Governor Makinde of Oyo State, on Thursday, led top government functionaries and other members of the public in a ‘Democracy Walk’ in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 1.8-kilometre walk, who took off from the Government House arcade, Agodi, terminated at the Total Garden roundabout in the ancient city.

Addressing newsmen at the end of the walk, Makinde, who said that 60 years was very significant in the existence of a nation, added that the celebration of the diamond jubilee would have been held at a stadium but for the COVID-19 pandemic.

He noted that a lot of Nigerians might not see anything good about the nation’s 60th independence anniversary, stating, however, that not everything was wrong with the country.

“Nigeria is surely doing certain things right. We should focus on those things we have gotten right and try to build on it.

“We should also not forget to make amends, where possible, on those areas we are falling short,” the governor said. He congratulated Nigerians, especially the people of the state, on witnessing the country’s diamond jubilee.

NAN reports that the walk attracted hundreds of Ibadan residents who joined the governor and other government functionaries.

NAN also reports that various voluntary organisations, such as Man ‘O War, Cyclists Association and some Ibadan-based NGOs, also took part in the exercise.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Lagos to demand an end to bad governance in Nigeria on the occasion of its 60th Independence and at least 30 of those protesters have been arrested.

The demonstrators told newsmen that they were members of #RevolutionNow protesters.

Some members of the group, including the organizer, Omoyele Sowore, were arrested last year by the Federal Government for carrying out a similar protest.

During today’s protest in Lagos, Nigerian security officers stormed the area and took at least 30 of them into custody.

Similar protests are also taking place in some other states in the country.

With over 900 million votes cast this season, see the full weekly vote results here.

These are the consolidated weekly Voting results from the 5th edition of Big Brother Nigeria.

Round 1:

Laycon – 24,28%

Erica – 15,60%

Nengi – 10,62%

Dorathy – 9,30%

Ozo – 8,84%

Kiddwaya – 6,33%

Neo – 3,76%

Brighto – 3,52%

Wathoni – 2,93%

Vee – 2,47%

TolaniBaj – 1,84%

Tochi – 1,82%

Kaisha – 1,63%

Trikytee – 1,61%

Lilo – 1,52%

Eric – 1,37%

Praise – 1,28%

Ka3na – 1,28%

Round 2:

Laycon – 26,55%

Erica – 16,20%

Nengi – 12,73%

Kiddwaya – 5,98%

Prince – 5,54%

Brighto – 4,20%

Lucy – 4,08%

Neo – 3,67%

Tolanibaj – 3,30%

Vee – 3,28%

Praise – 2,99%

Wathoni – 2,76%

Kaisha – 2,41%

Trikytee – 2,29%

Tochi – 2,11%

Eric – 1,91%

Round 3:

Laycon – 27,36%

Nengi – 12,05%

Dorathy – 10,89%

Ozo – 8,09%

Lucy – 7,71%

Prince – 4,97%

Praise – 4,18%

Vee – 3,89%

Tolanibaj – 3,77%

Brighto – 3,76%

Kaisha – 3,48%

Trikytee – 3,47%

Wathoni – 3,25%

Neo – 3,13%

Round 4:

Laycon – 25,06%

Erica – 17,28%

Nengi – 10,69%

Dorathy – 8,48%

Neo – 7,31%

Ozo – 6,79%

Lucy – 5,42%

Brighto – 3,86%

Prince – 3,84%

Trikytee – 3,58%

Wathoni – 3,25%

Vee – 2,79%

Praise – 1,65%

Round 5:

Laycon – 24,97%

Erica – 16,09%

Trikytee – 8,80%

Dorathy – 8,54%

Vee – 8,03%

Prince – 7,64%

Neo – 6,90%

Kiddwaya – 5,62%

Lucy – 4,41%

Wathoni – 3,57%

Tolanibaj – 2,75%

Brighto – 2,64%

Round 6:

Laycon – 41,41%

Kiddwaya – 16,20%

Nengi – 13,31%

Trikytee – 11,19%

Vee – 9,76%

Lucy – 8,12%

Round 7:

Ozo – 27,97%

Dorathy – 26,58%

Kiddwaya – 24,92%

Prince – 20,53%

Round 8:

Laycon – 50,11

Dorathy – 26,68%

Ozo – 19,11%

Trikytee – 4,10%

Round 9:

Laycon – 60,00%

Dorathy – 21,85%

Nengi – 15,03%

Neo – 1,94%

Vee – 1,18%

President Muhammadu Buhari read his speech from the Presidential Villa early on Thursday, October 1, 2020 ahead of Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary celebrations. Followed by several provocative tweets that got Nigerians wondering if his Twitter page was hacked.

