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Politicians weaponising insecurity – Okonjo-Iweala

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
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The Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has stated that politicians in Nigeria, have normalized weaponising insecurity.

She stated this while speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Lagos State, on Sunday.

She noted that the politicians have weaponised insecurity for political and selfish reasons, adding that their actions have led the nation to its current state.

The former Minister of Finance, who delivered a keynote address entitled, ‘A Social Contract For Nigeria’s Future’, asserted that there would not be any development in the country without having adequate security.

She further noted that the massive crude oil theft has affected the strengthening of the nation’s foreign reserves.
According to her, there are enough technological innovations to track crude oil theft and bring those behind the act to book, adding that there should not be any excuses not to do so.

She said, “We cannot have socio-economic development without security. We certainly cannot have security without development. We all know that security has been weaponised in our country for political purposes by political actors, leading partly to the situation we have now.

“We have politicians who believe that the best way to make their opponents look bad is to instigate insecurity, making it look like they can’t govern, regardless of whether this leads to loss of lives and property of innocent Nigerians.

This has to stop. A second aspect of security relates to the security of national assets. Nigerians have seen for years how organised crude oil theft on a massive scale seriously undermines the economic and financial health of the country.

All Nigerians must agree that stealing of our national assets of any type is intolerable and must be stopped. There is so much technology available now to track such theft, and there must be no more excuses for inaction.

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Track and report abandoned constituency projects; we’ll prosecute -EFCC tells Nigerians

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged Nigerians to track and report abandoned constituency projects, warning that those responsible will face prosecution.

This initiative aims to:

1. Promote transparency and accountability in public spending.
2. Ensure elected officials fulfill their campaign promises.
3. Combat corruption and embezzlement.

Nigerians can report abandoned projects through:

1. EFCC’s website
2. Social media handles
3. Toll-free hotline

Required information:

1. Project location
2. Contractor’s name
3. Contract sum
4. Status (abandoned, incomplete, or completed)

The EFCC will investigate and prosecute those found guilty of corruption, mismanagement, or embezzlement.

This move demonstrates the EFCC’s commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring public funds are utilized effectively.

 

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Regina Daniels Reflects on Her Life Journey

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Nigerian actress Regina Daniels has navigated beyond the controversy surrounding her marriage to billionaire and senator Ned Nwoko.

The mother of two recently shared captivating photos on Instagram, showcasing herself on a luxurious flight with her husband and their children.

In her post, she discussed the various activities that have been occupying her time. Regina highlighted that this constant movement is a defining aspect of her life, captioning her post:

“Story of my life – Always on the move.”

Photo source: Instagram

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#Endbadgovernance Protesters Face Trial For Treason, Court Hearing On September 11

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Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of 10 #EndBadGovernance protesters in custody.

On Monday, nine male protesters were sent to Kuje Prison, while one female protester was remanded in Suleja Prison. The court has scheduled their trial and ruling on bail applications for September 11.

The protesters, who were arraigned on charges of treason, mutiny, and intent to destabilize Nigeria, include Michael Adaramoye (also known as Lenin), Adeyemi Abayomi, Suleiman Yakubu, Opaoluwa Simon, and Angel Innocent.

Others facing charges are Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Bashir Bello, Nuradeen Khamis, and Abdulsalam Zubairu. All 10 defendants pleaded not guilty to the six charges brought against them, which include conspiracy to commit felony, inciting mutiny, and waging war against the state—offenses punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.

The protesters are accused of attempting to intimidate President Bola Tinubu by allegedly attacking police officers, burning police stations, and damaging government and private property during the demonstrations.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, were sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s economic policies, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of forex windows.

The protesters also called for measures to address food shortages, unemployment, and government waste, as well as reforms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Responding to the arraignment, Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi condemned the trials as “sham” and called for the immediate release of the detained protesters.Sanusi criticized the government for prioritizing the punishment of protesters over investigating the deaths of several demonstrators across various states, including Kano, Katsina, and Maiduguri, during the protests.

The police reported seven deaths related to the protests but denied that security forces were responsible for any of the fatalities.

 

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