Tomato Scarcity as Metaphor by Reuben Abati

One of the major news items in circulation has been the scarcity of tomato. Incidentally, Nigeria is (was) the 14th largest producer of tomato in the world and the second largest producer in Africa, after Egypt, but our country hardly produces enough to meet the local demand of about 2.3 million tonnes, and lacks the capacity to ensure an effective storage or value chain processing of what is produced. Out of the 1.8 million tonnes that the country produces annually, 900, 000 tonnes are left to rot and waste. Meanwhile, tomato-processing companies in the country operate below capacity and many of them have had to shut down. 

      The CEO of Erisco Foods, Lagos, Eric Umeofia laments that tomato processing companies lack access to foreign exchange to enable them buy heat-resistant seedlings and other tools that would help ensure the country's sufficiency in local production of tomato paste. Similarly, Dangote Tomato Factory recently suspended operations due to the scarcity of tomatoes and the assault on its tomato farms by a tomato leaves destroying moth, known as "tuta absoluta" - a South American native, also known as the Tomato Ebola, because of its Ebola-like characteristics.

Cattle herdsmen as the new Boko Haram? by Reuben Abati

Fulani Herdsmen

"No matter how far the town, there is another beyond it" – Fulani Proverb

There has been so much emotionalism developing around the subject of the recent clashes between nomadic pastoralists and farmers, and the seeming emergence of the former as the new Boko Haram, forbidding not Western education this time, but the right of other Nigerians to live in peace and dignity, and to have control over their own geographical territory. From Benue, to the Plateau, Nasarawa, to the South West, the Delta, and the Eastern parts of the country, there have been very disturbing reports of nomadic pastoralists killing at will, raping women, and sacking communities, and escaping with their impunity, unchecked, as the security agencies either look the other way or prove incapable of enforcing the law.  The outrage South of the Sahel is understandable. It is argued, rightly or wrongly, that the nomadic pastoralist has been overtaken by a certain sense of unbridled arrogance arising from that notorious na-my-brother-dey-power mentality and the assumption that "the Fulani cattle" must drink water, by all means, from the Atlantic ocean.

Ese Oruru, the Girl-Child and a Nation's Shame by Reuben Abati

Ese Oruru

THREE different incidents in the last week cast, poignantly, in bold relief the plight of the girl-child in Nigeria. Thanks to The Punch newspaper which launched the #FreeEse, #JusticeforEse campaign and the civil society groups that took up the fight in a spirited manner. With the outrage and outcry that followed, within 72 hours, this same 14-year old girl who was abducted from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and taken to Kano, seven months ago, by one Yinusa Dahiru alias Yellow, is now free. While we were still grappling with this bizarre story, on Monday, a group of criminals stormed a school, Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary in Ikorodu, Lagos State and abducted three girls.

And if that was not shocking enough, on Wednesday, there was this other report about a 15-year old Benue girl, Patience Paul, who had been abducted by two neighbours and married off to a certain "Sarkin Musulmi" in Sokoto State. Her brother cried out, obviously motivated to do so by the Ese Oruru story. Set against the background of the abduction of 219 Chibok girls in 2014, a story that is well known internationally, Nigeria must by now appear in the eyes of the world as a large den of sexual predators, who seem to be obsessed with young, under-aged girls, and the adolescent female.

The international community would be correct to conclude that something terrible is happening here. Indeed, can we blame any analyst who may soon conclude that a girl child is abducted, assaulted or violated per minute in Nigeria, and that Nigeria is not a safe place for either a girl child or a female? The sanity and moral temperature of a society should be measured by the manner in which that society treats its underprivileged and vulnerable members. The powerful trample upon the weak, the privileged despise the less fortunate; a long journey to Hobbes' apotheosis, which is in truth a comment on the state of our development as state, country, people and society.