The president was literally mocking, insulting and threatening Nigerian citizens.

Below are five key statements he made.

1. Accordingly, in the last three years, we have introduced unprecedented measures in support of the economy and to the weakest members of our society in the shape of:

a. Tradermoni

b. Farmermoni

c. School Feeding Programme

d. Job creation efforts

e. Agricultural intervention programmes

2. No government in the past did what we are doing with such scarce resources. We have managed to keep things going in spite of the disproportionate spending on security. Those in the previous Governments from 1999 – 2015 who presided over the near destruction of the country have now the impudence to attempt to criticize our efforts.

3. In the circumstances, a responsible government must face realities and take tough decisions.

4. Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre. A comparison with our neighbours will illustrate the point;

a. Chad which is an oil producing country charges N362 per litre

b. Niger, also an oil producing country sells 1 litre at N346.

c. In Ghana, another oil producing country, petroleum pump price is N326 per litre.

5. Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.

#Drop your comment below

Former President Goodluck Jonathan and wife, Patience Jonathan popularly known as Mama Peace today joined President Muhammadu Buhari and others at the Eagles Square for the Independence Day Anniversary parade.

What do you think of the closeness of the two leaders in recent times?

Many have said, GEJ may be the favoured choice of the President for 2023. A rumour Dr Jonathan has dispelled overtimes.

Happy Independence Day Anniversary to us all.

Chairman of UBA Group, Transcorp and Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu on Thursday celebrated Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary dressed in a spotless white outfit.

Mr Elumelu shared a picture of himself in the outfit on Instagram with the caption:-

“Happy Independence Day, Nigeria ��.”

Elumelu recently made the 2020 TIME100, the annual list of 100 most influential people in the world.

Reputed as a champion of entrepreneurship in Africa, Elumelu in 2010 created The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to empower a new generation of African entrepreneurs.

Sources reports that since inception, the foundation has funded just under 10,000 entrepreneurs and created a digital ecosystem of over one million as part of its 10-year $100 million commitment through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

On the 1st of October 2020, 153 new confirmed cases were recorded in Nigeria.

Till date, 59001 cases have been confirmed, 50452 cases have been discharged and 1112 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The 153 new cases are reported from 14 states- Lagos (81), Rivers (21), FCT (11), Ogun ( 8 ), Kaduna (7), Oyo (6), Akwa Ibom (5), Osun (3), Katsina (3), Edo (2), Ebonyi (2), Nasarawa (2), Plateau (1), Kano (1).

A multi-sectoral national emergency operations centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, continues to coordinate the national response activities.

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has condemned the comparison between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia made by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in his Independence Day address.

The President, TUC, Quadri Olaleye, in a statement on Thursday, said the comparison was unnecessary as Nigeria was not at par in all ramifications with Saudi Arabia and other countries mentioned.

He said the country had achieved nothing despite six decades of oil exploration, adding that the government was paying lip service to infrastructure development.

He said successive governments had looted, laundered and wasted the country’s resources while patronising hospitals outside the country.

Olaleye said,

“It is like comparing black and white. It is that bad!

“It is ridiculous to compare Nigeria with Saudi, Dubai, or any other country, not even in Africa. With the natural resources that we have, we could rule the world, but government is not interested. There is no need for this comparison because it looks like the president is defending fraud and the impoverishment of Nigerians.

“Come to think of it, what has Nigeria achieved with all the money made from oil since over six decades of oil exploration in commercial quality? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. All successive leaderships have done is loot, launder and buy properties in foreign land.

