ordeal that many go through either in the transit countries such as Niger and Libya or during the perilous journeys on rickety boats across the Mediterranean is heart-wrenching.

Queen Elizabeth II honours Nigerian nurse

~Punch Nigeria. Wednesday, March 8, 2017. 

Queen Elizabeth II has honoured a Nigerian nurse for her contributions to the United Kingdom's health sector.

Dame Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu, a British-born nurse, health expert, tutor, lecturer and medical professor, was honoured with the Commander of Order of British Empire.

She is of Irish and Nigerian descents.

Her citation states that Anionwu contributed to the opening of the first sickle cell and thalassemia counselling centre in the UK.

She also helped to create the Mary Seacole Centre for Nursing Practice at the University of West London.

She retired from her careers in 2007.

She was born on July 2, 1947 in Birmingham, United Kingdom, to a 20-year-old Irish mother, Mary Furlong; and a Nigerian father of Igbo descent who was a law student, Lawrence Odiatu Victor Anionwu.

Her mother was in the second year as a student of Classics in Cambridge University when she became pregnant.

As a single mother with no support from the father of her baby, Furlong decided to leave Cambridge and took up a job in order to provide for her daughter Elizabeth and herself.

Her biography reveals that the young Elizabeth's upbringing was heavily affected by moving between institutions and family.

She reportedly spent just over two years living with her mother, as she was given up to be cared for by non-relations when her stepfather refused to accept her.

For much of her childhood, Elizabeth was cared for by nuns, while she also spent several years in the Nazareth House Convent in Birmingham.

In her biography, she recalls sobbing her heart out on the bus when she had to leave the convent to go and live with her mother again.


"Every period of relative stability in childhood ended in sudden collapse," she wrote.

Much later in life, she visited Nigeria, and her trip influenced her to take up her father's name. Anionwu has credited her father, a barrister and diplomat, as her career inspiration.

Elizabeth Anionwu has one daughter, Azuka Oforka, who is an actress in the BBC TV series Casualty.

Elizabeth Nneka Anionwu has a PhD, a DBE, and an FRCN.

She began her nursing career at a very young age after being inspired by a nun who cared for her eczema. At the age of 16, she started to work as a school nurse assistant in Wolverhampton.

Later on, she continued with her education to become a nurse, health visitor, and tutor. She is ultimately thankful that her father pushed her to pursue her career.

She also travelled to the US to study counselling for sickle cell and thalassemia, as such centres and courses were not available in the UK.

In 1979, she worked with Dr. Brozovic to create the first UK Sickle Cell and Thalassemia counselling centre in Brent.

The opening of this counselling centre pioneered the opening of over 30 centres in the UK, using the Brent location as a basis.

And even though she had retired in 2007, Anionwu remains active in the nursing community and supervises many projects, including, "The development of caring for people with sickle cell disease and thalassemia syndromes: A framework for nursing staff;" and "Understanding the contribution of sickle cell and thalassemia specialist nurses."

Eze Igbo Abuja gets nod to lead Ndigbo in the Diaspora

Written by Magnus Eze
~The SUN Nigeria. Wednesday, November 16, 2016.

Ndigbo in the Diaspora at the weekend in Abuja renewed the tenure of Igbo 1 Abuja, Eze Nwosu Ibe, after a confidence vote passed on his traditional leadership. With this, the stage is set for a second term in office of the president of Ndi Eze Igbo N'uzoije (Eze Igbo in the Diaspora) for another three years.

The motion moved by Eze Igbo Gbagyi Kaduna, Eze Fred Awagu, was seconded by Eze Jerome Ikechukwu Nwagbara (Eze Igbo Kuje). After analyzing progress made by the traditional holders in the last three years, they endorsed his leadership qualities and re-nominated him unanimously for a second term in accordance with their constitution.

