Liverpool claimed a 2-0 Premier League victory against Everton to win the Merseyside Derby, courtesy of goals from Egyptian Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo, at Anfield on Monday night.
The hosts started with Darwin Nunez in attack, with Salah and Gakpo supporting on the wings. For Everton, coach Sean Dyche featured a front-three of Dwight McNeil, Ellis Simms and Super Eagles of Nigeria midfielder Alex Iwobi as they looked to cause an upset.
Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 36th minute after a brilliant counter-attack, with Nunez bombarding down the right flank as his pass found the Egyptian, who calmly placed the ball past Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Egyptian international and Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah scores goal against Everton
Both sides created chances, but the scores remained 1-0 at halftime.
Four minutes into the second half, Liverpool doubled its advantage through Gakpo, who tapped the ball into the net from close range to score his first goal for the Reds.
Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo (18) scores goal against Everton.
Everton tried to find its way back into the match, but failed to find a way to breakdown Liverpool’s defence. The hosts were determined to hold onto its lead as Everton pressed forward.
However, the game finished 2-0 in favour of Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side recorded a vital victory in the famous Merseyside Derby.
Liverpool will face Newcastle at home next in the Premier League on Saturday, before hosting European champions Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League last 16 first leg on Tuesday, February 21st.
Everton’s next game is at home to Leeds in the Premier League on Saturday.
At the close of Monday’s trading, equity market index appreciated by 0.07% to close at 54,364.67 points amid renewed bullish sentiments while the market capitalisation rose by N20 billion to close at N29,610 trillion as against N29,590 trillion at the close of trading last week.
At the end of the day’s trading, a total of 140.84 million shares valued at N3.16 billion were traded in 3,553 deals.
The market sentiment for the day also closed in the positive territory with 17 gainers and 9 losers.
Con oil led the gainers with 9.98% share gain closing at N32.25k per share, followed by MRS Oil Nigeria with 8.24% gain and a closing price of N23.00 then Chams gained 8% to close at N0.27%.
On the losing side, Computer Warehouse Group lost 9.18% to close at N0.89k. It was followed by Fidelity bank with 2.87% loss and a closing price of N5.42k then Nigerian Aviation Handking Company lost 2.38% to close at N8.20k.
United Bank for Africa recorded the highest volume of 28.6 million traded shares, followed by Guaranty Trust Holding with 22.9 million shares.
President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provision) Bill 2022 also known as the Omnibus Bill into law.
Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Special Adviser to the President on Ease of Doing Business and Secretary, Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) announced this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
According to Oduwole, the bill will aid the ease of doing business for small business owners in the country.
“This marks an important step in the delivery of an enabling environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
“Presented as an Executive Bill, the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 2023 is a legislative intervention by the PEBEC which amends 21 business related laws.
“It removes bureaucratic constraints to doing business in Nigeria.
“The new law also codifies the Executive Order 001 on Transparency and Efficiency in Public Service Delivery, the Administration’s first executive order, aimed at strengthening ease of doing business reforms across the country,” she said.
Oduwole said that the PEBEC Secretariat was extremely grateful to see this Act come into fruition.
According to her, it is a culmination of over four years of collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
“This includes the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law through the participation of over 40 law firms and consulting firms.
“The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) are also part of the team,” she said.
The PEBEC secretary said the Business Facilitation Act, 2023 consolidates the last seven years of PEBEC-led reforms.
Oduwole said it also demonstrated the Administration’s sustained commitment towards making Nigeria a progressively easier place to start and grow a business.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that its conduct of the electoral process is beyond reproach.
The President, CBCN, Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, made the call during the CBCN’s first plenary at Saint Gabriel’s chaplaincy, Durumi, Abuja, Nigeria.
With the forthcoming general election drawing closer, the CBCN called on Nigerians to exercise their civic and moral responsibility of voting during the elections.
‘We encourage all citizens to go to the polls en masse to exercise their franchise.
‘The forthcoming general election will allow us to choose competent leaders, who can turn our economy around.
‘Each voter should endeavour to get enlightened about the background and past records of candidates seeking political offices.
‘No one should vote out of clannish, ethnic or religious considerations or for perceived personal gains,’ said the CBCN President.
Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, President, CBCN.