“So, if the president is defending the hike (in pump price), what does he want to do with the surplus they will make from the hike? The same old story of providing infrastructure! Our roads are nothing but death traps. Our leaders are not patriotic at all.”

He argued that in Saudi Arabia, roads, water, and to some extent, jobs were not big issues.

“On the other hand, Nigerians contend with estimated bills because power firms had refused to provide meters,” Olaleye added.

Buhari seeks stronger collaboration to end corruption.

For Nigeria to successfully win the war against corruption, all sectors must collaborate better in a bid to end the menace that has hindered the country from making progress and becoming a greater nation that would be the envy of Africa and the world.

President Muhammadu Buhari made the assertion yesterday while restating his administration’s commitment to end corruption in the country.

He, therefore, sought a stronger collaboration among all tiers of government to tame the menace ravaging the country.

President Buhari spoke in Abuja at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) second National Summit on Diminishing Corruption and launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy to mark the 20th anniversary of its establishment.

The Policy was put together by the ICPC, in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

The President also charged Nigerians to join the government in combating the menace and return the country to the values of honesty and integrity.

His words:

“As military Head of State, I fought corruption headlong and held public officers who abused their offices or misused public funds to the account.”

I introduced the War Against Indiscipline (WAI), one of whose cardinal objectives was to promote ethical conduct, integrity, and hard work.

“In 1984, I recognised, as I do now that corruption poses a clear danger to Nigeria, so, we cannot relent in efforts to eradicate it in all its ramifications. As I have often reminded Nigerians that if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

“Also in my inaugural speech in 2015, I affirmed my administration’s determination to rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and serviceable. I charged public servants to apply themselves with integrity to stabilise the system and solicited the cooperation of the legislature to maintain their brief of making laws and carrying out oversight functions.

“We must all join hands together to fight corruption and return to our traditional values of honesty and integrity. I hereby use the opportunity of this summit to launch the National Ethics and Integrity Policy as a fresh roadmap to return Nigeria to these critical national values.”

Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore has called on singer Burna Boy to join the #RevolutionNow protest planned for October 1.

Sowore made the call in a message he shared on social media on Tuesday.

According to the former presidential candidate, many describe Burna Boy as a revolutionary musician and he has been likened to the late afrobeat legend Fela Kuti.

Questioning the musician’s activism, Sowore wrote

“I am yet to see you lead anyone to a police station carrying a coffin for head of state!”

Sowore leads a group known as Coalition for Revolution (CORE), organisers of #RevolutionNow protest.

The first protest was staged in August 5, 2019 and the second edition on the same date in 2020.

The October 1 protest is planned to hold in all 36 states across Nigeria as well as in London, Sweden, Netherlands, San Francisco, New York, Washington DC, Germany and Canada.

Burna Boy had not responded to Sowore’s invitation as at the time of filing this report.

The musician has, whoever, said he does not feel good about comparison to Fela.

“I don’t think anybody in their right mind would compare me to Fela.

“Fela is my inspiration and my childhood hero, so if you think comparing me to Fela is honourable, it’s actually not.

“It actually makes me feel weird. Fela was Fela, and if it wasn’t for Fela, there probably wouldn’t be any me, so I don’t understand the comparison,” Igbere TV reports that the Grammy nominee said in a GQ interview earlier in the year.

It’s obvious from the way things are going, there might not be NIGERIA before 2023.

I keep having this feelings that Nigeria will be divided into two or three places before 2023. In fact I don’t think there will be 2023 presidential election.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo indirectly said this yesterday. I think the Yorubas and Igbos are up to something. I think it’s time we wake up from slumber and face the reality. We cannot be living with fear in our own fatherland.

A particular region(North) keep presiding over the rest from generation to generation. We are all Nigerians by birth and by right for crying out loud. We deserve equal rights and justice. We cannot be living like slaves in the face of hunger and poverty.

So on last week Sunday, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo stylishly said Nigeria may break up if efforts are not made to address the cracks. He said efforts to mend the crack might be opposed, but such opposition would be defeated with focus and consistent prayers. Lol consistent prayers? Who is going to pray? Hahaha.

He said this on Sunday in Abuja at an interdenominational church service to commemorate Nigeria’s 60th Independence anniversary, according to Punch newspaper.