Eze Awagu in moving the motion extolled the sterling qualities of Eze Ibe, especially his ability to galvanise Ndigbo living and doing business outside Igbo heartland, in spite of series of provocations and attacks on their business concerns and homeland by herdsmen and other unseen forces.

He explained that apart from ensuring that Ndigbo outside Igbo land respected the tradition of their host communities, they never lost their mother cultural values, which is why he made sure Igbo Day is celebrated every year in all parts of Nigeria, through other Eze Ndigbo to toe the line of preserving the rich Igbo cultural values as well as the age long practice of dignity in labour among Ndigbo.

Supporting the motion, Eze Nwagbara, said all the Ndi Eze Igbo N'uzoije were unanimous in the endorsement of Eze Ibe Nwosu and commended him for his uprightness and for galvanizing Ndigbo, particularly those of them living in Abuja and also for ensuring that the Abuja natives accorded continued respect to Ndigbo in all spheres, including supporting them to aspire into political offices.

The highly elated Eze Ibe in his acceptance speech commended the body for the opportunity given him to serve them and promised not to relent in efforts at giving Ndigbo clear voice wherever they may be. He however, called on Ndigbo who live and operate outside Igbo land to respect the tradition of their hosts and also to respect the laws of the government operating wherever they find themselves.

He promised to set up a committee to articulate the problems being encountered by Ndigbo outside Igbo land that would eventually be presented to Ohaneze Ndigbo for proper deliberation and presentation to the Federal Government.

The Eze Ndigbo N'uzoije meeting was attended by Eze Ndigbo operating in states outside the Igbo heartland. The cultural promotion campaign of Eze Ndigbo outside the Igbo speaking states has recently buoyed Igbo cultural and traditional activities within and outside the country, especially the Iri Ji Ndigbo (New Yam festival) that has become a global celebration.

1976 Coup: Why I declined taking over after Murtala’s death –Obasanjo

~Vanguard Nigeria. Tuesday, August 16, 2016

ABEOKUTA—Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said, yesterday, that he was persuaded to take over as Head of State, shortly after General Murtala Ramat Muhammed was killed in the 1976 coup.

The then Head of State, Gen Muhammed, along with his aide-de-camp, ADC (Lt. Akinsehinwa), orderly and driver were assassinated on February 13, 1976 while on his way to work in a black Mercedes Benz car.

Obasanjo said he, as the then Chief of Staff of Supreme Headquarters and the late Muhammed had worked for the peace of the country before the Lt. Col. Buka Dimka struck in the bloody coup.

While reflecting on the coup, Obasanjo declared that Nigerians had thought that the bloody coup would end the nation called Nigeria.

The former President said this when he played host to the cast and crew of the yet to be released film, “1976” at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta.

According to him, there were misconceptions about the coup, which upturned the political situation at that time.

He explained that the misconception stemmed from the fact that most of those involved in the coup were Christians and for killing the Head of State, who was a Muslim, it was seen as a bad signal for the nation.

He said: “The killing of a Muslim on a Friday by a gang thought to be Christians, particularly, when we remembered the first coup, which upturned the political situation gave a bad signal.

Obasanjo, however, described the film, which abridged parts were shown as “a mixture sweet and sorrow will make us to remember ourselves not to go back to the dark days, which put us in go-no-go situation.”

Commending the team for the production, he said, “we can have more of this, as there are more national issues that can be portrayed. We are capable of the best and that is what this film has shown that.”

The Executive Producer of the film, Tonye Princewill said the cast and crew of “1976” was on tour of the country to seek support and endorsement for the film, billed to premier in November.

Princewill said the visit to Obasanjo was important, “considering his position at that time in the country, we deem it fit to come and show him the film and curry his endorsement, which as you can see we had gotten.”