‘We are bound by conscience to shun financial inducement and to vote only for people of unquestionable integrity with proven records of competence, capacity and commitment.
‘The untold and undeserved suffering to which Nigerians have been subjected over the years is a good preparation for them to vote wisely during the forthcoming general election.
‘The elections, if well conducted, can be a turning point in our political and economic history.
‘We, therefore, urge all to play their roles maturely and creditably during the period of the general election as people perceive a glimmer of light after a very long and dark tunnel,’ said the CBCN President.
The CBCN President advised candidates vying for political offices to be “decent, respectable, peaceful and honest Nigerians.”
‘Rather than engage in mud-slinging, acrimony, arson, buying and selling of votes, threats, intimidation and violence, they should focus on marketing their manifestoes as they campaign for votes.
‘Political contests should never be perceived as battlefield encounters or “do or die” affairs.
‘Any candidate who is prepared to shed blood or to spend huge sums of money to buy votes or to compromise the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) shows that he or she is seeking political office for pure self-aggrandisement.
‘It stands to reason that no one, who wishes to render selfless service to the public for the common good, will spend huge sums of money to induce those he intends to serve unselfishly.
‘We urge INEC officers to be punctual on election days and ensure that all the sensitive electoral materials are in placed in time.
‘They should also ensure that the collation and transmission of the electoral results are done transparently and honestly.
‘We applaud INEC for introducing the Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in our electoral process. We hope INEC will ensure that the BVAS machines are functional on election days in all the polling units across the country, even in the remotest wards, following the repeated assurances of its Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in this regard.
‘Let the fears in some quarters not be confirmed that the BVAS machines might be manipulated or pre-programmed to be functional in some polling units and dysfunctional in others.
‘Any infraction by INEC staff on the use of the BVAS during the general election should be reported to the appropriate quarters’,he further stressed.
Security
Archbishop Ugorji decried the State of the Nation, especially the security, socio-political and economic challenges in the country:
‘The Boko Haram militia, Fulani herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen have continued to unleash terror in different parts of the country.
‘Property worth billions of Naira has been razed. Hundreds of lives have been lost in very brutal circumstances and many more have been maimed.
‘Communities have been sacked and their inhabitants displaced on account of the activities of unidentified persons and some government security agents.
‘Kidnapping for ransom is on the increase. Nowhere seems safe: highways, homes and even the sacred precincts of worshipping centres.
‘Some of our Church personnel have been victims of abduction and arson. Our people have continued to live in a gloomy atmosphere of fear and groan with anguished hearts.’
Scarcity of New Naira Notes/ Fuel
He expressed worry over long-persisting fuel scarcity, which make Nigerians spend endless hours in long queues under harsh weather conditions, trying to buy fuel at exorbitant prices.
‘The collapsing national economy will worsen the ugly situation of insecurity.
‘While the value of the Naira continues to decline, the cost of basic commodities, including food items, continues to soar, with serious effects on the lives and livelihoods of our people.
‘…The implementation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cash swap policy has resulted in a cash crunch, leading to the anger and frustration of the masses.
‘On account of the hard-biting economic conditions, many of our brothers and sisters are pauperized and go to bed without food.
‘Many of them are resorting to crime and begging to survive. This situation is further compounded by the growing debt burden that is mortgaging our future and the future of generations coming after us.
‘The future of the country looks bleak. The government seems overwhelmed by the situation, despite its claim that it is on top of the matter. … However, all hope is not lost.’ he lamented.
Also, the Archbishop of Abuja Archdiocese, Ignatius Kaigama, advised politicians and the citizenry to avoid offensive statements, as the country prepares for free, fair and credible elections.
Ignatius Ayau Kaigama, Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Archdiocese.
‘Offensive statements that look down on others and wound their dignity should be avoided: words of rejection, resentment, hate or revenge.
‘We must avoid the Esau-syndrome, who mortgaged his birthright over a plate of pottage (Gen. 25:29-33).
‘We must also shun the way of Judas Iscariot, who sold his Master for the price of a slave (Mt. 26:15) and make well informed electoral choices, not to be given to selfish sentiments and political manipulations as the crowds, who chose the criminal Barabbas to be released and rather have Jesus crucified (Mt. 27:17-22).
‘We pray God to bless us with political leaders of integrity and the fear of God.