He made the statement referencing the biblical story of how Nehemiah championed the rebuilding of the broken walls of Jerusalem.

He said,

“The story should be a challenge to every Christian in Nigeria. It’s only that kind of Nehemiah’s love that will make us, as Nigerians, to rebuild the cracks we have in our walls today.

“For us in Nigeria, Nehemiah should be taken as a metaphor for those Nigerians who either reside in Nigeria or outside, to cry to God to use the abandoned opportunities in Nigeria to address our challenges of nation-building.

“Fortunately for us, our walls are not yet broken, but there are apparent cracks that could lead to a break if not adequately addressed.

“Nehemiah started with fervent prayers, seeking the face of God and pleaded with his king to allow him to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the broken walls because the wall signifies peace, security, contentment and prosperity. It represents the essence of the state of the nation.

“There’s an urgent need for a Nehemiah in our country, Nigeria, today. And like Nehemiah faced opposition in his efforts to rebuild the walls, any Nigerian that desires to rebuild Nigeria must also be ready to face stiffer opposition which will come in torrents. It can only be diffused by consistent focus and prayers.”

I think the Vice President is indirectly passing a message to Nigerians on what is going to happen soon. We should be prepared for the worse or the best.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Drop your opinions in the comment section

The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has warned against another COVID-19 explosion in the country, following deliberate refusal by some states to carry out adequate testing.

NCDC’s Director-General, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, stated this while appearing on Arise TV.

Ihekweazu noted that some states were unable to ascertain the number of COVID-19 cases in their domain.

He, however, expressed delight that NCDC can establish that fewer cases were being reported than it was in the last six months, adding that he was especially impressed about the progress made in a few states, especially Lagos.

The NCDC boss, however, said many states are not learning from others and so are not testing enough and not finding enough.

“I am very worried that we might find an explosion in those states, which would then affect the rest of the country again,” Ihekweazu lamented.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva turns 59 today September 29th, and has taken to social media to celebrate her new age.

The 59-year-old ace actress sharing a photo of herself on her Instagram page appreciated family and friends who have always supported her

She wrote:-

“59 and grateful for.. Family and Friends…for what lies ahead…most of all….for the steadfast Love of the Lord….”

The talented actress who started acting in 1990 has enjoyed a successful career.

In May, she was elected member of the Lagos State Government post-COVID-19 review committee and was the head of the committee saddled with the duty of recommending ways to support the tourism and entertainment sectors of the state to bounce back after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Few months ago, actress, Kehinde Bankole who doubles as a Television host shared that veteran actress, Joke Silva is one of the top Nigerian women who inspires her.

There’s no surprise there as it’s a fact that the veteran actress, with multiple awards to her name is one of the prominent and classic thespian who paved the way and encouraged a handful of the new actresses in the Nigerian movie industry.

The Ekiti House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the bill for the upgrading of the State College of Education to the University of Education, Science and Technology.

The bill was unanimously passed at Tuesday’s plenary in Ado-Ekiti, presided over by the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye.

The passage of the bill followed the submission of the report of the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology headed by Mrs Kemi Balogun.

According to the report, read by Balogun, the Transitional Provision of Section 38 would give room to the existing students of the College of Education, lkere-Ekiti after the effective date of this law to complete their course of study as stipulated.

The report after ratification by the Committee of the Whole House, was unanimously passed.

The executive bill is titled, “A Bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment, Incorporation, Constitution, Powers, and Functions of the University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti and Other Matters Therewith.”

NAN reports that earlier at the Tuesday’s plenary, Under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, Chief Gboyega Aribisogan, (Ikole 1, APC) called the attention of the House to the gradual extinction of the Yoruba Language.

He called for advocacy and legislation to save the Yoruba Language, which he described as the identity of Western Nigeria.

Also, Mr Adeyemi Ajibade, (Moba 1, APC) Under Matter of Urgent Public Importance, drew the attention of the House to the non-availability of a telecommunications network in Osun-Ekiti in Moba Local Government Area of the state.

Ajibade called on the state government to prevail on the telecommunications network providers to extend their services to the community of over 30,000 dwellers.

