Fashola Seeks States’ Support, Says Housing Deficit an Urban Problem

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has solicited the support of the various states of the federation in addressing the nation’s housing deficit.

Fashola, who spoke in Abuja at the 8th meeting of the National Council on Lands and Urban Development, also declared that the problem of housing was purely an urban one as people in rural areas hardly face such challenges.

He stressed that apart from housing, other challenges that are peculiar to urban settlements were traffic congestion and refuse disposal.

As the custodians of lands, Fashola appealed to states to make lands available for housing construction as part of overall efforts to resolve the housing needs, adding that the “the cooperation between us and the states must be the foundation for the prosperity that we want to achieve.”

Fashola stated that it was the quest to change the poverty narrative and enthrone prosperity that informed the theme of this year’s council meeting: “Housing Development and Consumer Credit as Strategies for National Prosperity.”

The minister pointed out that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration that his administration was targeting the creation of 100 million jobs in 10 years was easily realisable through the housing sector.

In his presentation, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Ahmed Dangiwa, unveiled various products for affordable homes.

The bank, he said, has the primary mandate of financing affordable housing for the low and middle income earners in both the formal and informal sectors through the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme by registering and contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly income.

According to him, the overall objective was to provide cheap source of loan-able funds to nurture and sustain the mortgage industry and eventually facilitate affordable home-ownership for the low and medium income group in the country.

Drama in Aso-rock: Momodu speaks on Osinbajo’s position as VP

Media Mogul, Dele Momodu has joined Nigerians in reacting to reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sack of some of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s aides.

Report emerged on Wednesday that over 30 presidential aides attached to the Vice President were disengaged by President Buhari without his (Osinbajo) knowledge.

This was following reports of Buhari undermining the office of Osinbajo after Abba Kyari delivered a bill to the president in London.

Momodu, speaking on the development, said the office of Osinbajo as Vice President is always at the mercy of of the President.

He urged Osinbajo not to be frustrated by the circumstances around him.

On his Twitter page, Momodu wrote: “The Vice President’s position is always at the mercy of The President.

“VP Osinbajo should remain loyal to his boss. If they chase snakes to him, he should chase peaceful rats to them.

“Even if they put his desk and chair in the rain, he should borrow an umbrella… NO FIGHTING!

“His life is dependent on God and nothing should frustrate him.”

Falana reveals what will happen as DSS fails to release Sowore

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has threatened legal action against the Department of State Services (DSS), for refusing to release the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore.

On Wednesday, a federal High Court in Abuja, ordered the release of Sowore alongside Olawale Adebayo better known as “Mandate”, but the DSS did not comply with the order. 

In a statement on Thursday, Falana said this is the second time the agency would ignore court order to release Sowore.

“On 8th August 2019, the Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo granted the application of the State Security Service to detain Mr. Omoyele Sowore for 45 days.

“Upon the expiration of the 45-day detention period the court granted Mr. Sowore bail on September 24, 2019. He met the bail conditions but the State Security Service refused to release him from custody.

“Mr. Sowore and Mandate Bakare were subsequently charged with treasonable felony, cyber stalking and money laundering on September 30, 2019. The trial judge, the Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu admitted the defendants to bail under very stringent conditions. Upon meeting the bail conditions Justice Ojukwu directed the State Security Service to release the defendants from detention.

“But in utter contempt of the orders of Justice Ojukwu the State Security Service has refused to release Messrs Sowore and Bakare from custody.

“Since the State Security Service is not above the law of the land we shall embark on appropriate legal measures to ensure compliance with the court orders,” the statement read.

Drama as Maina goes to court in wheelchair, awaits ruling on bail application

A former Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, who is facing trial over his alleged complicity in a N2billion fraud, was on Thursday, brought before the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a wheelchair for continuation of his trial.

Officers of the Kuje Correctional Facility wheeled Maina into the court room at 9:30 a.m. and armed with two first aid boxes.

Trial Justice Okon Abang had fixed Thursday for ruling on the bail application filed by the defendant.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) arraigned Maina on a 12-count charge of fraud, money laundering and operating of several accounts.

He was arraigned alongside his firm, Common Input Properties and Investment Limited, which the EFCC claimed was involved in the alleged fraud.

Buhari govt bans payment of cash in NIPOST offices nationwide

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, has ordered the termination of cash payment in NIPOST offices nationwide.

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) gave the order in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Thursday by his Spokesperson, Mrs Uwa Suleiman.

The statement added, “It has come to the attention of the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM that some unscrupulous elements have been taking undue advantage of the cash payment system under the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST), to engage in corrupt practices.

“In line with the anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and the mandate of the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the Honourable Minister hereby directs the Post Master General, to with immediate effect, suspend all existing cash payment plans within its establishments nationwide. The Post Master General is to ensure that all its offices revert to Point of Sales (PoS) and bank teller transactions immediately.

“The general public and all customers of NIPOST are hereby encouraged to insist on Point of Sales (PoS) or bank teller transactions when conducting business with NIPOST. This directive is a temporary measure in the interim to tackle corruption, as we are currently working on fully automating the systems as a permanent solution to the challenge.

“In the same vein, Dr Pantami also directs the Post Master General, to immediately implement strategies that will bring an end to unnecessary delays, in its service delivery to customers. The current trend of delays in postal services will not be condoned by the office of the Honourable Minister under whose purview, the supervision of NIPOST falls.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, and the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy are committed to protecting the rights of all Nigerians and will not tolerate any acts of corruption under its watch.”