El-Zakzaky, Religion and the Nigerian State by Reuben Abati

SO much has been said about the December 12 confrontation between the Nigerian Army and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Sheik Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, the leader of the Shia in Nigeria. I guess the point has been well-made that there are faults on both sides.  There seems to be a consensus, however, that the followers of Ali, better known as Shiites or the Shia, seem to enjoy confrontations with the state and seem determined to disregard dominant authority – Islamic and secular.
By the same token, the Nigerian security establishment has since the 1980s showed an equal determination to put El Zakzaky in his place. But in no way does this justify the extra-judicial killing of members of the Islamic Movement, or the use of the word, "Prisoners of War" (POW) to describe its detained members. The Nigerian Government since the '80s has set up a series of panels of inquiry and produced tomes on the subject of forging peaceful relations between the state and religion, and yet religion remains a key threat to amalgamation and the sanctity of the Nigerian state.
What we are dealing with is something deeper — it is the outflow of a deep schism within the Islamic faith on the questions of authenticity and legitimacy, in terms of what constitutes rules, doctrines, interpretations and values. This old battle for doctrinal supremacy is what has been responsible for the divisions within the faith since the First Fitna. It is the drama being played out in the Middle East.  It is the story and politics of ISIS and ISIL. This is why it will be wrong to describe the Islamic Movement in Nigeria's constant conflict with the Nigerian state as a confrontation between Nigerian Muslims and the state, to the extent that ISIS or ISIL does not speak for all Muslims just as the ISMIN does not speak for all Nigerian Muslims.

"I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word" - President Jonathan

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2015

Fellow Nigerians,

I thank you all for turning out en-masse for the March 28 General Elections.

I promised the country free and fair elections. I have kept my word. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I will like to see endure.

Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws, in seeking redress.

As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else.

I congratulate all Nigerians for successfully going through the process of the March 28th General Elections with the commendable enthusiasm and commitment that was demonstrated nationwide.

I also commend the Security Services for their role in ensuring that the elections were mostly peaceful and violence-free.

To my colleagues in the PDP, I thank you for your support.  Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning.  We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth and free and fair elections.

For the past 16 years, we have steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a Pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and social transformation.

Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history. We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism.

I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure you that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure.

I have conveyed my personal best wishes to General Muhammadu Buhari.

May God Almighty continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I thank you all.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
President,
Federal Republic of Nigeria
March 31, 2015

Nigeria recaptures Gwoza from Boko Haram: military

Nigeria’s military on Friday announced that troops had retaken the town of Gwoza from Boko Haram, from which the group declared their caliphate last year.
“Troops this morning captured Gwoza destroying the Headquarters of the Terrorists self-styled Caliphate,” Defence Headquarters in Abuja said on Twitter
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/nigeria-recaptures-gwoza-from-boko-haram-military/#sthash.wDp9l5ex.dpuf

Photos: TY Danjuma visits President Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN  WITH THE CHAIRMAN VICTIMS SUPPORT FUND, GEN THEOPHILUS DANJUMA AFTER A MEETING AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA ABUJA ON  WEDNESDAY (11/3/15)

Courtesy: State House Photo

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S VISIT TO YOLA, MUBI, BAGA AND MAIDUGURI

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ON THURSDAY VISITED ADAMAWA AND BORNO STATES WHERE HE ADDRESSED NIGERIAN SOLDIERS IN  MUBI, BAGA AND MAIDUGURI.
HE ALSO VISITED THE EMIR OF MUBI, DR ABUBARKAR ISA AHMADU. HE  MET WITH GOV. KASHEEM SHETTIMA OF BORNO AND THE GOVERNOR OF ADAMAWA.

Courtesy: State House Photos

PRESIDENT JONATHAN VISITS NIGERIAN SOLDIERS IN MAIDUGURI, SALUTES THEIR COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM

PRESIDENT JONATHAN VISITS NIGERIAN SOLDIERS IN MAIDUGURI, SALUTES THEIR COURAGE AND PATRIOTISM
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan undertook a surprise visit to Maiduguri Thursday on the occasion of Nigeria's Armed Forces Remembrance Day to meet with officers and men of the Armed Forces currently in the frontline of the war against terrorism and insurgency in the country.
Accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the National Security Adviser and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, President Jonathan visited officers and men of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army at Maimalari Cantonment in Maiduguri to thank them for their patriotic and courageous service to the nation.

Meeting of the United Nations Security Council - Remarks by President Jonathan

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN (L) WITH THE
UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, BAN KI-MOON
DURING A BILATERAL MEETING AT THE ONGOING 69TH
SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
IN NEW YORK ON WEDNESDAY (24/9/14)

Remarks by
His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
at the High Level Meeting of the United Nations Security Council

Wednesday 24th September, 2014

 PROTOCOLS

 1.              Mr President, I would like to commence by appreciating your vision in convening this timely and crucial meeting. It underpins the long-standing commitment of the United States to the high aims of international peace and security. Our appreciation also goes to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, for the clarity and depth of his briefing.