The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to grant Presidential amnesty to 13-year-old Omar Farouq, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by a Sharia Court in Kano State for alleged blasphemy.

Farouq was on August 10, found guilty and jailed with menial labour by the Sharia court, after he was accused of using “disparaging language on Allah” during a disagreement with his friend. UNICEF pleaded for clemency for him during a virtual interactive session the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, held with Attorneys-General and Heads of Courts of the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday.

The topic of discussion at the virtual meeting was the implementation of the “Amnesty and Decongestion Programme for Juveniles Deprived of The Liberty during Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond”. In its goodwill message, UNICEF, through its Country Representative, Mr. Peter Hawkins, pleaded that Farouq should be considered in the planned amnesty program for juveniles.

Hawkins stressed that section 212 of Nigeria’s Child Rights Act, 2003, prohibited the arbitrary detention of juveniles.

While commending the Cross River State Government for the prompt release of 30 children below the age of 18 that were in detention, the UNICEF representative, begged FG to also release Farouq from detention.

“Due consideration should be given for him to have amnesty as part of this program”, Hawkins pleaded. The plea came shortly after the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed, disclosed that a total number of 738 juveniles are currently detained in three borstal centers in the country.

The NCS boss who was represented by a Deputy Comptroller-General, Mr. Tunde Ladipo, said the juveniles are currently locked up at borstal centers in Abeokuta in Ogun State, Illorin in Kwara State, and in Kaduna. According to him, “In the three borstal centers, the one in Abeokuta has 328 children, Illorin has 165, while Kaduna has 245 children”.

He said the facilities serve as rehabilitation centers for the treatment of juvenile and young offenders that were admitted through valid warrants from courts of competent jurisdiction, and with the consent of parents or guardians. He said the NCS took stringent measures that ensured that no inmate in the country was exposed to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, in his speech at the virtual meeting, the AGF, said the Federal Ministry of Justice has articulated plans for the second phase of nationwide custodial decongestion that will focus on implementing amnesty and decongestion for juveniles deprived of their liberty during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

. Malami thanked the AGs of Kogi, Kaduna, Edo, Ebonyi, Anambra Delta, and Zamfara for submitting their juvenile lists, even as he urged other states to do the same within the week “for a collaborative effort to ensure the success of this Juvenile Decongestion Programme”.

He said:-

“Considering the vulnerability and susceptibility of juveniles and children deprived of liberty in locked facilities, correctional centres, borstal homes, including those detained with their parents or caregivers, and those detained on national security grounds, to contracting the Coronavirus, due to the congested environment they are detained in; the Ministry classifies this Second Phase of the said exercise to be very strategic in achieving Juvenile Justice Reform and attainment of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

“I wish to underpin the importance of this intervention exercise which is aptly focused on juveniles, by stating its relevance to the effective implementation of some of the provisions of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019 especially section 35, that clearly stipulates provisions on juvenile offenders. “Also, this intervention will serve as an impetus to the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Childs Rights Act, 2003 that promotes the principle of detention as a last resort and use of diversionary alternatives for children in conflict with the law”.

Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos State, has said that ‘Agberos’ cannot be banned in the state because they were “our brothers and cousins”.

‘Agberos’ in Lagos are notorious for charging taxes that are not remitted to the government, terrorising neighbourhoods, robbing passengers and rigging elections for corrupt politicians.

Hamzat, while speaking with journalists to commemorate his 56th birthday in Lagos, said the National Union of Road Transport Workers to which the touts belong, had the same legitimacy and backing of the law as the Nigeria Medical Association.

He said:

“We have all agreed that we live by the constitution and laws. The National Union of Road Transport Workers is actually a union recognised by law. I know some people say ban them, but the government must also be careful.

When you just say arbitrarily ban them, what stops you from saying I want to ban the Nigerian Medical Association? Do you understand? There are times government and NMA have issues; does that mean they should be banned? They are expressing their opinion.

“They might be wrong or right but they have the right to express those opinions. And then remember these people (NURTW) are Nigerians; they are our brothers and cousins. So, one of the things we have been telling them is that if you are the chairman in Ajeromi and we see that there are all sorts of contraventions in Ajeromi, we will remove you as a chairman. We are not banning your union but it means you are incompetent.