‘The next president needs a great measure of God’s grace as he swears an oath on May 29th, 2023, knowing that Nigeria is not poor, but it has poverty of management,’he explained.
Good Governance
The President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Daniel Okoh, commended the CBCN for its resolve to address issues that promote good governance in Nigeria. He also called on the Nigerian government to ensure fairness in equity distribution.
His Eminence, Daniel Okoh, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Other issues discussed at the plenary were: Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance and Promotion of Good Governance in Nigeria.
He called on the citizens to monitor and evaluate the implementation of government budgets, allocations, programmes and policies and have the courage to call government institutions and representatives to accountability when necessary.
‘Good governance is also fostered when citizens stage peaceful protests against unjust policies, impunity and fraudulent practices in public service.
‘The End-Sars protest of October 2020 against Police brutality was a step in the right direction; it provides a good example of citizens’ participation in good governance in Nigeria,’His Eminence Daniel Okoh said.
Also, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Julius Adeniyi, tasked Christians with active participation in politics.
Professor Adeniyi called on Nigerian leaders to make decisions that will affect the lives of citizens positively.
Theme of the 2023 Conference was “Citizens’ Participation in Good Governance in Nigeria.”
Other dignitaries at the event were Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria; Archbishop Ali Buba Lamido, Anglican Bishop of Wusasa, Zaria; Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; and His Excellency Femi Kayode, amongst others.
The CBCN is the umbrella body of Catholic Bishops in Nigeria. Its first plenary meeting for the year would normally take place in the first week of Lent, but has been adjusted on account of the upcoming general elections, which have been scheduled to begin on 25 February, 2023.
Professor Enoch Afolayan of the Department of Morbid Anatomy Histopathology, University of Ilorin, has tasked the government to subsidize treatments so that cancer patients can easily access it.
Afolayan, who spoke to newsmen on cancer in Ilorin on Monday, charged philanthropists and governments at all tiers to launch foundations in supporting cancer control activities and to procure million doses of vaccines against Hepatitis viruses for the general public.
The theme of the 2023 World Cancer Day is: “Close the care Gap: Uniting our voices and taking action,” which seeks to summon like-minded people to be united in fight against the diseases.
He said: “There is need for procurement of mammography machine for early detection of breast cancer. This is the commonest cancer in Nigeria today.
“We need to show love to our mothers who are the main victims of this scourge. Also sponsorship for free PAP smear screening centres for early detection of cervical cancer, occult blood in stool and Stigmoidoscopy for colorectal cancer.”
The expert, who teaches in the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences of Unilorin, emphasized on the need to subsidize cancer treatment by way of supporting cancer patients in areas of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
He recommended palliative cares for terminal patients accessible, available and affordable by supporting and establishing hospices.
The expert added that terminal phase of cancer is very painful and deeply agonising not only for the patients, but also their relatives who look after them.
“Now that cancer is no longer a death sentence, we must do more to help survivors live comfortably to overcome various challenges and denials associated with its stigma.” The expert on cancer treatment warned that the disease has become a growing global epidemic with a disproportional share of its death in low and middle income countries such as Nigeria.
He however decried the dearth of the number of Population Based Cancer Registry (PBCR) in Nigeria, while urging the government to establish more. Afolayan warned people to avoid smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and avoid Ultra Violet (UV) radiation. He advised people to reduce excess weight, eat properly and avoid exposure to industrial and environmental toxins.
The Nigerian government has commended the country’s security and intelligence agencies for their sacrifices in keeping the country safe.
The Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed gave the commendation in Abuja Nigeria’s capital during the President Muhammadu Buhari scorecard series which was hosted by the Minister of Defence on Monday, 13th February 2023.
It would be recalled that the President Mohammadu Buhari administration when it came into power in 2015 highlighted Defence and security as a cardinal area and a priority, it, therefore, became imperative for this critical sector under the administration to inform Nigerians how it fared in the two tenures.
The Minister recalled the effort of the Nigerian security architecture in handling the panic created by a travel advisory by some western nations’ embassies in Abuja about three months ago.