 2.              Mr President, the people of Nigeria and indeed the entire peace-loving world were horrified at the gruesome murder of two American journalists and a British aid worker by elements linked to the Islamic State (I.S). These murders typify the new face of global terrorism marked by executions, extreme brutality and impunity.

3.              Unfortunately, I.S is not alone in this despicable campaign against humanity. Al Qaeda in the Arab Maghreb, Al Shabaab in Somalia, and Boko Haram in North Eastern Nigeria share this common agenda to unleash terror, mayhem, destruction, and instability around the world.

 4.              There is no doubt that foreign fighters have added a troubling dimension to this emerging phase of terrorism. From targeted attacks by Al Qaeda a few years ago, we now have mobile bands of thousands of terrorists sweeping across vast areas, destroying lives, and even attempting to hold territory. This is unacceptable; we must act now.

 5.              Mr. President, Nigeria knows too well the destructive effects of terrorist activities. Over the past five years, we have been, and are still confronting threats posed by Boko Haram to peace and stability predominantly in the North Eastern part of our country.

6.              The costs are high: over 13,000 people have been killed, whole communities razed, and hundreds of persons kidnapped, the most prominent being the mindless kidnap of our innocent daughters from Chibok Secondary School, in North East Nigeria.

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE NIGERIAN
DELEGATION AT THE 69TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL
ASSEMBLY (UNGA) IN NEW YORK ON WEDNESDAY (24/9/14)

7.              Mr. President, as daunting as the challenge may be, we have faced it with unrelenting determination, mobilising all the resources at our disposal to ensure that the scourge of terrorism is rooted out of our nation. In addition to our counterterrorism efforts, we have evolved initiatives to alleviate the plight of the population in the affected communities.

8.              These include a holistic effort through the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) which is aimed at providing immediate relief and fast tracking the infrastructural re-development of the region.  It also has as a core goal, an integrated effort at achieving the de-radicalisation of potential terrorist recruits.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR FAST-TRACKING OF UNITED NATIONS REFORMS

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
NIGERIAN DELEGATION AT THE 69TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNGA) IN NEW YORK ON WEDNESDAY (24/9/14)

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CALLS FOR FAST-TRACKING OF UNITED NATIONS REFORMS
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan declared Wednesday in New York that pressing challenges to global peace and security have made it imperative that urgent action be taken on the reformation of United Nations Security Council.

Delivering Nigeria's annual statement to the United Nations General Assembly, President Jonathan also called for an urgent review of United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO MEET OBAMA, BAN KI MOON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK

President Goodluck Jonathan and
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO MEET OBAMA, BAN KI MOON AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan left Abuja today en route to New York for the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

While in New York, President Jonathan will attend receptions hosted by President Barack Obama of the United States and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon.

The President will address the United Nations Security Council High-Level Session on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused By Terrorist Acts and present Nigeria's Statement to the General Assembly on Wednesday, September 24, 2014.

President Jonathan is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Mr. Ban Ki Moon and the British Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron.

The President will stop over in London for a brief private visit before proceeding to New York.

He is expected back in Abuja on Thursday.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 21, 2014

$9.3m scandal: S’Africa insists on criminal probe

There are strong indications that efforts of the Federal Government to ensure amicable settlement of issues surrounding the $9.3m seized by South Africa have failed.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, in an email to our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday, said that the matter was still under criminal investigations.

There were reports on Wednesday that $9.3m, which was seized from two Nigerians and an Israeli in Johannesburg, was meant for procurement of arms for intelligence agencies in Nigeria.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES PEOPLE OF KANO OF ENHANCED SECURITY

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES PEOPLE OF KANO OF ENHANCED SECURITY IN THE WAKE OF ATTACK ON COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commiserates with citizens and residents of Kano State on the loss of lives sustained today during the attack by terrorists on the Federal College of Education, Kano.

President Jonathan's sympathies and best wishes for a speedy recovery are also with all those who suffered injuries in the dastardly attack.

The President commends the officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force who took prompt action to confront the attackers and minimize resultant casualties.

He urges them to be even more alert and proactive in the future to stop terrorist attacks in Kano and other parts of the country.