“So, that is the outcome of one of the meetings we had with them, that if there’s an infraction in any of the areas due to the executive in that area, then it should be dissolved. And then you know we complain about our society, why people fight on the road; we have all gone around the world and it is only here we see people fighting on the road and tearing clothes off themselves, why? That has to change, but changing that does not mean banning them.

“It is to make sure we find the time and interact with them, and say, ‘look this is how it works’. Remember during former (Governor Bola Ahmed) Tinubu’s administration when we started BRT; it was a tug of war, but we took the union to Colombia to see how the union there metamorphosed into owning the BRT and so a lot of those blue buses at that time were owned by the union.

“We said, ‘See you can send your children to school by this; this is a job you can say you are proud of.’ Surprisingly they paid back the loans for the buses quickly. The same thing is happening in the abattoir (business); people say they don’t want the machines, some of our brothers said it is un-Islamic that they want to kill the cow themselves. So, we went to Kenya and Tanzania and we saw Muslims killing in an automated way, and so they agreed. So, it is a matter of engaging people and letting them see the reason they need to change their attitude. That is our way of doing things, not just say put them away.”

Former Presidential Candiate and Activist, Omoyele Sowore invited Burna Boy to join his Revolution Protest which will be taking place on Independence day.

Omoyele Sowore is known for organizing the ‘Revolution Now’ Protests and has been in a constant back and forth battle with the Nigerian Government.

Sowere via his Twitter page called on Burna Boy to join them for a protest as people have always compared him to Fela. Read Here

He wrote;

“Hello @burnaboy, everywhere I turn people describe you as a revolutionary musician, the foreign media even celebrate you compare you to Fela Kuti, but I am yet to see you lead anyone to a police station carrying a coffin for head of state!

Join”

Burna Boy in reply said that when Fela was alive, the same people he was fighting for was the same people who put him through hell.

He also said that his mother’s family was also ostracized because of their connection to Fela.

President Muhammadu Buhari is delighted that the bond of friendship between Nigeria and The People’s Republic of China has continued to strengthen.

The President, in a letter of felicitation with President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 71st Anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of China, and the country’s National Day, said though COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in the economies of the world, “it, however, gladdens my heart that despite this, our two countries have remained steadfast, and supported each other.”

President Buhari appreciated the government of China for being supportive of the infrastructural revolution of Nigeria.

Details of the letter:

“On the occasion of the 71st Anniversary of the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China, I send warm greetings to you on behalf of myself, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I rejoice with the Chinese people both at home and abroad on this happy occasion. Since the formal establishment of bilateral relations over 40 years ago, the bond of friendship between our two nations has continued to strengthen.

“Under the purposeful leadership of the Communist Party which you now head, China has been able to pull over 700 million people out of poverty in the last four decades. The Chinese experience on poverty reduction and positive economic growth will be instructive in our commitment to pull over 100 million out of poverty before 2030 as we implement our Agenda 2050 and the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2021–2025.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused disruptions in the socio-economic plans of every country of the world. It, however, gladdens my heart that despite this, our two countries have remained steadfast and supported each other.

“Mr President, the Chinese government has been very helpful in the realisation of the developmental agenda of Africa, evident through the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation which is in its 20th year. You have also been supportive towards Nigeria’s infrastructural revolution for which I am grateful.

“As you celebrate on October 1st, which fortuitously is the same National Day as ours, the Government and People of China are invited to participate in the year-long activities that will mark the 60th Anniversary of the Independence of Nigeria.

“Once again, I wish you happy celebrations.”

 This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, made Available to ABN TV.

He called on those who have such information to send same to the office of the Secretary to the State Government, Government House Umuahia, adding that their identity will be protected.

“The Abia State Government hereby announces a cash reward of 2.5 Million Naira each for any person or group that provides information leading to the arrest of those involved in the attack against the Military and Police Officers at Ukwa and Ohafia respectively.

“Any such information which should be sent to the office of of the Secretary to the State Government, Government House Umuahia will be treated with the highest confidentiality,” he said.