Fulani herdsmen: Nimbo massacre: I recorded killing to show my people our success -Suspect

Topics:

• Nimbo massacre: I recorded killing to show my people our success -Suspect
• Enugu/Herdsmen Attack: Facts emerge on how mercenaries attacked Nimbo
• Fulani herdsmen: Farmers amass arms to combat killings
• Herdsmen, actions and consequences
• No one can stop us from grazing in the south - Fulani herdsmen
• This could lead to war
• Enugu attack: Buhari orders crackdown on rampaging herdsmen
• 20 People killed as Fulani herdsmen invade Enugu community
• ENUGU MASSACRE: Northern govs under fire… for defending Fulani
• Nigerians say "NO" to National Grazing Reserves Bill
• Our story, by Baba Othman Ngelzarma, National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, otherwise known as Fulani herdsmen
• The herdsmen narrative
• Fulani gunmen attack Kaduna village, kill monarch, nephew

______________________________________________

Nimbo massacre: I recorded killing to show my people our success -Suspect
Written by Kunle Falayi

Some chilling details have emerged on the April 25 massacre of residents of Nimbo community in Enugu State by Fulani herdmen following the arrest of a 24-year-old suspect, Mohammadu Zurai, by the Inspector-General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team.

Zurai, who was arrested alongside four other suspects - Ciroma Musa (3), Sale Adamu (33), Suleiman Laute (43) and Haruna Laute (24) - told the police that at least 100 Fulani herdsmen from seven states took part in the massacre.

According to the suspect, Fulani leaders rearing cows in Taraba, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Katsina, Niger and Kaduna States contributed representatives to take part in the attack.

Zurai, a Fulani herdsman living in Kogi State, said he was born in Enugu State even though his family are from Garba Shehu town in Taraba State.

His statement revealed that prior to the attack, kolanuts were shared among Fulani leaders in the seven states earlier identified, urging them to support the attack.

According to Zurai, the attack came because of the killing of six Fulani herdsmen in the community in the past without repercussion.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the leader later sent representatives who took part in the attack.

Two days before the attack (April 23), a meeting where the plans were perfected was held in Ameke town, Kogi State.

The police had revealed that a video recording of the killing was recovered from Zurai.

Zurai said, "After we attacked the town through the bush, I saw a man who had just been slaughtered on the ground. I brought out my phone and recorded the scene.

"I asked the dead man, 'Your people had confidence to kill Fulani people but now you are dead. Don't you know that Fulani owns Nigeria?' I recorded the video to show my relatives in Kogi where I live how successful the operation was. As we moved around Nimbo, I saw an Igbo man who used to give me food anytime I was in the state. I warned him to quickly leave town to avoid being killed."

Zurai said he was invited to take part in the killing by one Buba. He identified leaders who participated in the killing as Alhaji Suddi, Alhaji Kuriya, Alhaji Dula and Ardo Dula (living in Enugu State).


Others he identified are Mallam Adamu , Alhaji Chiroma, Adamu Sarka, Alhaji Botdo, Alhaji Iro Kogi and Alhaji Fanya (from Kogi State).
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Enugu/Herdsmen Attack: Facts emerge on how mercenaries attacked Nimbo

Written by Emeka Mamah

~Vanguard, Nigeria. Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

ENUGU-Fresh factshave emerged that herdsmen did not carry out the attack on the people of Nimbo community in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State themselves; they reportedly hired mercenaries to do it for them.

Some security officers, who spoke to newsmen in the area yesterday, said that three of the mercenaries drowned in River Niger while trying to flee the scene of the crime.

This was even as the Special Investigation Team set up by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Solomon Arase, have "interviewed" the traditional ruler of Nimbo, Igwe John Akor, for about two hours at the police headquarters in Enugu over the issue.

United Nation Cleares Mrs Adaobi Megan For Biafra Government. By christian row

Written by By christian rowland - Odogwu Media

Mrs Adaobi Megan makes history: Cleared by United Nation.

The real journey to Biafra restoration has just begun today with Biafra Representative – Mrs Adaobi Megan being admitted into UN ECOSOC meeting few hours ago.