“Let me use this occasion to commend our security agencies for their sacrifices to keep us safe. Recall ladies and gentlemen that in October 2022 United States and United Kingdom embassies in Nigeria issued travel advisories, warning their citizens to avoid Abuja due to the risk of terrorist attacks, this created much panic in the country, as a matter of fact, a number of Americans were reported to have fled Abuja in the wake of the warning. In our reaction, we assure Nigerian and no Nigerians of their safety nothing that our security agencies were on top of the matter
“It is in this light we want to commend our gallant troops, security agencies, the police, intelligence agencies and all other security agencies for their sacrifices to keep Nigeria safe as we call on all citizens to support our armed forces in carrying out their mandate.”
The Minister further stated that the country’s security and intelligence community have the capacity, experience and all it takes to handle all situations and concerns as they are always on top of the situation.
Ministry of Defence
The elaborate briefing by the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi covered a wide range of areas of Defence and intelligence where the armed forces have done exploits, ranging from strides recorded in various theatres of operations including the war against insurgency in the North East, banditry and kidnapping in the North West, piracy and oil bunkering in the west and south among other operational measures by the services to curb criminal elements.
General Magashi also said the injection and introduction of innovative ideas in the armed forces through the years under the Buhari administration with enhanced capacity of the Armed Forces, transformational leadership styles in both kinetic and non-kinetic operations, continuous acquisition of platforms, recruitment, Degrading of insurgents and other armed criminals across operational theatres, have been visible in the improved security the country has witnessed.
“At the inception of this administration, the nation was at an all-time low in terms of overall security throughout all regions. For instance, while Boko Haram’s insurgency was particularly severe in the North East, the North West was primarily plagued by armed banditry, kidnapping, and inter-communal violence. Additionally, pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft were problems in the Niger Delta region
“However, through visionary and competent leadership of the administration, the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces were able to, among other things. weaken the insurgency, strengthen internal security and curtail crude oil theft,“ Stated General Magashi
The Defence Minister also said in line with the national Defence Policy, the ministry introduced saveral programs and policies towards enhancing operational capacities and capabilities of the Armed Forces among them are the Revised National Defence Policy, Reforms of the Ministry of Defence, establishment of a military-industrial complex, the establishment of the Defence industries cooperation of Nigeria amongst others.
General Magashi attributed these numerous feats to the visionary leadership of the Buhari administration which according to him has changed the course of the challenges.
The Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor while re-echoing the monsters stated that while there is no Nigerian territory under the control of criminals, operations are still going in some parts of the country and the military is at the final stage of clearing the remnants of the criminals.
“The report we have currently should validate the position which the minister has given with respect to the fact that there is no territory under of this country let alone let alone in the North East that is under control of any of the criminal elements, but that does not imply that they are not still making attempts to see that their last vastitudes remain which of course the armed force are holding onto to ensure it does not exist.“
Present at the event were the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Ibrahim Kana, all the Service Chiefs, Intelligence Agencies Chiefs and other security agencies, government functionaries, media executives, and members of the public.
The Fulani Political Forum in Nigeria has endorsed Kola Abiola, the presidential candidate of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP).
The group also promised to deliver more than seven million (7,000,000) votes for the party’s presidential candidate.
The patron of the forum, Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the endorsement at a rally held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
‘Abiola is a man with the capacity to bring the change we are clamouring for.
‘We identified with PRP based on their manifesto which is people-centered.
‘We have not seen the difference between the two major political parties in Nigeria. We, therefore, call on Nigerians to give PRP a chance.
‘What we are hoping for is a complete change, and in Abiola we see a gentleman that isable to drive Nigeria forward,’ said Abdullahi.
He disclosed that the Fulani pastoralists used to have about five million votes but now the opportunity to register online and generate a data of young Fulani graduates has been created.
‘We provided them with devices to go to nomadic settlements to register those people so that We’ll be able to increase our voting capacity.
‘We are happy to inform Nigerians that we’ll be able to produce seven million votes now confidently.
‘Other parties should support him because of the contribution of his father, the late MKO Abiola, who had done a lot for this country in so many spheres of life.
‘Given what happened to his father, I think Nigeria should support his son to rule this country. That is called justice,’he added.
Mr. Abdullahi also urged Nigerians not to vote based on religious or ethnic grounds, saying Nigerian should vote on capacity, patriotism and justice.
In his speech, the People’s Redemption Party’s presidential candidate, Kola Abiola, promised to fix the nation with the support of the Fulanis.
