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Lockdown extension, “right way to go” – Gov. Fayemi

Published

5 years ago

April 15, 2020

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has described the two weeks extension of the lockdown in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States as tough, but “the right way to go”.

A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday night by Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Head, Media and Public Affairs of NGF Secretariat, quoted Fayemi stating this during his teleconference meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fayemi, according to the statement, said that Buhari’s address to the nation on Monday captured the mood of the country and showed that his administration was in touch with the plight of common man.

“The NGF Chairman also told the president that while the targeted testing strategy adopted by the country had done a lot, there was need to increase the testing number.

“The NGF Chairman added that the Governors were desirous of having some more testing facilities so as to deepen the gains already made by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)”.

Fayemi however urged Buhari to instruct the relevant authorities to use the machineries of the state governments for distribution of pallaitives so that it would penetrate all nooks and crannies of the country.

He added that the palliatives would be more meaningful if they were distributed through the state governors.

Fayemi also said that states were going through rough times and would like to appeal to the president to take certain decisive decisions to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

He said that all the 36 States’ Governments were currently reviewing their budgets downwards to conform with the prevailing realities.

He thanked Buhari for the approval of the release of $150 million to augment projected FAAC shortfall in June, but added that more needed to be done to keep the states properly afloat.

Fayemi alluded to the revenues from the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), which he said could help in assuaging some issues related to revenue shortfalls.

“Fayemi reiterated a point from the 4th NGF teleconference meeting of the Governors where they called for the suspension of all deductions by the federal government so that states can address the COVID-19 challenge from a position of economic strength.

“Fayemi also hinted the president that there was the need to streamline all multi-lateral and bilateral interventions and funding so that states are also integrated and considered because of the difficulties that they are going through.”

Fayemi commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for doing a great job, but the governors would be happier if their requests were met.

Fayemi commended the President for the manner in which he has always rescued the States, recalling presidential approvals for bailouts, budget support facility and London Paris Club refund, among others.

He urged the president to also encourage the evolution of a national strategic plan that would encompass the subnational level so that the country will find a fast and easy way out of the woods.

Fayemi, according to the statement, ended his conversation with Buhari on the plight of informal sector workers who were daily paid in the country, but not been captured in the national register and therefore exempted from the conditional cash transfer.

He said that their plight needed to be quickly addressed before Nigeria situation crumbled into the “Ecuadorian Alternative“ where the poor and vulnerable people of Ecuador flocked into the streets in violation of the stay-at-home order in the country.

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Fayemi was also quoted telling Buhari that since the outbreak of the pandemic, governors have been meeting on a regular basis and met four times over an initial span of 12 days.

Fayemi noted that the governors would be having their next (5th) Teleconference meeting on Wednesday to view the strategies so far put in place in their various States, apply peer learning mechanism to share experiences and collectively adopt areas of successes for the good of their citizens.

The statement also quoted the President in his response commending Fayemi for providing decent leadership at the Forum and keeping all Governors on course which he said has helped the federal government to find easy access to the subnational level.

It added that Buhari directed the NGF Chairman to formalise all the requests of the governors and forward them to him, promising that they would be promptly addressed.

Related Topics:Gov. Fayemi Lockdown extension

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London Property Dispute Exposes Alleged Corruption, Forgery by Nigerian Politician and Lawyer

Published

5 hours ago

October 8, 2025

Our Reporter

By Hassan Taiye

A recent judgment by the UK’s First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) has shed light on a complex web of alleged corruption and forgery involving a Nigerian politician and a senior lawyer. The case revolves around a disputed property in North London, valued at 79 Randall Avenue.

The property was purchased in 1993 under the name “Tali Shani,” which is allegedly an alias for late General Jeremiah Useni, a powerful member of the Abacha regime. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, claimed the property was gifted to him by “Mr. Tali Shani” in 2021 as payment for legal services. However, the tribunal dismissed this claim, describing it as “fabricated” and “fraudulent.”

The tribunal’s ruling highlights the alleged involvement of Ozekhome and his associates in fabricating documents, including a Nigerian passport, National Identification Number (NIN), and Tax Identification Number (TIN). The NIN was reportedly created remotely from Monaco using a non-compliant photograph and bypassing biometric requirements ¹.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Ozekhome and others over alleged fraud, forgery, and unlawful attempt to acquire the London property. The ICPC has launched an investigation, and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has also taken notice of the case ²

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN Senior lawyer accused of forgery and attempting to acquire the property through fraudulent means.
General Jeremiah Useni Late Nigerian General allegedly behind the purchase of the property under the alias “Tali Shani.”
Osilama Ozekhome*: Ozekhome’s son, implicated in the alleged forgery and fraud.

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photo

Published

5 hours ago

October 8, 2025

Our Reporter

L-r Senate Committee Chairman on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola; Senate Deputy Whip, Onyekachi Nweboyin; Former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio; Senator Sharafadeen Ali; Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Senate Whip Tahir Monguno and Senate Committee Chairman on Financial Institutions, Tokunbo Abiru, after resumption of plenary yesterday. Photo: Senate President’s Office

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BREAKING: Tinubu’s Minister, Uche Nnaji, Resigns Amid Certificate Forgery Scandal

Published

16 hours ago

October 7, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has resigned from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s cabinet amid a growing controversy surrounding his academic credentials.

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed Nnaji’s resignation in a statement issued late Tuesday.

Nnaji’s exit follows mounting allegations that his academic certificates were forged. Investigations revealed that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disowned the Bachelor of Science degree he claimed to possess, stating that he never completed his studies at the institution and was therefore not issued any certificate.

According to UNN Vice-Chancellor Prof. Simon U. Ortuanya, Nnaji was admitted in 1981 but failed to meet the requirements for graduation.

In a related development, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) reportedly disowned the certificate of national service presented by Nnaji, describing it as fake.

His resignation marks the latest in a series of controversies to hit the Tinubu administration over questions of integrity and accountability among public officials.