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A Nigerian government initiative is targeting Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Kaduna, Benue, and Kebbi states in the battle against banditry.

The post Nigeria Targets 7 Frontline States for Pulako Approach, Sets Aside N50bn to Tackle Banditry, Rustling  appeared first on Arise News.

The Arewa Movement for Good Governance, AM2G, has urged Nigerians to demand accountability from their leaders, stating that democracy is losing its meaning, value, and shine.

The movement expressed disappointment that during the presentation of the 2024 budget, there were allegations that the budget box was empty, and the National Assembly failed to adequately address the accusation, aside from verbally dismissing it.

Naija News reports that the Convener, Dr. Usman Bugaje, speaking during his address to journalists in Kaduna on Thursday regarding national issues, mentioned allegations that members were offered a certain amount in dollars to divert their attention from the budget and simply approved it, further corrupting the budget process.

He also referenced another allegation that the N160 million SUVs were part of a bribe to get the NASS members to rubber-stamp the budget.

Bugaje claimed that Senator Abdul Ningi’s suspension after his accusation that the 2024 budget was padded seemed to be a reactionary measure that contradicted the principles of representation in a democracy.

According to him, this is an obvious attempt to avoid dealing with the raised issues.

“It is also unfair for an issue of this magnitude to be swept under the carpet without a thorough investigation to prove beyond doubts to the Nigerian public, who ostensibly elected these Senators to represent them, that the Senators are not culpable.

“From the video clips shown by the media covering the National Assembly, we found it intriguing that after the suspension and as Senator Ningi was walking out of the chamber with the heap of evidence in his hands, no senator appeared to show any compunction,” Bugaje lamented.

Bugaje criticized the Senate for its silence, suggesting a conspiracy. He noted the Senate’s failure to act impartially regarding budget padding and lamented the stifling of evidence presentation.

He highlighted the crisis in Nigeria’s democracy, citing its failure to foster development and its contribution to impoverishing citizens, pushing many below the poverty line and into multi-dimensional poverty.

According to him, “Our democracy is not creating hope on the horizon for the teaming youth who cannot even go to school and those that managed to cannot find jobs.

“Our democracy is losing its meaning, losing its value and losing its luster. Our democracy is stripping of our dignity, of our honor and of our humanity.”

The post ‘Our Democracy Is Losing Its Meaning’ – Arewa Group Urges Nigerians To Demand Accountability From Leaders appeared first on Naija News.

The Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has commissioned the Mines Marshals, a paramilitary squad.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, launched the Marshals at an event in Abuja on Thursday.

Alake said the squad was formed from a unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to tackle the menace of illegal mining in the country.

The minister added that the unit would also curb the smuggling of solid minerals from the country to foreign nations.

Recall that the minister said on Tuesday that no mining license would be issued to prospective investors without requisite plans for value addition on minerals.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Alake said the federal government had resolved to ensure compliance before permitting investors to operate.

He said that his Seven-Point Agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria’s mineral resources.

He said the support of the executive and the legislature had enabled the ministry to showcase the solid minerals sector globally, resulting in his election as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to him, with the pact that led to the formation of the AMSG, there is now unity of purpose on the African continent regarding the issue of local value addition.

He said: “We are no longer going to allow anybody or license any company that wants to go into the mineral sector without giving us a plan for local value addition,  like processing, refining and this has a multiplier effect on the economy.

“It instantly generates employment rather than a few people carting away lithium, gold, and the likes to other countries to sell.

“These minerals must now be processed in Nigeria, creating more value and beneficiation for local communities where they are sourced.”

The post BREAKING: Tinubu Govt Launches Mines Marshals appeared first on Naija News.