He said the June 12, 1993 presidential election, presumably won by the late MKO Abiola, his father, would continue to be a reference point in Nigeria’s political history and the outcome of the 1993 election was accepted by all because it reflected the will of the people.
‘We have done an election in this country before which is still the fairest and most equitable election in this country up till today- that was in 1993.
‘Did we have any fight? We did not. But as long as the will of the people is taken into consideration and they allow their votes to count, I really don’t see any violence happening.
‘When you start feeling aggrieved, it is a different ball game.
‘But as long as it runs free and fair for everybody, the outcome will be accepted across board,’ Abiola said.
While calling on party supporters to hold the different candidates of the party accountable, Abiola said he would ensure that women and Persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) were carried along, if elected.
He promised to empower Nigerian youths, if elected president of Nigeria, noting that the biggest legacy the party would bequeath the youths was to enthrone role models to enable them take over and rule the country.
The Issue of Currency Swap
Abiola expressed his dismay over the unavailability of the new naira notes, stressing that the policy which came at the election period was unfortunate.
The PRP presidential aspirant described the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as ill-timed as it has compounded the woes of ordinary citizens in the villages across the country.
‘We have a situation where the policy is coming too late and it was not really thought out, and the banks can not cope with the influx.
‘We do not have enough cash out there; many of our citizens are not even in the banking system. If you are in a village or in a local government area that doesn’t have a bank, how can they change money?
‘You need to be inclusive first before you bring a policy that is inclusive. We are not even inclusive; how do we even transact?
‘The banking software, the Fintech, are not robust to take the volume of the activities you are forcing it to do online.
‘What has happened is that a lot of banking softwares have crashed.
‘Nobody is doing the audit of thebanking softwares to be sure that they can actually cope with the volume increase,’ he added.
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), says Nigeria needs to harness the skills and resources of its citizens in the diaspora to sustain the country’s digital economy
The NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa who stated this in Abuja, during a courtesy visit by the Continental of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Europe (NIDOE), Bashir Obasekola added that this could be achieved through partnerships with Nigerians living outside the country.
Inuwa represented at the meeting by the agency’s Director of Information Technology Infrastructure Solutions, Usman Gambo Abdullahi, further explained that fostering partnerships with Nigerians in the diaspora would enable the government to tap into the vast opportunities offered by its citizens to provide a deeper sense of purpose to national development.
“NIDOE is the second largest Nigerians in diaspora organization across the world, and you being here is the beginning of a relationship we have been hoping to build.”
The NITDA Boss noted that partnering with NIDOE will provide a foundation that can be built on for further collaborations with Nigerians in the diaspora.
He added that through its Research and Development department, the agency has developed a Brain Circulation Strategic Program for 2023 by networking with people in the diaspora to drive the Research and Development ecosystem of the country.
“Individually, Nigerians in the diaspora are making efforts and driving good initiatives but collectively, we can work to sustain all these initiatives which is why, in developing our regulatory instruments, we have open invitations for volunteers across the world.”
He disclosed that the Code of Practice for social media, the National Artificial Intelligence Policy, the National Digital Skills Strategy (NDSS) and the National Outsourcing Strategy (NOS) are initiatives of the agency undergoing stakeholders’ engagement – all of which have drawn the interests of Nigerians in the diaspora.
Citing the LEAP event held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where two Nigerian startups won a $300,000 grant as an example, He said the engagement with NIDOE would further improve the flow of foreign direct investments into the country.
The NIDOE Boss lauded the NITDA for its contributions to the growth of the nation’s economy and assured him that his organisation would collaborate with the agency through effective training, mentoring, consultancy, investment and funding in areas of IT Research and Development, Cybersecurity, amongst other initiatives.
Eleven days to the presidential election, the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu / Kashim Shettima ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got a big boost in Abuja on Monday with endorsements by Christian leaders under the aegis of Clerics Congress of Nigeria.
The endorsement took place at a stakeholders’ conference attended by representatives of both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the APC.
The Clerics, led by Archbishop Ali John Ali and Bishop Timothy Cheren, premised their endorsements of Tinubu / Shettima ticket on competence, capacity and required vision for progressive leadership and nation-building.
In a speech read on behalf of the clerics totalling 500 across the country, Bishop Cheren said the Tinubu / Shettima ticket is the best choice for Nigeria and Nigerians.