BVI correspondent in New York, USA, venue of the United Nations ECOSOC meeting confirmed that Mrs Adaobi was expressly cleared and admitted into the meeting as a Bilie Human Rights Initiative representing Indegenous People of Biafra.This is the first time Biafra struggle is brought to the attention of the world powers. Mrs Adaobi is expected to present our case for Biafra independence before the world body from where international lobbying will commence in earnest.
In the mail ent to Voice of Biafra (BVI Channel 1 studio) it states as follows:

“Dr. Nnenna  Nwanagbaoso, Constitutional Lawyer Emeritus, Daughter of Biafran Revolution has delivered as promised. She has taken over the baton from General Ojukwu.  In her own words at the United Nations Economic Council Meeting, this morning, she stated, “Ojukwu started the race but I will finish it using Self Determination Instrument”.

Afenifere: Yoruba’s long lost voice

Written by LEKE BAIYEWU - Punch Nigeria.

The battles and travails of the foremost Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, a formidable voice of the people of South-West Nigeria for many years.

Last Sunday, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, resigned his position as the leader of the pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere. The octogenarian, who assumed the position after the death of Chief Abraham Adesanya, hinged his decision on the disunity among members making it difficult for Afenifere to actualise its goals.

Fasoranti, in a letter to the Secretary-General, Chief Seinde Arogbofa, and other leaders of the group, including Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Pa Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Olu Falae, Chief Supo Sonibare and all the state chairmen, lamented the ills in the group.

The letter partly read, “Over the years, Yoruba have tried to focus on a common goal. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo tried to ensure the oneness of our people with a lot of efforts, notwithstanding he faced a lot of challenges in the process. Unfortunately, he passed on without actualising this dream.

“The mantle of leadership fell on the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin and subsequently on Pa Adesanya and then my humble self. As events have been unfolding in the past few years, the focus and goals of the founding fathers of our great organisation Afenifere have been gradually eroded.

“This, therefore, made it a Herculean task for our members to work in unity. Several efforts were made to ensure the actualisation of the Afenifere’s goals, but it appeared that we have not succeeded in achieving this. This is basically due to reasons best known to our members individually.

“Considering my age, efforts and selfless dedication to my country, my state (Ondo), my political parties, my past leaders and my members in Afenifere both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora, I hereby wish to inform you all that I have decided to step aside as the leader of our great organisation, Afenifere.”

Anambra govt bans motorcycles, tricycles on highways

The Anambra Government yesterday, banned the operation of private and commercial motorcycles and tricycles from major highways in the state, with effect from June 1, 2015.

The government's action which was announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Uju Nwogu, in Awka, confirmed an earlier media reports in which Okada operators in the state, warned against possible dire consequences of a ban on their operations.

"All motorcycle and tricycle operators in the state will from next week Monday, June 1, be barred from plying the Enugu-Onitsha highway, as well as Arthur Eze Avenue and Zik's Avenue in Awka.

"Similarly, it will be illegal for all motorcycles, either private or commercial, to ply the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, Awka Road, Borromew-Upper Iweka-Bridge Head road, Old and New Market roads and Oguta Road, all in Onitsha.

"In Nnewi, they are prohibited from the Nnewi-Nnobi road and Nnewi-Oba road.

"All commuters, who must ply these restricted roads are by this announcement, advised to use tricycles or the taxis and buses provided by the state government and other commercial vehicle owners," the statement read in part.

While noting that the law enforcement agencies would ensure strict compliance to this directive, the government warned that operators caught violating the directive would have their motorcycles or tricycles impounded.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) it, however, stated that a fine of N5,000 for motorcycles and N10,000 for tricycles, for first offenders, would be paid to retrieve such impounded motorcycles or tricycles.

It warned that subsequent arrest for a second violation of the directive would attract outright confiscation of the motorcycle or tricycle by the state government.

The statement also warned motorcycle operators in the state to desist from carrying more than one passenger on a trip.