President Jonathan reassures the people of Kano and all Nigerians that the Federal Government continues to do all within its powers to further enhance the ability of the Police, Armed Forces and other security agencies to prosecute the war against terrorism to a successful conclusion and provide greater security of lives and property across the country.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 17, 2014

PRESIDENT JONATHAN WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF ACCUSATION AGAINST FORMER GOVERNOR

PRESIDENT JONATHAN DID NOT TAKE ALI MODU SHERIFF TO CHAD, WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH  ONGOING INVESTIGATION OF ACCUSATION AGAINST FORMER GOVERNOR
We have noted with surprise, the unnecessary hue and cry raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other bigoted critics of the Jonathan Administration over the claim that the President is "hobnobbing" with the former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who was recently accused by the Australian, Stephen Davis of being one of the chief sponsors of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The totally erroneous basis for that charge was the spurious claim that Senator Sheriff accompanied President Jonathan on his recent trip to Ndjamena as a member of his entourage.
Although Senator Sheriff himself has already given the lie to that claim through his Media Adviser, the Presidency wishes to affirm, for the purpose of emphasis, that the former Borno State governor was not on President Jonathan's delegation to Chad.
In keeping with President Jonathan's commitment to transparency and openness in the conduct of government business, names of the key members of his delegation were announced a day before his trip to Ndjamena.

60% of fuel subsidy funds smuggled abroad –Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday lamented that a number of government programmes, which ought to have been effectively implemented for the benefit of Nigerians, could not be realised owing to poor data management system.

For instance, he listed the abuse of the fuel subsidy scheme, which was meant to reduce the cost of transportation for Nigerians as well as make life more meaningful for the ordinary people, as one of the disadvantages of not having an efficient national identity management system.

I butcher human beings in 2 minutes, says Boko Haram chief killer

Chief Butcher Zakari Mohammed Ardo

ABUJA — The Chief Butcher of the Boko Haram sect, Zakari Mohammed Ardo, yesterday, gave a chilling description of how the terrorist group used to slaughter people they capture, saying it only takes him two minutes to butcher victims and enemies condemned to death.
Ardo, who had been reported in some media (not Vanguard) as having escaped from Police custody, said the group’s butchering committee was made up of five persons of which he is the chairman, pointing out that the other members will hold down the already tired victim while he cuts off the head.
Speaking through an interpreter in Kanuri, the ‘Chief Butcher’ who claims to be 30 years old and from Darazo Local Government Area of Bauchi State,  said: “I joined the Boko Haaram group two years ago. Before I was arrested, I have slaughtered five people.”

Cameroon sacks 2 army chiefs after Boko Haram raids

Cameroon's President Paul Biya on Tuesday dismissed two senior army officers in the country's far north following Boko Haram attacks in which at least seven people were killed and the wife of vice prime minister, Amadou Ali was kidnapped.

Militants of the Nigerian Islamist group seized the wife of Amadou Ali and killed at least three persons on Sunday in an attack in the northern town of Kolofata involving more than 200 assailants. At least four soldiers were killed in two separate raids late last week.

Buhari in narrow escape as Kaduna blasts kill 70

Two explosions ripped through parts of Kaduna in Kaduna State on Wednesday, killing at least 70 people.

The first explosion targeted a popular Islamic cleric, Dahiru Bauchi, while the second targeted a former Head of State, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

Pix 1: Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s jeep after it was hit by a
lone bomber in Kaduna...on Wednesday.
(Pix 2) Another partially damaged vehicle in Buhari’s convoy.
(Pix 3) Another scene of the blasts.

Both men escaped unhurt in the blasts that forced the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew on the city.

Scores of people were injured and over 50 cars damaged in the incidents. The state police command put the death toll at 40 while the Federal Government, through the National Information Centre, said 14 people were injured.

Two of Buhari’s bodyguards and an aide were among the wounded. His Toyota Prado jeep was also hit by a suspected bomber near the 1 Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army in the Kawo area of Kaduna.

Nyanya blast: Key suspect, Ogwuche, extradited to Nigeria

The alleged mastermind of the April 14 blast in Nyanya, Abuja, Aminu Ogwuche, has been extradited by Sudan to Nigeria on Tuesday.

Ogwuche, who was handed over to the Interpol Unit of the Nigeria Police Force by the Sudanese authorities was flown into the country in a special flight from Khartoum, Sudan, which touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 3pm on Tuesday.

On hand to receive him at the Presidential wing of the airport were the spokespersons of the Police, ACP Frank Mba, Department of State Services, Marilyn Ogar, Army, Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade and the Coordinator, National Information Centre, Mike Omeri.