‘After a cursory look at all the presidential aspirants, and without any dint of sentiment attached, we have found one candidate suitable to deliver the required result needed to take our nation out of our present predicament and usher in the required development needed to take us to the next level.
‘That candidate, without any shadow of a doubt, is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
‘Our decision has been predicated on the indices of track record of past performance, ability to unite the country and fight insecurity, economic programme of development and the ability to build a sterling leadership succession,’the statement read in part.
Muslim-Muslim Candidacy
‘On the issue of a Muslim and Muslim ticket which has engendered so much debate, we have carefully considered the issues that gave birth to the decision to select a Muslim as his deputy, and came to the conclusion that the reasons were more about the strategy to win elections and have somebody he can be comfortable to work with, than of religious discrimination.
‘Looking closely at the life of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, you can see he has a Christian wife, children that are of Christian faith. Most of his political friends and associates are Christians. This is definitely not the man that will Islamize the country.
‘We, therefore, urge those playing the card of religion discriminalization to sheath their swords in the spirit of national harmony and integration,’ the statement further read.
In their separate speeches of acceptance, representatives of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Senator Grace Bent and that of Senator Kashim Shettima, Senator Smart Adeyemi, commended the clerics for rising above religious sentiments in making their choice.
Senator Adeyemi in particular, described Tinubu as a liberal-minded Muslim who will not, in anyway, make any policy or take decisions that would be injurious to Christians in the country.
Nigeria, he posited, is at a crossroads, requiring a leader that is highly visionary and full of ideas.
‘Both Asiwaju Tinubu and Senator Shettima are men of honour who are needed at the helms of affairs at the highest level in Nigeria today,’he stressed.
The Kwara State Government in North Central Nigeria has commenced its free transport palliatives for students and staff of some tertiary institutions as part of measures to cushion the effects of fuel and currency scarcity in the state.
The government had last Thursday announced plans to make available buses at the designated motor parks to convey the students and staff along specific routes down to their campuses.
The Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs, Bello Mubarak, who supervised the exercise across the designated motor parks in Ilorin, said the free bus ride was considered necessary by the government to ease the suffering of students of the affected campuses amid the difficulty imposed by the scarcity of fuel.
He said the Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq after receiving complaints from the students’ unions’ leaders, deemed it fit to come to their aid by conveying them to campuses free of charge.
“As you can see, students are getting into the buses to go to schools for their daily studies. Some of them are having exams including the post UTME. The Executive Governor of Kwara State, in his magnanimity, gave a directive for free bus ride from various areas to campuses, to alleviate the suffering of students and staff of those schools, due to the scarcity of fuel and cash.
“The days to carry out the exercise will continue as long as the directive lapses. We don’t have a directive to stop it any time soon. We will continue as it is. It is cost-free for the students and staff of those schools.“
The Senior Special Assistant on Transport (Central), Orire Ibrahim, said that the programme was in response to the current reality and to save the students from missing their classes daily.
“We are here to supervise the government’s free transport palliatives to students of higher institutions in Kwara State such as Unilorin, Kwara Polytechnic and KWASU in Malete. It is an important step by Governor AbdulRazaq to support the students because of the hardship of getting fuel,” he said.
Some of the benefitting students, who spoke to journalists at various points, appreciated the administration for being responsive and sensitive to their plights.
Suleiman Mubarak Olanrewaju – a student of University of Ilorin and member of the School Transport Committee, said the initiative came in handy for them, and commended the government for its timely intervention.
“Yes, there is government’s intervention buses all over here. I think we have four of Soludero buses. Everything here is free. It comes in handy for us because this place is always messy. For us to see Soludero buses here and they are even free, we thank the government for the palliatives,” he said.
Comrade Imam Olooto Abdulhakeem, an executive member of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS), Kwara State axis, also lauded AbdulRazaq for acceding to their request, noting that the gesture would go a long way in alleviating their difficulty in getting to and coming from their respective campuses.
Abdulwahab AbdulHakeem said the free transport would save him from continuously staying on the campus for a whole week rather than attending classes and coming home daily.
“For me, I am very excited, because I used to stay around the campus for a whole week because of the mobility problem, but with this arrangement from the government, I will be able to go and come back home daily,” he said.
